Coast Guard May 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is temporarily modifying the operating schedule that governs the Meadowbrook State Parkway Bridge across Sloop Channel, mile 12.8, at Nassau County, NY. The bridge is currently operating under single leaf openings to complete a bridge rehabilitation; however, during repairs, the Meadowbrook State Parkway Bridge experienced electrical failure in the submarine cables. Until the bridge repairs are complete the bridge openings must be minimized.

The Coast Guard will enforce the security zone for the Portland Rose Festival on the Willamette River in Portland, OR, from noon on June 5, 2024 through noon on June 10, 2024. This action is necessary to ensure the security of vessels participating in the 2024 Portland Rose Festival on the Willamette River during the event. Our regulation for the Security Zone Portland Rose Festival on the Willamette River identifies the regulated area. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter or remain in the security zone without permission from the Sector Columbia River Captain of the Port.

The Coast Guard will enforce various safety zones for maritime events in the Captain of the Port Northern Great Lakes. 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 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 Northern Great Lakes.

The Coast Guard will enforce the Great Western Tube Float special local regulation on the waters of Parker, Arizona on June 8, 2024. This special local regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, crew, sponsor vessels, and general users of the waterway. During the enforcement period, persons and vessels are prohibited from entering, transiting through, or anchoring within this regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is creating a new operating schedule to govern all movable bridges over the Cuyahoga River. The Coast Guard is also establishing new rules that will assist mariners signal for and anticipate bridge openings. These changes are expected to ensure the safe and efficient flow of traffic on the Cuyahoga River.

The Coast Guard is establishing a Regulated Navigation Area for certain waters of the Willamette River. This action is necessary to preserve the integrity of sampling ports at the NW Natural Gasco Sediments Site Project Area on these navigable waters near Portland, Oregon. This rule prohibits persons and vessels in the designated area from activities that could disturb or damage the sampling ports unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Columbia River or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for certain waters of the Thames River, Groton, CT. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters in the vicinity of Fort Trumbull. New London, CT to the south of the Pfizer Pier in Groton, CT during installation of submerged cable and the removal and replacement of a floating drydock. When enforced, entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized Captain of the Port Long Island Sound.

The Coast Guard will enforce a safety zone for a fireworks display at "The Wharf DC," in Washington, DC, on June 29, 2024, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulations identify the precise location. During the enforcement period, vessels may not enter, remain in, or transit through the safety zone unless authorized to do so by the COTP or his representative, and vessels in the vicinity must comply with directions from the Patrol Commander or any Official Patrol displaying a Coast Guard ensign.

The Coast Guard will enforce a Safety Zone for the Clayton Chamber of Commerce 4th of July Fireworks on July 3, 2024, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Fireworks will be fired from a barge at 44[deg]14'54" N by 76[deg]05'26" W the Saint Lawernce River. Our regulation for marine events within the Ninth Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for this event in Clayton, NY. 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 proposing to amend its regulations titled, Safety Zone; City of Valdez July 4th Fireworks, Port Valdez; Valdez, AK. The City of Valdez has changed the annual firework displays from July 4th to December 31st each year. It is therefore necessary to amend the CFR to reflect the correct date of the fireworks display. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

On May 2, 2024, the Coast Guard published a temporary interim rule and request for comments extending the effective period for the 63 temporary 500-meter safety zones around the construction of each facility during the development of the Vineyard Wind 1 Wind Farm project area. That rule contained an incorrect phone number for the First Coast Guard District Command Center. This document corrects the phone number in the regulatory text of the rule. This document also withdraws a correction that we issued on May 14, 2024, that proceeded to fix the wrong phone number in the temporary interim rule.

The Coast Guard will enforce certain safety zones located in the federal regulations for Annual Events in the Captain of the Port Eastern Great Lakes Zone. This action is necessary and intended to protect the safety of life and property on navigable waters prior to, during, and immediately after these events. During each enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the respective safety zone without the permission of the Captain of the Port Eastern Great Lakes or their designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce multiple safety zones located in federal regulations for recurring marine events taking place in July 2024. This action is necessary and intended for the safety of life and property on navigable waters during these events. During the enforcement periods, no person or vessel may enter the respective safety zone without the permission of the Captain of the Port Eastern Great Lakes or a designated representative.

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: 1625-0103, Mandatory Ship Reporting System for the Northeast and Southeast Coasts of the United States; 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.

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: 1625-0043, Ports and Waterways Safety; 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 schedule that governs the Flagler Memorial (SR A1A) Bridge, mile 1021.8, the Royal Park (SR 704) Bridge, mile 1022.6, and the Southern Boulevard (SR 700/ 80) Bridge, mile 1024.7, across Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW), at West Palm Beach, FL. Palm Beach County and the communities surrounding the bridges have requested the Coast Guard consider placing additional weekday restrictions during peak traffic hours to assist with alleviating vehicle congestion. This proposed modification will allow the drawbridges to operate in concert and determine whether a permanent change to the schedules is needed. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation for a portion of the navigable waters in the York River, in Yorktown, VA. The special local regulation is needed to protect personnel and vessels during the York River Workboat Races. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Virginia.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters of the Lake of the Ozarks at mile marker 0.1 to mile marker 0.3. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by a series of fireworks displays. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi River or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing 67 temporary safety zones around the construction of each facility during the development of the Revolution Wind Farm project area within federal waters on the Outer Continental Shelf, specifically in the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Renewable Energy Lease Area OCS-A 0486, approximately 15 nautical miles offshore southeast of Point Judith, Rhode Island. This action protects life, property, and the environment during construction of each facility from June 1, 2024, to May 31, 2027. When enforced, only attending vessels and vessels with authorization are permitted to enter or remain in the temporary safety zones.

The Coast Guard is announcing its intent to enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) to evaluate the suitability of implementing open-source-based SDR technologies on shore-side and shipboard environments. The effort would include evaluating the utility of a P25 Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)-compliant interface for software defined radios (SDRs). This CRADA would leverage Coast Guard network infrastructure and shipboard IT communications systems to evaluate open-source SDR technologies and determine how they can be implemented to support multiple Coast Guard core mission areas for shore-side and shipboard use under a variety of scenarios. Technology researched, tested, and prototyped will adhere to all active Coast Guard, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) standards and regulations. While the Coast Guard is currently considering partnering with GDMS, we are soliciting public comment on the possible nature of and participation of other parties in the proposed CRADA. In addition, the Coast Guard invites other potential participants, who have interest and capability, to consider submitting proposals for consideration in similar CRADAs.

The Coast Guard is proposing to amend its regulations for annual marine events in the Sector Houston-Galveston area of responsibility. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels not participating in the event from being within the specified zones unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary special local regulation in the navigable waters of San Francisco Bay for the San Francisco Sail Grand Prix, Season 4 race periods on July 11, 2024, through July 14, 2024. This special local regulation is necessary to ensure the safety of mariners transiting the area from the dangers associated with high-speed sailing activities. This proposed rulemaking would temporarily prohibit entering, transiting through, anchoring, blocking, or loitering within the event area near the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island, unless authorized.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for a portion of the navigable waters of Boston Inner Harbor in the vicinity of Piers Park, East Boston, Massachusetts. The temporary safety zone is needed to protect the maritime public and event participants from potential hazards created by a swim event taking place in a heavily trafficked harbor scheduled for June 9, 2024. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Boston, or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone for certain waters of Lake Superior. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Canal Park in Duluth, MN during an air show on July 31, 2024. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Marine Safety Unit Duluth or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is reopening the comment period for the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) entitled "Establish Anchorage Ground; Rice Island Anchorage, Columbia River, Oregon and Washington," published on December 28, 2023. Reopening the comment period will allow additional time for the public to review and submit comments on the proposed rule.