Coast Guard August 2022 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is extending the effective period of the temporary safety zone for the navigable waters within a 50 yard radius from the center of the North Hero-Grand Isle Bridge, on Lake Champlain, VT. This rules extends the effective period of the existing safety zone for an additional two years. The safety zone will now end on September 1, 2024. When enforced, this regulation will continue to prohibit entry of vessels or persons into the safety zone unless authorized by Captain of the Port for Sector Northern New England or a designated representative. The safety zone is necessary to protect personnel, vessels, and marine environment from potential hazards created by the demolition, subsequent removal, and replacement of the North Hero-Grand Isle Bridge.

In accordance with the statutory provisions enacted by the Great Lakes Pilotage Act of 1960, the Coast Guard is proposing new base pilotage rates for the 2023 shipping season. The Coast Guard estimates that this proposed rule would result in an approximately 14-percent increase in operating costs compared to the 2022 season. Additionally, in accordance with the requirement to conduct a full ratemaking every 5 years, the Coast Guard is accepting comments on the Great Lakes pilotage ratemaking methodology. We are also accepting suggestions for changes to the staffing model, for consideration in a future ratemaking.

The U.S. Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone offshore of Huntington Beach, CA, in support of the Pacific Airshow. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters in the area of the air and water demonstrations and to protect the high concentration of people attending the event. This regulation prohibits vessels from entering into, transiting through, or remaining within the designated area unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Los AngelesLong Beach (COTP), or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all waters of the Ohio River from Mile 90.3 to Mile 91.8 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by a floating lantern tribute. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by Captain of the Port Marine Safety Unit Pittsburgh.

The Coast Guard announces the availability of the draft Pacific Coast Port Access Route Study (PAC-PARS) and requests public comments on the draft. This study evaluates safe access routes for the movement of vessel traffic proceeding to or from ports or places along the western seaboard of the United States and aims to determine whether a shipping safety fairway (``fairway'') and/or routing measures should be established, adjusted or modified.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters directly surrounding the northern half of the I-75 Bridge over the Maumee River. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by demolition of the bridge. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Detroit.

The Coast Guard will enforce a special local regulation for the Swim Around Charleston on September 18, 2022, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for marine events within the Captain of the Port Charleston identifies the regulated area for this event in Charleston, SC. During the enforcement periods, the operator of any vessel in the regulated area must comply with directions from the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within a 1000-yard radius of Sunset Point on San Juan Island, WA. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards associated with the emergency response efforts and the product recovery of a sunken vessel. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Puget Sound.

The Coast Guard will enforce the Delaware River, Philadelphia, PA; Safety Zone from 8:15 p.m. through 9 p.m. on September 3, 2022 to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation fireworks display. Our regulation for fireworks displays in the Fifth Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for this event in Philadelphia, PA. During the enforcement period, the operator of any vessel in the regulated area must comply with directions from the Patrol Commander or any Official Patrol displaying a Coast Guard ensign.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for certain waters of the Inner Harbor. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment on these navigable waters in Baltimore, MD, September 9, 2022-September 11, 2022, from potential hazards during multi-agency helicopter safety demonstrations in support of the Maryland Fleet Week and Flyover Baltimore 2022. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Maryland-National Capital Region or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce a special local regulation for certain waters of Tampa Bay, FL. in the vicinity of the St. Petersburg Pier during the Annual St. Petersburg P1 Powerboat Grand Prix. Our regulation for marine events within the Seventh Coast Guard District, Sector St. Petersburg identifies the regulated area for this event. During the enforcement period, all persons and vessels, except those persons and vessels participating in the high speed boat races, are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the regulated area without obtaining permission from the Captain of the Port (COTP) St. Petersburg or a designated representative.

This temporary final rule would implement a special activities provision of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. The Coast Guard is establishing three temporary safety zones for the safe splashdown and recovery of reentry vehicles launched by Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) in support of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) from August 16, 2022 until September 30, 2022. These three temporary safety zones are located within the Captain of the Port Sector Mobile area of responsibility offshore of Pensacola, Panama City, and Tallahassee, Florida. This rule would prohibit U.S. flagged vessels from entering any of the temporary safety zones unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Mobile or a designated representative. Foreign-flagged vessels would be encouraged to remain outside the safety zones. This action is necessary to protect vessels and waterway users from the potential hazards created by reentry vehicle splashdowns and recovery operations in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). It is also necessary to provide for the safe recovery of reentry vehicles, and any personnel involved in reentry services, after the splashdown.

The National Maritime Security Advisory Committee (Committee) will meet virtually to review and discuss on matters relating to national maritime security, including on enhancing the sharing of information related to cybersecurity risks that may cause a transportation security incident, between relevant Federal agencies and State, local, and tribal governments, relevant public safety and emergency response agencies, relevant law enforcement and security organizations, maritime industry, port owners and operators, and terminal owners and operators. The virtual meetings will be open to the public.

The National Towing Safety Advisory Committee (Committee) will meet to review and discuss matters relating to shallow-draft inland navigation, coastal waterway navigation, and towing safety. The meeting will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard will enforce a special local regulation for the Bay Bridge Paddle on September 25, 2022, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for marine events within the Fifth Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for this event between Sandy Point State Park and Kent Island, MD. During the enforcement period, the operator of any vessel in the regulated area must comply with directions from the Patrol Commander or any Official Patrol displaying a Coast Guard ensign.

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zone in the navigable waters of Suisun Bay, off Concord, CA, in support of explosive on- loading to Military Ocean Terminal Concord (MOTCO) from August 12, 2022, through August 22, 2022. This safety zone is necessary to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential explosion within the explosive arc. The safety zone is open to all persons and vessels for transitory use, but vessel operators desiring to anchor or otherwise loiter within the safety zone must obtain the permission of the Captain of the Port San Francisco or a designated representative. All persons and vessels operating within the safety zone must comply with all directions given to them by the Captain of the Port San Francisco or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters of the Ohio River, extending the entire width of the river, from mile marker (MM) 469.6-470.2 in Cincinnati, OH. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Cincinnati, OH, during the Great Ohio River Swim on August 28, 2022.

The Coast Guard proposes to change how the CSX Transportation railroad drawbridge across the Pascagoula River, mile 1.5, Pascagoula, MS will be operated. The bridge will continue to open according to the drawbridge regulations but the bridge tender will operate this bridge from a remote location at the CSX railroad terminal in Mobile, Alabama. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard will enforce a special local regulation for the Atlantic City Ironman on September 10, 2022 to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for marine events within the Fifth Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for this event in Atlantic City, NJ. During the enforcement periods, the operator of any vessel in the regulated area must comply with directions from the Patrol Commander or any Official Patrol displaying a Coast Guard ensign.

The Coast Guard will enforce the special local regulation for the Thunder Over the Boardwalk Air Show from 8 a.m. through 3:30 p.m. on August 22, 23 and 24, 2022, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for marine events within the Fifth Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for this event in Atlantic City, NJ. During the enforcement periods, the operator of any vessel in the regulated area must comply with directions from the Patrol Commander or any Official Patrol displaying a Coast Guard ensign.

The Coast Guard is changing the operating schedule that governs the Lansing Island Bridge across Grand Canal, mile 0.7 at Indian Harbour Beach, FL. A request was made to the Coast Guard to allow the drawbridge to remain closed to navigation and untended during the overnight hours due to a lack of requested openings.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within a 500 foot radius of a fireworks launch barge at 38[deg]12'29.502''N, -92[deg]45'15.4686''W, in the main channel, of the Lake of the Ozarks. The safety zone is to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by the fireworks display. Entry of vessels or persons into the zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi River or a designated representative.

The U.S. Coast Guard is accepting applications to fill eight vacancies on the National Chemical Transportation Safety Advisory Committee (Committee). This Committee advises the Secretary of Homeland Security, through the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, on matters relating to the safe and secure marine transportation of hazardous materials.

The Coast Guard announces the online availability, of a new Coast Guard policy that establishes regulatory compliance guidance for recreational vessels less than 20 feet in length that use batteries to power their primary propulsion. This document provides consistent guidance for the design, inspection, and/or testing of recreational vessels using batteries to power their primary propulsion. The policy can be found at https://safeafloat.com/policies-letters/.

The Coast Guard will enforce special local regulations for the Olympia Harbor Days Tug Boat Races, Budd, Inlet, WA, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. on September 3, 2022. This action is necessary to limit vessel movement within the specified race area immediately prior to, during, and immediately after racing activity in order to ensure the safety of participants, spectators, and the maritime public. During the enforcement periods, the operator of any vessel in the regulated area must comply with directions from the Patrol Commander or any Official Patrol displaying a Coast Guard ensign.