Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is reopening the public comment period for the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) entitled ``Seafarers' Access to Maritime Facilities,'' which published in the Federal Register on December 29, 2014. The NPRM proposed to require each owner or operator of a facility regulated by the Coast Guard to implement a system that provides seafarers and other individuals with access between vessels moored at the facility and the facility gate, in a timely manner and at no cost to the seafarer or other individual. As originally published, the comment period for the NPRM closed on February 27, 2015. Several members of the public have requested additional time to comment on the NPRM, citing various timing constraints. In order to provide interested members of the public an additional opportunity to submit comments on the NPRM, the Coast Guard is reopening the public comment period for 60 days. We are particularly interested in comments on our estimate that there is a 10.3 percent non-compliance rate of facilities with respect to providing seafarers' access. In addition to comments on this topic, we will consider all public comments on the NPRM received during the reopened comment period. We request that you not re-submit comments already in the docket.

The Coast Guard is advancing the effective date for the 2015 final rule which published on February 26, 2015, adjusting rates for pilotage services on the Great Lakes in accordance with a full ratemaking procedure. The rate adjustments made by the February 2015 final rule are unchanged, but instead of taking effect on August 1, 2015, the rates will take effect June 2, 2015. This rulemaking rule promotes the Coast Guard's strategic goal of maritime safety.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary moving safety zone during the Swim Around Charleston, a swimming race occurring on the Wando River, the Cooper River, Charleston Harbor, and the Ashley River, in Charleston, South Carolina. The Swim Around Charleston is scheduled on Saturday, September 26, 2015. The temporary moving safety zone is necessary to protect swimmers, participant vessels, spectators, and the general public during the event. Persons and vessels would be prohibited from entering the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone encompassing a portion of the Detroit River in Detroit, Michigan. This safety zone is necessary to protect Belle Isle Grand Prix participants, spectators and vessels from the hazards associated with a high speed automobile race in close proximity to a navigable waterway. This safety zone will establish restrictions upon, and control movement of, vessels in a portion of the Detroit River. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the regulated area without permission of the Captain of the Port.

The Coast Guard is temporarily modifying the operating schedule that governs the East Venetian Causeway Bridge across Miami Beach Channel, Miami-Dade County, Florida. For approximately nine months, the West Venetian Causeway Bridge will remain in the open position to complete necessary repairs. This rule will temporarily authorize the fulltime closure of the East Venetian Causeway Bridge to ensure that vehicular traffic will be able to access and depart from the Venetian Causeway while emergency repairs are completed.

The Coast Guard will enforce the subject safety zone in the Captain of the Port Boston Zone on the specified date and time listed below. This action is necessary to ensure the protection of the maritime public and event participants from the hazards associated with this annual recurring event.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Washington State Department of Transportation Montlake Bridge across the Lake Washington Ship Canal, mile 5.2, at Seattle, WA. The deviation is necessary to accommodate the University of Washington, and University of Washington Bothell commencement ceremony traffic. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position to accommodate the timely movement of vehicular traffic.

The Coast Guard proposes to amend its Great Lakes Regulated Navigation Areas regulations to include two safety zones to close designated waters for recreational ice users and three Regulated Navigation Areas to manage vessel traffic in ice-prone waterways. Further, the Coast Guard proposes to redefine (without changing) the three existing regulated navigation areas in the rule as safety zones. These proposed amendments provide needed updates to the regulations and align the rule with existing waterway regulations. The proposed amendments are necessary to protect waterway users, vessels, and mariners from hazards associated with winter conditions and navigation.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Stillwater Highway Drawbridge across the St. Croix River, mile 23.4, at Stillwater, Minnesota. The deviation is necessary due to increased vehicular traffic after a local Independence Day fireworks display. The deviation allows the bridge to be in the closed-to-navigation position to clear increased traffic congestion.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a special local regulation for all waters of the Ohio River, surface to bottom, extending from Ohio River mile 469.5 to 471.2 at Cincinnati, OH July 10, 2015 through July 14, 2015. This special local regulation is necessary to protect persons and property from potential damage and safety hazards during the ``86th Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Week/Game'', an event which will likely involve a high density of boater traffic in the river miles specified. This proposed special local regulation is intended to temporarily restrict vessel traffic in a portion of the Ohio River during this event and implement a moving security zone for certain vessel traffic within the special local regulated zone.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the operation of the Loop Parkway Bridge, mile 0.7, across Long Creek, and the Meadowbrook State Parkway Bridge, mile 12.8, across Sloop Channel, both at Hempstead, New York. This temporary deviation is necessary to facilitate the 2015 Dee Snider's Ride to Fight Hunger on Long Island. This temporary deviation allows two bridges to remain in the closed position during this public event.

The Coast Guard will enforce the Mayor's Hike, Bike and Paddle marine event for all waters of the Ohio River, beginning at mile marker 602.0 and ending at 603.5, Louisville, KY. This rule will be enforced from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on May 25, 2015. This action is necessary to protect persons, property, and infrastructure from potential damage and safety hazards associated with the Mayor's Hike, Bike and Paddle. During the enforcement period, deviation from the regulations is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Ohio Valley or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in Lake Union for the Seattle Seafair 4th of July fireworks display. The safety zone is necessary to help ensure the safety of the maritime public during the display and will do so by prohibiting all persons and vessels from entering the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is issuing a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) Railroad Bridge across the New River, mile 2.5, at Fort Lauderdale, FL. This deviation will test a change to the drawbridge operation schedule to address the inability of the bridge owner, FEC, to operate the bridge under current regulations.

The Coast Guard will enforce a Special Local Regulation for the ``REV3 Triathlon'' on the Tennessee River mile 646.0 to 649.0 from 7:00 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. on May 17, 2015. This action is necessary for the safeguard of participants and spectators, including all crews, vessels, and persons on navigable waters during the ``REV3 Triathlon.'' During the enforcement period, entry into, transiting or anchoring in the Regulated Area is prohibited to all vessels not registered with the sponsor as participants or official patrol vessels, unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Ohio Valley or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard announces that a Certificate of Alternative Compliance was issued for the passenger vessel LUCIA as required by 33 U.S.C. 1605(c) and 33 CFR 81.18.

The Coast Guard is removing the existing drawbridge operation regulation for the drawbridge across the St. Marks River, mile 9.0, at Newport, Wakulla County, Florida. The drawbridge was replaced with a fixed bridge in 2001 and the operating regulation is no longer applicable or necessary.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a special local regulation on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway in Bucksport, South Carolina during the Southeast Drag Boat Championships, a series of high-speed boat races. The event is scheduled to take place from 10 a.m. on July 24, 2015, through 6 p.m. on July 26, 2015. Approximately 50 high-speed race boats are anticipated to participate in the races. This special local regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of life and property on navigable waters of the United States during the event. This special local regulation would temporarily restrict vessel traffic in a portion of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Persons and vessels that are not participating in the races would be prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the restricted area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is updating the special local regulations and permanent safety zones in the Coast Guard Sector Northern New England Captain of the Port Zone for annual recurring marine events. When enforced, these special local regulations and safety zones will restrict vessel operations within portions of water areas during certain annually recurring events. The special local regulations and 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.

The Coast Guard will enforce the special local regulation for the ``Annual Kennewick, Washington, Columbia Unlimited Hydroplane Races'' from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. each day, from July 24, 2015 through July 26, 2015. This action is necessary to assist in minimizing the inherent dangers associated with hydroplane races. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the regulated area without permission from the Sector Columbia River Captain of the Port.

The Coast Guard is extending the deadline for accepting applications for membership on the National Boating Safety Advisory Council. This Council advises the Coast Guard on recreational boating safety regulations and other major boating safety matters.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the upper deck of the Steel Bridge across the Willamette River, mile 12.1, at Portland, OR. The deviation is necessary to accommodate the route of the annual Starlight Parade event, which crosses the Steel Bridge. This deviation allows the upper deck of the Steel Bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position and need not open for marine traffic during the specified time.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone encompassing certain waters of the Patapsco River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during a fireworks display launched from a barge located within the Inner Harbor at Baltimore, MD, on July 2, 2015. This safety zone is intended to protect the maritime public in a portion of the Patapsco River.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the operation of the Oceanic Bridge across the Navesink (Swimming) River, mile 4.5, between Middletown and Rumson, New Jersey. This deviation allows the bridge owner to perform structural repairs at the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to open only one of the two moveable spans for passage of vessels traffic. This temporary deviation would help facilitate repairs to the bascule span bearing while continuing to meet the reasonable needs of navigation.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the Pamlico River in Washington, NC. This action is necessary to protect the life and property of the maritime public from the hazards posed by fireworks displays. Entry into or movement within the safety zone during the enforcement period is prohibited without approval of the Captain of the Port or his designated Representative.