Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard announces its acceptance of sewage treatment plants (also referred to as marine sanitation devices) for type- approval to International Maritime Organization resolution MEPC.227(64) as meeting the requirements for marine sanitation devices. This action will allow manufacturers as well as shipowners and operators the option to take advantage of building and using equipment that meets both domestic and international requirements while also benefitting the environment. The Coast Guard is also seeking information on simple on board checks to verify performance of sewage treatment plants.

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: 1625-0040, Application for Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC), Application for Merchant Mariner Medical Certificate, Application for Merchant Mariner Medical Certificate for Entry Level Ratings, Small Vessel Sea Service Form, DOT/USCG Periodic Drug Testing Form, Disclosure Statement for Narcotics, DWI/DUI, and/or Other Convictions, Merchant Mariner Medical Certificate, Recognition of Foreign Certificate. 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 a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway near Oak Island, North Carolina. This action is necessary to provide the safety of mariners on navigable waters due to the transfer of power cables across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Entry into or movement within the safety zone during the enforcement period is prohibited without approval of the Captain of the Port.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the waters of Great Egg Harbor Bay in the vicinity of the Garden State Parkway Bridge in Somers Point, NJ. The safety zone will restrict vessel traffic on a portion of the Great Egg Harbor Bay while critical girder erection work is being conducted in response to the rehabilitation project of the main navigational channel section of the bridge. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect the surrounding public and vessels from the hazards associated with the bridge construction operations.

The Coast Guard is establishing a security zone around any vessel escorted by one or more Coast Guard, State, or local law enforcement assets on the navigable waters of the Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone, Los Angeles-Long Beach, California. This action is necessary to protect personnel, vessels, and facilities from sabotage or other subversive acts, accidents, or other events of a similar nature. No vessel or person is allowed in this zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the U.S. 70 (Alfred C. Cunningham) Bridge across the Trent River, mile 0.0, at New Bern, NC. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position to accommodate the free movement of pedestrians and vehicles during the 2015 Neuse River Bridge Run.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit an Information Collection Request (ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting approval of a revision of a currently approved collection: 1625-0047, Plan Approval and Records for Vital System Automation. 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 Towing Safety Advisory Committee will meet in Washington, DC, to review and discuss recommendations from its subcommittees and to receive briefs listed in the agenda under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. All meetings will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone extending 400 yards east and west of the West Larose Vertical Lift Bridge in Bayou Lafourche, LA. This safety zone is necessary to protect persons, property, and infrastructure from potential damage and safety hazards associated with construction work on the bridge. During the periods of enforcement, entry into and transiting or anchoring within this safety zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by Captain of the Port (COTP) Morgan City or other designated representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Tower Drawbridge across the Sacramento River, mile 59.0 at Sacramento, CA. The deviation is necessary to allow the community to participate in the 5K Walk to Defeat ALS. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed- to-navigation position during the deviation period.

On June 27, 2014, Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound received a Letter of Intent (LOI) and Waterway Suitability Assessment (WSA) from Washington State Ferries (WSF) for a proposal to modify existing Washington State Ferry marine terminal operations to include the handling of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). The LNG would be transferred to and used as a marine fuel by six Issaquah Class Ferries converted to use LNG propulsion systems. In accordance with regulation and policy guidance, the Captain of the Port (COTP), Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound, in cooperation with key port stakeholders, will review and validate the information in the WSA. The COTP will then issue a Letter of Recommendation (LOR) to the State of Washington Department of Transportation that conveys the Coast Guard's recommendation on the suitability of the following waterways for LNG marine traffic as it relates to safety and security: Guemes Channel, Rosario Strait, Thatcher Pass, Harney Channel, Upright Channel, Wasp Channel, San Juan Channel, Spieden Channel, Haro Strait, Sidney Channel, Possession Sound, Admiralty Inlet, Puget Sound, Sinclair Inlet, Rich Passage, Elliot Bay, Admiralty Passage, North East Passage, and Colvos Passage. As part of this validation process, the Coast Guard, on November 12, 2014, published a ``Notice and Request for Comments'' in the Federal Register which solicited public comments to inform the COTP's recommendation. A number of comments were received, including two outside the comment period. This document summarizes those comments, explains whether or not they are appropriate for consideration under regulation, and provides additional information to help inform the public about the various issues raised in them.

The Coast Guard is changing the regulation that governs the operation of the SR#38 Bridge in Centerton (Burlington County Route 635) over Rancocas Creek, mile 7.8, at Mt. Laurel, Westampton and Willingboro Townships in Burlington County, NJ. The new rule will change the current regulation and allow the bridge to remain in the closed position for the passage of vessels. There have been no requests for openings since the early 1990's. This rule also reflects a name change.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Montlake Bridge across the Lake Washington Ship Canal, mile 5.2, at Seattle, WA. The Montlake Bridge is a double leaf bascule bridge. The deviation is necessary to allow the bridge to operate in single leaf mode during day light hours, and a full closure (both bascule leafs in the closed-to-navigation position) during night time hours while work crews replace bridge decking. This deviation allows a single leaf opening with a one hour advance notice during the day, and remains in the closed-to-navigation position at night.

The Coast Guard is establishing security zones in the waters of the Delaware River and Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, PA. These zones are intended to restrict vessels from portions of the Delaware River and Schuylkill River during the 2015 Papal visit on September 26, 2015, and September 27, 2015. During the enforcement period, no unauthorized vessels or people will be permitted to enter or move within the security zones without permission from the Captain of the Port or his designated representative. This security zone is necessary to provide security for Pope Francis.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in Lake Erie, Cleveland, OH. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of Lake Erie during the Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Celebration fireworks display. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect mariners and vessels from the navigational hazards associated with a fireworks display.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on Lake Washington around the east span of the 520 Bridge in Seattle, Washington due to ongoing construction. The safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of the maritime public and workers involved in the bridge construction when construction barges are located in the east span of the bridge. The safety zone will prohibit any person or vessel from entering or remaining in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or his Designated Representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedules that govern the Tacony-Palmyra (Route 73) Bridge over Delaware River, mile 107.2, between Tacony, PA and Palmyra, NJ and Burlington-Bristol (Route 413) Bridge over Delaware River, mile 117.8, between Burlington, NJ and Bristol, PA. This deviation allows the bridges to remain in the closed-to-navigation position to facilitate the 2015 Papal Visit to Philadelphia, PA.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedules that govern the S.R. 44 Bridge over Mantua Creek, mile 1.7, at Paulsboro, NJ and Route 130 Bridge over Raccoon Creek, mile 1.8, at Bridgeport, NJ. This deviation allows the bridges to remain in the closed-to-navigation position to facilitate the 2015 Papal Visit to Philadelphia, PA.

The United States Coast Guard is establishing a Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) on the navigable waters of Kill Van Kull and Newark Bay surrounding the Bayonne Bridge. In response to a planned Bayonne Bridge construction project, this rule will establish a speed restriction in the waters surrounding the Bayonne Bridge. This rule will allow the Coast Guard to prohibit vessel traffic through the RNA when necessary to safeguard people and vessels from the hazards associated with bridge construction.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway Bridge across the Snake River, mile 1.5, at Burbank, WA. The deviation is necessary to accommodate maintenance to replace movable rail joints. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed- to-navigation position during maintenance activities.

The Coast Guard will enforce various safety zones for annual marine events in the Captain of the Port Detroit zone from 8 p.m. on July 2, 2015, through 11 p.m. on August 1, 2015. 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 is establishing a temporary safety zone in Manchester Bay to be enforced during the Misery Challenge marine event, which will involve swimmers, kayakers, and stand-up paddlers. This safety zone will ensure the protection of the event participants, support vessels, and maritime public from the hazards associated with the event. Vessels will be prohibited from entering into, transiting through, mooring, or anchoring within this safety zone during periods of enforcement unless authorized by the Coast Guard Sector Boston Captain of the Port (COTP) or the COTP's designated representative.

The Coast Guard is extending the comment period for the Port Access Route Study (PARS) in the Chukchi Sea, Bering Strait and Bering Sea until August 18, 2015. This extension is necessary to allow all interested parties to submit comments to the docket for Coast Guard consideration.

The Coast Guard is modifying the method of operation for the Victoria Barge Canal Railroad Bridge across the Victoria Barge Canal, mile 29.4, at Bloomington, Victoria County, Texas. The bridge owner, the Victoria County Navigation District, in conjunction with the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR), the operator of the bridge, is operating the bridge remotely under a temporary deviation. This interim rule codifies the change in method of operation while allowing for comments regarding the remote operations. This interim rule increases the efficiency of operations allowing for the safe navigation of vessels through the bridge while recognizing the bridge's importance to the Port of Victoria that it serves.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on Oswego Harbor, Oswego, NY. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of Oswego Harbor during the Oswego Harborfest Jet Ski Show. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect mariners and vessels from the navigational hazards associated with a jet ski show.