Coast Guard 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The National Towing Safety Advisory Committee (Committee) will meet in person along with the four subcommittees: The Rulemaking Improvements to Subchapter M Subcommittee, The Statutory Information Requirements Within Accommodations Spaces on Merchant Vessels Subcommittee, The Master Key Control Requirements Aboard Merchant Vessels Subcommittee, and The Maritime Administration (MARAD) Maritime Workforce Group Report on the Maritime Workforce Subcommittee. The Committee and the four Subcommittees will meet in public over two days in Portland, Maine, to review and discuss matters relating to shallow- draft inland navigation, coastal waterway navigation, and towing safety. These meetings will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for waters near the West River Entrance near Shady Side, Maryland within 200 yards of the sunken recreational vessel LOVEBUG and salvage operations. The safety zone is needed to protect the public and vessels from potential hazards created by an obstruction to the West River and to ensure a safe working environment for the first responders and dive teams from passing traffic. This rule will prohibit persons or vessels from entering this zone unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Sector Maryland-National Capital Region (NCR) or a designated representative.

The National Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee (Committee) will conduct a series of meetings over two days to review, discuss, and make recommendations to the Secretary on matters relating to marine investigation cases and other relevant initiatives pertaining to commercial fishing vessels (CFVs). For more detailed information see section VI below.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone for certain waters of the Cuyahoga River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters from position 41-29.716' N, 081-42.137' W to position 41-29.927' N, 081- 42.356' W during the Cleveland Dragon Boat Festival on or about September 21, 2024. This rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Eastern Great Lakes or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard will establish a Security Zone on the Chicago River (Main Branch) between mile marker 325.6 (point at which the Chicago River connects to the South Branch Chicago River) and 100 yards extending past the end of the Chicago River covering the area of the Federal channel within Chicago Harbor and the North Branch Chicago River between mile marker 325.6 (point at which the North Branch Chicago River connects to the Chicago River-Main Branch and the South Branch Chicago River) and mile marker 331.4 (end of navigation channel). This action is intended to protect spectators and dignitaries associated with the Democratic National Convention. During the enforcement period listed below, entry into, transiting, or anchoring within the Security Zone if prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan or a designated Coast Guard or U.S. Secret Service Representative.

The National Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee (Committee) will conduct a virtual open meeting to discuss matters relating to medical certification determinations for issuance of licenses, certificates of registry, and merchant mariners' documents, medical standards, and guidelines for the physical qualifications of operators of commercial vessels, medical examiner education, and medical research. The virtual meeting will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard, as the lead agency, announces its intent to prepare the Viability Testing Method Consideration for Acceptance Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement. Through this document, we will evaluate the potential environmental impact of the Coast Guard's Proposed Action to use the best available science to evaluate one or more viability testing methods submitted for consideration. Through this document, we will also evaluate, and potentially accept, methods that demonstrate that ballast water discharge meets U.S. ballast water discharge performance standards currently under development by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for certain waters of the Kahanamoku Beach. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Honolulu, HI, during a drone show display at various times on August 13 through 18, 2024. This rulemaking prohibits, during the enforcement periods, persons and vessels from entering the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Honolulu or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce special local regulations for the Alligator Reef Lighthouse Swim on September 7, 2024, to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for marine events within the Seventh Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for this event in Islamorada, FL. 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 navigable waters of Lake Erie offshore of Edgewater Beach in Cleveland, Ohio. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of the swimming event participants on these waters during the Tri CLE Rock and Roll Run, to be held on August 17 and 18, 2024. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Eastern Great Lakes, or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary moving safety zone on the navigable waters between Harpswell, ME and South Portland, ME. This safety zone will surround the M/V JACOB PIKE, once refloated, and dead ship towed from Harpswell, ME though Casco Bay to Turner Island Marine Rail located on the Fore River in South Portland, ME. The safety zone will extend 200-yards on all sides of the M/V JACOB PIKE during the dead ship tow transit. Vessels and people are prohibited from entering this safety zone.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters of the Green River from Mile Marker 61 to 62 in Calhoun, KY. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by a power line replacement due to unstable powerline poles. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Ohio Valley.

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: 1625-0103, 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. 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 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: 1625-0017, Various International Agreement Safety Certificates and Documents; 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.

The Coast Guard is temporarily modifying the operating schedule that governs the Florida East Coast (FEC) Railroad Bridge, across the Okeechobee Waterway (OWW), mile 7.41, at Stuart, FL. This action is necessary to allow for continuity of drawbridge operations while the Coast Guard reviews comments and documents associated with the temporary test deviation. Allowing the drawbridge to return to its regular operating schedule would not meet the reasonable needs of navigation given the increase in railway traffic.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary moving safety zone around the procession of boats participating in the marine event, Fete Dieu Du Mississippi, on the Lower Mississippi River in New Orleans, LA. The safety zone is necessary to protect persons and vessels from the potential hazards associated with a moving flotilla of vessels and the potential for marine traffic congestion on the Lower Mississippi River. Entry of vessels or persons into the zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector New Orleans or a designated representative, or the pilot of the M/V KNIGHT HAWK.

In accordance with the statutory provisions enacted by the Great Lakes Pilotage Act of 1960, the Coast Guard is proposing new pilotage rates for 2025. The Coast Guard estimates that this proposed rule would result in approximately a 7 percent increase in operating costs compared to the 2024 season. The proposed new pilotage rates are the result of increases in both the number of Pilots and revenue needed for the working capital fund.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary security zone for certain waters of Santa Monica Bay. This action is necessary to provide for the security of life on these navigable waters near Will Rogers State Beach, Pacific Palisades, CA, during a beachfront event on August 11, 2024. This security zone would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the security zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters of the St. Clair River in the vicinity of Port Huron, MI. This zone is intended to restrict and control movement of vessels in a portion of the St. Clair River. Though this is an unsanctioned, non-permitted marine event, this zone is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters during a float down event near Port Huron, MI.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation for certain waters of Cayuga Lake. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Ithaca, NY, during a marine event on August 10, 2024. This regulation prohibits persons and vessels from transiting the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Eastern Great Lakes or a designated representative.

The U.S. Coast Guard is accepting applications to fill eleven vacancies on the National Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (Committee). This Committee advises the Secretary of Homeland Security via the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard on matters relating to personnel in the United States Merchant Marine, including the training, qualifications, certification, documentation, and fitness of mariners. Individuals currently holding these appointments will need to re-apply if they wish to continue as Committee members.

The Coast Guard will enforce the special local regulations for the Seattle Seafair Unlimited Hydroplane Race from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day from August 2 through August 4, 2024, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. The regulation for this event identifies the regulated area on Lake Washington, Seattle, Washington. During the enforcement periods, vessels and persons in the regulated area must comply with the lawful directions from the Coast Guard designated Patrol Commander, the established Coast Guard patrol, and any federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies assisting the Patrol Commander.

We are requesting your comments on establishing port conditions and heavy weather safety zones throughout the Los Angeles- Long Beach Captain of the Port Zone. Safety zones and port conditions would establish safe practices in the event natural or manmade disasters affect navigable waterways. We seek your comments on which weather or disaster parameters would necessitate changing port conditions or establishing safety zones based on individual harbors throughout the Los Angeles-Long Beach Captain of the Port Zone (COTP Zone) from San Clemente to Morro Bay. We also plan to host a public meeting on August 12, 2024.

The Coast Guard is amending the regulation 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.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters on Lake St. Clair, New Baltimore, MI. The safety zone is necessary and intended to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards associated with fireworks displays created by Sunsation Powerboats Inc. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Detroit, or his designated representative.