Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard published in the Federal Register on Friday, March 6, 2015, two meeting notices announcing the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee and Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee. This notice corrects the previous notices to add an explanation for why 15-days advance notice was not given as required by the Federal Advisory Committee Act regulations. All other information regarding the meetings has not changed.

The Coast Guard published in the Federal Register of March 5, 2015, a final rule document making final an interim rule previously published at 79 FR 66622 on November 10, 2014. The March 5 final rule incorrectly cited the interim rule as published at 77 FR 75850 on December 26, 2012. This document corrects the citation and date in that final rule to correctly reflect the proper interim rule citation and effective date.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the operation of the Wantagh State Parkway Bridge, mile 15.4, across Sloop Channel at Jones Beach, New York. This deviation is necessary to facilitate public safety during a public event, the Jones Beach Park's Air Show. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed for an hour and a half on each day of the air show to help reduce vehicular traffic delays.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Bridge, also known as the Celilo Bridge, across the Columbia River, mile 201.2, at Celilo, OR and Wishram, WA. The deviation is necessary to replace lift span rail joints. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position during maintenance activities.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the operation of the Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) railroad bridge across the Hackensack River, mile 3.0, at Jersey City, New Jersey. This deviation is necessary to allow the bridge owner to replace rails and ties at the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed on Saturday and Sunday for twenty six consecutive weekends.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a safety zone on the navigable waters of Mill Basin surrounding the Belt Parkway Bridge. In response to a planned Belt Parkway Bridge construction project, this rule would allow the Coast Guard to prohibit all vessel traffic through the safety zone during bridge replacement operations, both planned and unforeseen, that could pose an imminent hazard to persons and vessels operating in the area. This rule is necessary to provide for the safety of life in the vicinity of the construction of the Belt Parkway Bridge.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone encompassing the waters of the Black Warrior River in Tuscaloosa, AL. This action is necessary for the safeguard of participants and spectators, including all crews, vessels, and persons on navigable waters during the Tuscaloosa Regional Air Show. Entry into or transiting in this zone is prohibited to all vessels, mariners, and persons unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Mobile or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard announces its intent to enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Vector Controls, Inc. (Vector) to develop changes to the response boat-medium (RB-M) onboard engine data bus that will convert Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J1939 format to the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) 0183/2000 data format. A test schedule has been proposed in which Vector will develop and install the required RB-M control system software upgrades and relevant additional equipment; a Coast Guard field unit will operate the RB-M in normal operations; and the Coast Guard Research and Development Center (R&DC) will install a dedicated data recorder system and conduct periodic data downloads for demonstration purposes. While the Coast Guard is currently considering partnering with Vector, the Coast Guard solicits 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 announces a public meeting to receive comments on a notice of proposed rulemaking entitled, ``Requirements for MODUs and Other Vessels Conducting Outer Continental Shelf Activities With Dynamic Positioning Systems.'' The proposed regulations would establish minimum design, operation, training, and manning standards for mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs) and other vessels using dynamic positioning systems to engage in Outer Continental Shelf activities.

Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River will hold a public listening session to present, and receive feedback on, the Missouri River Waterways Analysis and Management System (WAMS) study. The WAMS study will review and assess waterborne commerce as well as safe commercial and recreational navigation with a focus on the existing aids to navigation in Missouri River system from Sioux City, IA to St. Louis, MO. This listening session will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary moving safety zone on the waters of the Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida during the 24 Mile Tampa Bay Marathon Swim. The swim is scheduled to take place from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. on April 25, 2015. Approximately 30 swimmers are anticipated to participate in the marathon swim event. No spectators are expected to be present during the event. The safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, participant vessels, and the general public on the navigable waters of the United States during the event. The safety zone will establish a moving protective area around all swimmers involved in the race. Persons and vessels, except those participating in the event, will be prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port St. Petersburg or a designated representative.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding Information Collection Requests (ICRs), abstracted below, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting approval of a revision to the following collections of information: 1625-0013, Plan Approval and Records for Load LinesTitle 46 CFR Subchapter E; 1625- 0094, Ships Carrying Bulk hazardous Liquids; 1625-0096, Report of Oil or Hazardous Substance Discharge and Report of Suspicious Maritime Activity; 1625-0097, Plan Approval and Records for Marine Engineering SystemsTitle 46 CFR Subchapter F; and 1625-0101, Periodic Gauging and Engineering Analyses for Certain Tank Vessels over 30 Years Old. Review and comments by OIRA ensure we only impose paperwork burdens commensurate with our performance of duties.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary moving safety zone on the waters of the Sarasota Bay in Sarasota, Florida during the Swim Around Lido Key. The swim is scheduled to take place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 12, 2015. Approximately 100 swimmers are anticipated to participate in the swim event. No spectators are expected to be present during the event. The safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, participant vessels, and the general public on the navigable waters of the United States during the event. The safety zone will establish a moving protective area around all swimmers involved in the race. Persons and vessels, except those participating in the event, will be prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port St. Petersburg or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the operation of the Metro-North (Devon) railroad bridge across the Housatonic River at Stratford, Connecticut. This deviation is necessary to allow the bridge owner to perform electrical repairs at the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed for seven days.

The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee will meet to discuss various issues related to the training and fitness of merchant marine personnel. This meeting will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the operation of the Metro-North (Park Avenue) Bridge across the Harlem River, mile 2.1, at New York City, New York. This deviation is necessary to allow the bridge owner to perform electrical repairs at the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed from March 13, 2015 through May 21, 2015.

The Coast Guard is establishing safety zones for all waters of the Upper Mississippi River (UMR) from mile 38.0 to 46.0 and from mile 78.0 to 81.0. These safety zones are needed to protect persons, property, and infrastructure from potential damage and safety hazards associated with subsurface rock removal in the Upper Mississippi River. Any deviation from the conditions and requirements put into place are prohibited unless specifically authorized by the cognizant Captain of the Port (COTP) Ohio Valley or his designated representatives.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the draw of the Seaboard System Railroad (CSX Railroad) Bridge, across Appomattox River, mile 2.5, Hopewell, VA. This deviation is necessary to conduct bridge upgrades. This temporary deviation allows the swing bridge to remain in the closed to navigation position to facilitate bridge upgrades.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone on the waters of the New River in Fort Lauderdale, Florida during the Rotary Club of Fort Lauderdale New River Raft Race, on Saturday, April 18, 2015. The safety zone will encompass the waters between Esplanade Park to just east of the Southeast 3rd Avenue Bridge. Approximately 100 participants will attend the race. The safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of the participants, participant vessels, and the general public during the event. Persons and vessels, except those participating in the event, are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Miami or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Cape Fear Memorial Bridge across the Cape Fear River, mile 26.8, in Wilmington, NC. This temporary deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed to navigation position for up to five days to facilitate biennial maintenance and inspections.

The Coast Guard will establish a safety zone on the waters of Cooper River, and Town Creek Reaches in Charleston, South Carolina during the Cooper River Bridge Run on March 28, 2015 from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The Cooper River Bridge Run is a 10K run across the Arthur Ravenal Bridge. The safety zone is necessary for the safety of the runners and the general public during this event. Persons and vessels will be prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard has modified several aspects of the safety and security zones within the Sector Jacksonville Captain of the Port Zone. This action was necessary to consolidate, clarify, and otherwise modify safety and security zone regulations to eliminate unnecessary regulations and better meet the safety and security needs of the Ports of Jacksonville, Fernandina, and Canaveral. This action modifies existing safety and security zones; establishes safety zones governing port regulation in the event of natural and other disasters; and removes unnecessary or superfluous safety and security zones.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone throughout the Marine Safety Unit Savannah Captain of the Port Zone. This action is necessary to consolidate, clarify, and otherwise modify safety zone regulations to better meet the needs of the Ports of Savannah and Brunswick. This action would establish safety zones in the event natural or manmade disasters affect navigable waterways within the Marine Safety Unit Savannah Captain of the Port Zone.

The Coast Guard is removing the existing drawbridge operation regulation for the drawbridge across the Passaic River, mile 11.8, at Rutherford, New Jersey. The drawbridge was converted to a fixed bridge in October 2010, and the operating regulation is no longer applicable or necessary.

Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River will hold a public listening session to present, and receive feedback on, the Missouri River Waterways Analysis and Management System (WAMS) study. The WAMS study will review and assess waterborne commerce as well as safe commercial and recreational navigation with a focus on the existing aids to navigation in Missouri River system from Sioux City, IA to St. Louis, MO. This listening session will be open to the public.