Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Smith Point Bridge, mile 6.1, across Narrow Bay, at Suffolk County, New York. This temporary deviation is necessary to facility public safety during a public event, the annual 5K Run for Literacy.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Long Beach Bridge, mile 4.7, across Reynolds Channel, at Nassau, New York. This temporary deviation is necessary to facility public safety during a public event, the Annual Salute to Veterans and Fireworks Display.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone for all water extending 300 feet from the left descending bank into the Ohio River from mile 42.5 to mile 43.0. This proposed rule would be needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by a land based fireworks display. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone would be prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Pittsburgh (COTP) or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard published a notice in the Federal Register on June 2, 2016, announcing a Towing Safety Advisory Committee meeting, via teleconference. That notice listed the wrong day of the week for the date of the meeting. The notice should have stated, Wednesday, June 22, 2016. This notice removes the incorrect day-of-the-week reference.

The Coast Guard is establishing two special local regulations for two separate marine events within the Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound (LIS) Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone. This temporary final rule is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during these events. Entry into, transit through, mooring or anchoring within these regulated areas is prohibited unless authorized by COTP Sector Long Island Sound.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Interstate 5 (I-5) Bridges across the Columbia River, mile 106.5, between Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington. The deviation is necessary to facilitate the movement of heavier than normal roadway traffic associated with the Independence Day fireworks show near the I-5 Bridges. This deviation allows the bridges to remain in the closed-to-navigation position during the event.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone in the navigable waters of Myrtle Beach, SC. This safety zone is necessary to protect the public from hazards associated with launching fireworks over navigable waters of the United States. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard will enforce various safety zones for annual marine events in the Captain of the Port Detroit zone from 9:20 p.m. on May 29, 2016 through 9:45 p.m. on September 4, 2016. Enforcement of these zones is necessary and intended to ensure safety of life on the navigable waters immediately prior to, during, and immediately after these fireworks events. 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 fireworks events. During each enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the respective safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone in the navigable waters of Charleston, SC. This safety zone is necessary to protect the public from hazards associated with launching fireworks over navigable waters of the United States. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone for certain waters of Portland Harbor and Casco Bay to be enforced during the Casco Bay Islands Swim/Run marine event. The event involves athletes tethered together by a line in which they will run and swim on and between eight islands of the Casco Bay archipelago. This safety zone will facilitate the protection of the event participants, their support vessels, and the maritime public from the hazards associated with the event. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from entering into, transiting through, mooring, or anchoring within this safety zone during periods of enforcement unless authorized by the Coast Guard Sector Northern New England Captain of the Port (COTP) or the COTP's designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard will enforce various safety zones within the Captain of the Port New York Zone on the specified dates and times. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of vessels and spectators from hazards associated with fireworks displays. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the safety zones without permission of the Captain of the Port (COTP).

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of Raritan Bay near Perth Amboy, NJ for a fireworks display. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect spectators and vessels from the hazards associated with fireworks displays. This rule is intended to restrict all vessels from a portion of Raritan Bay during the fireworks event unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) New York or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is amending and updating its annual and recurring safety zones that take place in the Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River area of responsibility (AOR). This regulation informs the public of regularly scheduled events that require additional safety measures through establishing a safety zone. Through this interim rule the current list of recurring safety zones is updated with revisions, additional events, and removal of events that no longer take place; and we are requesting comments on additional changes necessary to update the permanent list of recurring safety zones in Sector Upper Mississippi River's AOR. When these safety zones are enforced, vessel traffic is restricted from specified areas. Additionally, this one rulemaking project serves to provide notice of the known recurring safety zones throughout the year.

The Coast Guard announces the availability of Change-2 to Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 04-08, ``Medical and Physical Evaluation Guidelines for Merchant Mariner Credentials'' (NVIC 04-08). Change-2 to NVIC 04-08 contains revisions to Enclosure (1) Medical Certification Standards, Enclosure (4) Medications, and Enclosure (6) Medical Review Process. The revisions to Enclosures (1) and (6) reflect process and procedural changes related to centralization of the evaluation of credential applications at the National Maritime Center and implementation of the final rule that aligned Coast Guard regulations with amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers and made changes to national endorsements. The revisions to Enclosure (4) provide more detailed guidance on medications that are subject to further review, and address comments received in response to a notice published in the Federal Register on January 28, 2015 seeking input from the public on this issue.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for certain waters of the Columbia River in the vicinity of Howard Amon Park, Richland, WA, between River Miles 337 and 338, during hydroplane boat races from June 3, 2016, through June 5, 2016. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters of the Columbia River during the event. This regulation prohibits persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Columbia River or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce the Great Western Tube Float marine event and associated waterway special local regulations from 7 a.m. through 4 p.m. on June 11, 2016. This annual marine event occurs in the navigable waters of the Colorado River in Parker, Arizona, covering eight miles of the waterway from the La Paz County Park to the Headgate Dam. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, crew, spectators, safety vessels, and general users of the waterway. During the enforcement period, persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within this regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Marine Parkway Bridge across the Rockaway Inlet, mile 3.0, at Queens, New York. This deviation is necessary to allow the bridge owner to facilitate asbestos abatement in the machinery room at the bridge.

The Coast Guard is establishing four temporary safety zones for two areas of the Upper Mississippi River (UMR); three safety zones between UMR mile 179.2 and 180.5, and one between UMR mile 839.5 to 840. These temporary safety zones are necessary to protect persons and property from potential damage and safety hazards during fireworks displays on or over the navigable waterway. During the period of enforcement, entry into these safety zones is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Upper Mississippi River or other designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce the special local regulation requirements for the Portland Annual Dragon Boat Races from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. on June 11, 2016 and 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. on June 12, 2016. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of maritime traffic, including the public vessels present, on the Willamette River during the Portland Annual Dragon Boat Races. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may transit this regulated area without permission from the Sector Columbia River Captain of the Port or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Norfolk and Western railroad bridge (Norfolk Southern V6.8 Bridge) across the South Branch of the Elizabeth River, mile 3.6, at Portsmouth-Chesapeake, VA. The deviation is necessary to perform bridge maintenance and repairs. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters of the Allegheny River from mile 43.5 to mile 44.5. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created from a barge-based firework display. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Pittsburgh or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard announces the availability of a draft update to the Alternative Planning Criteria (APC) National Guidelines. The APC Guidelines provide the maritime industry with updated information on the development and submission of an APC request made pursuant to existing regulations. In addition to providing guidance to vessel owners and operators on developing APC requests, the APC Guidelines will also facilitate consistency in the review of APC requests by Coast Guard personnel. This notice solicits public comment on the procedures contained in the draft update to the APC Guidelines.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters of the Monongahela River from mile 97.5 to mile 100.5. The safety zone is needed to protect spectators, participants, and personnel involved in the West Virginia Triathlon. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Pittsburgh.

The Coast Guard proposes to add, delete, and modify safety zones for annual marine events in the Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound Captain of the Port Zone. When enforced, these proposed safety zones would restrict vessels from portions of water areas during certain annually recurring events. The safety zones are intended to expedite public notification and ensure the protection of the maritime public and event participants from the hazards associated with certain maritime events. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard will enforce security zone regulations for the Sitcum Waterway Security Zone in Commencement Bay, Tacoma, Washington from 6 a.m. on May 17, 2016, through 11:59 p.m. on May 22, 2016, unless cancelled sooner by the Captain of the Port. This action is necessary to help provide for the security of Department of Defense assets and military cargo located in those waters during that time period. Entry into the Sitcum Waterway security zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Puget Sound or a Designated Representative.