Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone for certain waters in the Gulf of Mexico offshore Marathon, Florida. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters of Marathon, FL, during the 2024 Race World Offshore 7 Mile Grand Prix. The proposed rule prohibits persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Key West or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within a 500-yard radius of the USS New Jersey during active dead ship tow operations. The USS New Jersey will be transiting from berth in Camden, NJ, to Paulsboro, NJ, and then over to the Navy Yard in Philadelphia, PA. The safety zone, which will only be enforced during active towing operations, is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by the dead ship tow. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Delaware Bay.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone for the navigable waters of the Sector Maryland-National Capital Region Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone. It will be enforced, as needed, to ensure the safety of these waters in the event of hurricanes, tropical storms, and other storms with high winds. The rule provides for actions to be completed by industry and vessels within the COTP Zone before and after the landfall of hurricanes, tropical storms, and other severe weather events threatening the State of Maryland.

The Coast Guard is announcing its intent to enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with REGENT Craft, Inc. (REGENT) to evaluate advancements in Wing-In-Ground (WIG) maritime aircraft for applicability to USCG missions. REGENT's sea gliders are representative of that technology. While the Coast Guard is currently considering partnering with REGENT, we are soliciting public comment on the possible nature of and participation of other parties in the proposed CRADA. In addition, the Coast Guard also invites other potential non-Federal participants, who have the interest and capability to bring similar contributions to this type of research, to consider submitting proposals for consideration in similar CRADAs.

The Coast Guard's Mariner Credentialing Program issues merchant mariner credentials and medical certificates, approves training courses and programs, and approves other qualifications such as a Qualified Assessor and a Designated Examiner. Under this rulemaking, the Coast Guard proposes to allow for the electronic submission of information required for credentialing to allow for the future implementation of a new information technology system to support the mariner credentialing process. The Coast Guard also proposes to require the electronic payment of mandatory fees for merchant mariner credentials through Pay.Gov, to remove the requirement for prospective mariners to take an oath before an authorized official, and to change the requirements for the Certificate of Discharge to Merchant Mariners. Finally, the Coast Guard proposes technical amendments to update addresses and websites, to remove antiquated terminology, and to amend language to use gender-neutral terms.

The Coast Guard will enforce the special local regulation on the waters of Mission Bay, San Diego, California during the San Diego Crew Classic. This special local regulation will be enforced from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, 2024, and from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 7, 2024. This special local regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, crew, sponsor vessels of the rowing event, 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.

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: 1625-0007, Characteristics of Liquid Chemicals Proposed for Bulk Water Movement; 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: 1625-0109, Drawbridge Operation Regulations; 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 establishing two temporary safety zones to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by commercial spaceflight activities. One safety zone is in the navigable waters of South Bay, TX and the other is in the navigable waters of the Gulf of Mexico, within 12 nautical miles. Entry of vessels or persons into these zones are prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Corpus Christi (COTP) or a designated representative.

The National Navigation Safety Advisory Committee (Committee) will conduct a series of meetings over 2 days in Bronx, New York to discuss matters relating to maritime collisions, allisions, and groundings; Inland Rules of the Road; International Rules of the Road; navigation regulations and equipment; routing measures; marine information; and aids to navigation systems. All meetings will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard is revising existing regulations by updating the duration of an existing event in the Seventh Coast Guard District Captain of the Port St. Petersburg Zone. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters in Clearwater, FL, during the Clearwater Offshore Nationals/Race World Offshore event.

The Coast Guard is temporarily modifying the operating schedule that governs the draw of the California Department of Transportation (Route 4) highway bridge, mile 14.8 between Victoria Island and Byron Tract, CA. This action is necessary to allow the bridge owner to complete rehabilitation of the bridge after a continuing unexpected delay in installing We can't have and testing of the custom-made electronics.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters of Tampa Bay, in the vicinity of the St. Petersburg Municipal Yacht Basin, during a racing event in St. Petersburg, FL. The safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of participant vessels, spectators, and the general public during the event. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port St. Petersburg or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for certain navigable waters of the Sabine River, extending the entire width of the river, adjacent to the public boat ramp located in Orange, TX. This action is necessary to protect persons and vessels from hazards associated with a high-speed Jet Ski race competition in Orange, TX. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur or a designated representative.

The National Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (Committee) will conduct a series of meetings over two days in Edmonds, WA to discuss issues relating to personnel in the United States Merchant Marine including the training, qualifications, certification, documentation, and fitness of mariners.

The Coast Guard announces the recertification of the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council (PWSRCAC) as an alternative voluntary advisory group for Prince William Sound, Alaska. This certification allows the PWSRCAC to monitor the activities of terminal facilities and crude oil tankers under an alternative composition, other than prescribed, the Prince William Sound Program established by the Oil Terminal and Oil Tanker Environmental Oversight and Monitoring Act of 1990.

The Coast Guard is correcting regulations that published in the Federal Register on December 28, 2023. The final rule announced changes to the operations of all movable bridges over the River Rouge, Detroit, MI, to improve communications and establish winter hours. This correction fixes incorrect language in the regulations. The language in the final rule inadvertently stated the draw of the Dix Avenue Bridge, mile 2.73, is remotely operated, when it is not equipped or authorized to operate remotely.

The Coast Guard will enforce the Mark Hahn Memorial 300 Mile Personal Watercraft (PWC) Endurance Race special local regulation on the waters of Lake Havasu, Arizona from February 23 through February 25, 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 temporarily modifying the operating schedule that governs the Loop Parkway Bridge across Long Creek, mile 0.7, Nassau County, NY. The bridge owner, New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), submitted a request to operate the bridge under single leaf openings to perform bridge deck replacement.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within 550-yards of a near shore construction site near the State Military Reservation, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The safety zone will protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by subsurface construction. Operations are planned to bore tunnels to carry electric transmission lines below the Atlantic Ocean. When the M/V RAM XII or the M/V RAM XV are present, entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Virgina or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to modify the operating schedule that governs the Atlantic Beach Bridge across the Reynolds Channel, mile 0.4, at Atlantic Beach, NY. The bridge owner, Nassau County Bridge Authority, submitted a request on September 22, 2022 to modify the regulation to decrease the number of openings on signal from October through May. On November 16, 2023 Nassau County Bridge Authority sent an additional request to add a bridge tower call number and remove outdated language. It is expected that this change to the regulations will better serve the needs of the community while continuing to meet the reasonable needs of navigation. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The U.S. Coast Guard is accepting applications to fill three vacancies on the National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee (Committee). This Committee advises the Secretary of Homeland Security, via the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard on matters relating to activities directly involved with, or in support of, the exploration of offshore mineral and energy resources, to the extent that such matters are within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Coast Guard.

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: 1625-0127, Marine Transportation System Recovery; 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 will enforce a security zone along the Potomac River, the Anacostia River, and adjacent waters at Washington, DC, for activities associated with the U.S. President's State of the Union Address. The zone will be enforced on March 7, 2024, through the early morning hours of March 8, 2024. During the enforcement period, entry into, or remaining within the zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is amending and updating its special local regulations for recurring marine parades, regattas, and other events that take place in the Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley area of responsibility (AOR). This rule informs the public of regularly scheduled events that require additional safety measures through the establishing of a special local regulation. Through this rulemaking, the current list of recurring special local regulations is updated with revisions, additional events, and removal of events that no longer take place in Sector Ohio Valley's AOR. When these special local regulations are enforced, certain restrictions are placed on marine traffic in specified areas.