Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This study is a continuation of and an expansion of scope to the Port Access Route Study (PARS) the Coast Guard announced in 2010. Based on comments received from the 2010 notice the Coast Guard has developed a potential vessel routing system for the area. The Coast Guard requests comments on how consolidating vessel traffic into a defined vessel routing system may impact or benefit the region. The goal of the study is to help reduce the risk of marine casualties and increase the efficiency of vessel traffic in the region. The recommendations of the study may lead to future rulemaking action or appropriate international agreements.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone on the waters of the Gallant Channel at Beaufort, North Carolina. The safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of mariners on navigable waters during construction of the new U.S. 70 Fixed Bridge crossing the Gallant Channel, mile 203.8, at Beaufort, North Carolina. The safety zone will temporarily restrict vessel movement within the designated area.

The Coast Guard is disestablishing Commercial Anchorage ``A'' and is revising the permission and notification requirements in the regulations for the anchorage grounds of Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors, California. Commercial Anchorage ``A'' has become the location of a Submerged Material Storage Site and is no longer usable. Revised permission and notification requirements affect the six commercial anchorages within the breakwater of the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach that can accommodate vessels with lengths exceeding 800 feet overall and drafts greater than 40 feet. This revision requires vessels using these deep draft anchorages for more than 48 hours to obtain extended anchorage permission from the Captain of the Port (COTP) Los Angeles-Long Beach. This action will assist the COTP and the Pilots for the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to reduce congestion in the deep draft anchorage grounds within the harbor breakwater.

The Coast Guard is extending the comment period for the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) entitled ``Great Lakes Pilotage Rates 2015 Annual Review and Adjustment,'' published on September 4, 2014, for 30 days. We have decided to extend the comment period as we have received new financial data that could affect the discretion provided by Step 7 of the Appendix A methodology and the final rate.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all waters of the Upper Mississippi River, extending the entire width from mile 44 and 46. This safety zone is needed to protect persons, property, and infrastructure from potential damage and safety hazards associated with the removal of two 16 inch Enterprise pipelines in the navigation channel. Entry into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Ohio Valley or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a special local regulation on the waters of the Manatee River in Bradenton, Florida during the Bradenton Area Riverwalk Regatta. The race is scheduled to take place annually from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the first Saturday of February. The proposed special local regulation is necessary to protect the safety of race participants, participant vessels, spectators, and the general public on the navigable waters of the United States during the event. The special local regulation would restrict vessel traffic in the waters of the Manatee River in the vicinity of Bradenton, Florida. It would establish the following two areas: Enforcement areas #1 and #2, where all persons and vessels, except those persons and vessels participating in the high speed boat races and those vessels enforcing the areas, are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Norfolk Southern Railroad Drawbridge, across Trent River, mile 0.2, at New Bern, NC, to facilitate a rehabilitation project. This bridge presently opens on demand for navigation and is usually left in the open position only to close twice a day for train crossings. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed to navigation from 8 a.m. Monday, December 15, 2014 until 7 p.m. Friday, December 19, 2014, so that necessary maintenance may be made. The deviation is necessary to facilitate removal and replacement of the rail lift joints.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on Lake Michigan north of Navy Pier, Chicago, IL. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from a designated portion of Lake Michigan for salvage operations of a sunken barge. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect the surrounding public and vessels from the hazards associated with salvage operations.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the CSX Transportation Railroad Swing Span Bridge across Three Mile Creek, mile 0.3, at Mobile, Baldwin County, Alabama. This deviation is necessary to conduct maintenance to the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain temporarily closed to navigation for twelve hours during one day and then operate during daylight hours only for eight consecutive days within a span of nine days.

The Coast Guard is changing the operating regulation that governs the Conrail railroad bridge over Darby Creek at mile marker 0.25 in Essington, PA. The bridge owner, Conrail, is modifying the existing remote operating system which controls the bridge operations. Cameras will be installed and the remote operating site will move from its current location in Delair, NJ to Mt. Laurel, NJ. The train crew is no longer required to stop and check the waterway for approaching vessel traffic prior to initiating a bridge closure and mariners requesting an opening for the bridge will have to contact the new remote location.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Washington State Route 529 (SR 529) twin bridge south bound across the Snohomish River, mile 3.6, at Everett, WA. The deviation is necessary to facilitate adjustment of newly installed bridge joints. This deviation allows the bridges to remain in the closed position during adjustment and maintenance activities.

The Coast Guard is establishing a Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) for the waters of Lake Michigan within 5 nautical miles from shore from the Chicago Harbor Lock, Chicago, Illinois to Calumet Harbor, Chicago, Illinois. This RNA is intended to allow barges to transit on an alternate route on a portion of Lake Michigan due to the temporary closure of the Thomas J. O'Brien Lock on RM 326.5 on the Calumet River. This RNA is necessary to ensure vessel safety and facilitate commerce.

The Coast Guard published a final rule in the Federal Register on September 10, 2014, requiring the use of wearable personal flotation devices for individuals on board uninspected non-passenger commercial barges and sailing vessels. In the final rule, the Coast Guard amended several tables to reflect this requirement. However, in a subsequent final rule regarding non-substantive changes, the Coast Guard removed the same tables in an effort to consolidate the regulations by referencing to a common table instead. The original final rule's amendatory instructions can no longer be amended as the tables were removed prior to the original final rule's effective date by the subsequent effective final rule. This correction removes the amendatory instructions in the original final rule for the affected tables.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) double leaf bascule Ballard Bridge across the Lake Washington Ship Canal, mile 1.1, at Seattle, WA. The requested deviation is to accommodate evening detoured commuter traffic during road construction. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed position for an extra hour during evening traffic.

The Coast Guard will enforce the Hanohano Ocean Challenge special local regulations on January 24, 2015. This marine event occurs on the navigable waters of Mission Bay, in San Diego, California. This action is necessary to provide for 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 is establishing a temporary Safety Zone for all waters of the Lower Mississippi River, from MM 363.5 to MM 364.5. This safety zone is needed to protect persons and vessels from the potential safety hazards associated with a fireworks display. Entry into this zone is prohibited to all vessels, mariners, and persons unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP), Lower Mississippi River or a designated representative.

Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound received a Letter of Intent (LOI) and Waterway Suitability Assessment (WSA) from Washington State Ferries for a proposal to convert six Issaquah Class Ferries to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) propulsion. By statute, the Captain of the Port (COTP), Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound, will be reviewing and validating the WSA in cooperation with key port stakeholders and issue a Letter of Recommendation (LOR) to the State of Washington Department of Transportation regarding the suitability of the waterway for LNG marine traffic. As it conducts this review, the Coast Guard solicits public comments that may inform the COTP's recommendation. The Washington State Ferries' LOI, WSA, and other supporting documentation and information can be viewed at: https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Ferries/ Environment/LNG.htm.

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 seeks applications for membership on the National Maritime Security Advisory Committee. The National Maritime Security Advisory Committee provides advice and makes recommendations on national maritime security matters to the Secretary of Homeland Security via the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard.

The U.S. Coast Guard will hold a public meeting on subject matters that will be addressed at the Twenty-third Session of the Assembly of the International Mobile Satellite Organization.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the Fox River in Green Bay, Wisconsin. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of the Fox River due to demolition work on a railroad bridge. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect the surrounding public and vessels from the hazards associated with the demolition work on the railroad bridge.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Henry Ford Avenue railroad drawbridge across Cerritos Channel, mile 4.8, at Long Beach, CA. The deviation is necessary to allow the bridge owner to make necessary bridge maintenance repairs. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position during the deviation period.

The Coast Guard will enforce the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights special local regulations on Sunday, December 14, 2014 and Sunday, December 21, 2014. This event occurs in north San Diego Bay in San Diego, CA. These special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, crew, spectators, sponsor 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 proposes to establish a temporary safety zone encompassing certain waters of Kent Island Narrows in Queen Anne's County, MD. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of mariners and their vessels on navigable waters during bridge repairs at the Kent Narrows (MD-18B) Draw Bridge. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic movement to protect mariners from potential safety hazards associated with the bridge project scheduled to occur in the federal navigation channel between December 15, 2014 and February 16, 2015. Entry into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Baltimore or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a special local regulation during the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade scheduled to occur on December 13, 2014, between the hours of 2 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on the waters of the New River and Intracoastal Waterway in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This special local regulation is necessary to protect the public from hazards associated with the boat parade. The special local regulation will consist of a moving zone around participant vessels as the parade transits the navigable waters of the United States during the event. Persons and vessels that are not participating in the boat parade 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.