Coast Guard May 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zone for the College of the Florida Keys Swim Around Key West, Key West, Florida to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waterways during this event. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of event participants and spectators. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the regulated area without approval from the Captain of the Port Key West or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a permanent safety zone to be enforced in the event of hurricanes, tropical storms, and other disasters in southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of the waters of the Port Arthur Captain of the Port (COTP) zone Port Arthur, TX. This proposed rulemaking would establish actions to be completed by industry and vessels in the COTP zone prior to landfall of hurricanes, tropical storms, and other disasters threatening Port Arthur, TX. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters in the Illinois Waterway at Mile Marker (MM) 162.7 through 163.3. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from all potential hazards associated with an aerial drone display. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi River (COTP) or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce the Delaware River, Philadelphia, PA; Safety Zone for fireworks displays on three separate periods. The safety zone will first be enforced from 9:15 p.m. through 10 p.m. on June 24, 2023, and again, during those same hours, on June 25, 2023, or on a rain date of June 26, 2023. The third period the safety zone will be enforced will be from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. on July 4, 2023, or on a rain date of July 5, 2023. This is to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during each of the three separate barge-based fireworks displays. Our regulation for marine events within the Fifth Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for this event in Philadelphia, PA. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter, remain in, or transit through the regulated area, and anyone in the vicinity must comply with directions from the Patrol Commander or any Official Patrol displaying a Coast Guard ensign.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting an extension of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0118, Various International Agreement Certificates and Documents; without change. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Before submitting this ICR to OIRA, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

The Coast Guard is amending the Chesapeake Bay entrance and Hampton Roads, VA and adjacent watersRegulated Navigation Area. Officially codified in 2003, the need for this review and update of the Regulated Navigation Area has been prompted by changes in the organizational structure, responsibilities and shipboard requirements over the last 20 years. The Coast Guard is removing outdated or redundant language and requirements, including those related to port security. This action will provide administrative changes and amend vessel reporting requirements operating within the Regulated Navigation Area during Maritime Security Level 1.

The Coast Guard proposes to revise regulations associated with the approval, carriage, and maintenance of certain safety equipment required on board vessels and offshore units or facilities. We are taking this action to align the regulations with the current industry practice and provide more transparent regulations for the regulated industry. These proposed revisions would eliminate outdated requirements, reduce inspection and testing requirements, and update standards incorporated by reference. Additionally, this project would remove obsolete sections and align conflicting sections with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea.

The National Chemical Transportation Safety Advisory Committee (Committee) will conduct a series of meetings over 2 days in Washington DC, to discuss matters relating to the safe and secure marine transportation of hazardous materials. The subcommittee meetings will also be available by videoconference for those unable to attend in person, however the full committee meeting will be held in person only. All meetings will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard will enforce special local regulations for the Seattle Seafair Unlimited Hydroplane Race from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, August 4, 2023, and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on August 5, 2023, and August 6, 2023. This action is necessary to prevent injury and to protect life and property of the maritime public from the hazards associated with the aerial displays. The regulation prohibits persons and vessels from being in the regulated areas unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Puget Sound or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to create a new operating schedule to govern all movable bridges over the Cuyahoga River. The Coast Guard is also proposing new rules that will assist mariners signal for and anticipate bridge openings. Mariners have raised concerns to the Ninth Coast Guard District Commander regarding the safety and consistency of moveable bridge operations on the Cuyahoga River. These additions are proposed in response to those concerns. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone for all navigable waters of the Kanawha River between mile markers 43 and 44. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from the potential hazards created by a fireworks display. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by Captain of the Port Marine Safety Unit Huntington.

The U.S. Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for the navigable waters in Chinese Harbor of Santa Cruz Island, California. This safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by ongoing salvage operations relating to the December 2022 grounding of a 60-foot fishing vessel in Chinese Harbor. Entry of persons or vessels into this safety zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP), Los AngelesLong Beach, or their designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing two temporary safety zones but will only enforce one, based on the local weather conditions the day of the event for navigable waters of the East Passage, Narragansett Bay, RI during The Ocean Race marine event on May 20, 2023. The safety zone is needed to safeguard mariners from the hazards associated with high- speed, high-performance sailing vessels competing in inshore races on the waters of the East Passage, Narragansett Bay, RI. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Southeastern New England, or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary moving safety zone on a 24-mile stretch of the Ohio River for paddle craft during the 1st Annual Race on the OYO. The safety zone will extend 100 yards from any participating vessel, as they transit from Racine, Ohio to Point Pleasant, West Virginia. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters during a paddle fest on June 17, 2023. This rulemaking prohibits persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Ohio Valley or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zone for the San Francisco Giants Fireworks in the Captain of the Port, San Francisco area of responsibility during the dates and times noted below. This action is necessary to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from the hazards associated with the fireworks display. During the enforcement period, unauthorized persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or remaining in the safety zone, unless authorized by the Patrol Commander (PATCOM), any Official Patrol defined as other Federal, State, or local law enforcement agencies on scene to assist the Coast Guard in enforcing the regulated area.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of the San Francisco Bay, outside McCovey Cove, in San Francisco, CA in support of a fireworks display on May 26, 2023. The safety zone is necessary to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by pyrotechnics. Unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering, transiting through, or remaining in the safety zone without the permission of the Captain of the Port San Francisco or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone on the navigable waters of Gallants Channel, near Beaufort, NC. The safety zone is necessary to enhance the safety of mariners and participants during the swim portion of a triathlon. Entry of vessels or persons into this safety zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP), Sector North Carolina, or a designated representative.

The National Maritime Security Advisory Committee (Committee) will meet virtually to review and discuss matters relating to national maritime security, including 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 meeting will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard is proposes establishing a special local regulation on the navigable waters of the lower East River and New York Harbor, NY, for vessel management for the annual 4th of July fireworks display. This special local regulation allows the Coast Guard to control vessel movement and prohibit all vessel traffic from entering the fireworks barge buffer zone, and establish four separate viewing areas. This rule is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters immediately before, during, and after a fireworks display that involves multiple barge launch sites on a highly congested waterway. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding an Information Collection Request (ICR), abstracted below, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting an extension of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0042, Requirements for Lightering of Oil and Hazardous Material Cargoes, and Advance Notice of Transfer; without change. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Review and comments by OIRA ensure we only impose paperwork burdens commensurate with our performance of duties.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting an extension of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0079, Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), International Convention; without change. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Before submitting this ICR to OIRA, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

The Coast Guard proposes to modify the operating regulations and signaling requirements that govern the Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge, mile 3.5, over the Sandusky Bay. Further, the Coast Guard also proposes adding information to clarify when and how wind blockers may be used on the Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge, mile 3.5. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard proposes to require Coast Guard-approved training providers to electronically submit student course completion data to the Coast Guard within 5 business days of completing a Coast Guard-approved course. The National Maritime Center would use this information to validate mariner course completion as part of an application for a Merchant Mariner Credential. In addition, the Coast Guard proposes to replace gendered titles for certain officer and rating endorsements in keeping with Coast Guard policy of using gender- neutral language. We expect these proposed changes to lessen the probability of credentials being issued to mariners who have not met the professional requirements for their endorsements and to appropriately conform terms that should be gender-neutral.

The Coast Guard proposes to modify the operations of all movable bridges over the River Rouge, Detroit, MI to improve communications and establish winter hours. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard will enforce various safety zones for maritime events in the Captain of the Port Sault Sainte Marie Zone. Enforcement of these safety zones is necessary to protect the safety of life and property on the navigable waters immediately prior to, during, and immediately after this event. During the aforementioned period, the Coast Guard will enforce restrictions upon, and control movement of, vessels in a specified area immediately prior to, during, and immediately after events. During each enforcement period, vessels must stay out of the established safety zone and may only enter with permission from the designated representative of the Captain of the Port Sault Sainte Marie.