Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

A working group of the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) will meet to work on Task Statement 80, concerning crew training requirements onboard vessels subject to the International Code of Safety for ships using gases or low flash-point fuels (IGF Code). This meeting will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard proposes to modify the operating schedule that governs the US 50 Bridge, over Isle of Wight (Sinepuxent) Bay, mile 0.5, at Ocean City, MD. This proposal would revise the current closure times to accommodate heavy volumes of vehicular traffic following the annual July 4th fireworks show.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone on the waters of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway at Morehead City, North Carolina. The safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of mariners on navigable waters during maintenance on the U.S. 70 Fixed Bridge crossing the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 203.7, at Morehead City, North Carolina. The safety zone will temporarily restrict vessel movement within the designated area.

The Coast Guard is updating special local regulations and permanent safety zones in the Coast Guard Sector Northern New England Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone for annual recurring marine events. When enforced, these proposed special local regulations and safety zones will restrict vessels from portions of water areas during certain annually recurring events. The revised special local regulations and safety zones will expedite public notification and ensure the protection of the maritime public and event participants from the hazards associated with certain maritime events.

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 to the following collection of information: 1625-0092, Sewage and Graywater Discharge Records for Certain Cruise Vessels Operating on Alaskan Waters. 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 will enforce the safety zone for the San Francisco Giants Fireworks display in the Captain of the Port, San Francisco area of responsibility during the dates and times noted below. This action is necessary to protect life and property of the maritime public from the hazards associated with the fireworks display. During the enforcement period, unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring in the safety zone, unless authorized by the Patrol Commander (PATCOM).

The Coast Guard announces the availability of a policy letter regarding a recent International Maritime Organization amendment to Chapter III of the International Convention for the Safety of Life At Sea, 1974 (SOLAS). The amendment requires all SOLAS ships, regardless of build date, to identify and replace existing lifeboat on-load release mechanisms that do not comply with certain provisions of the International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code. Compliance is required no later than the next scheduled dry-docking after July 1, 2014, but in any case before July 1, 2019. The amendment does not apply to the release mechanisms on free-fall lifeboats. Any U.S. ship subject to SOLAS that operates on international voyages without complying with the amendment past the applicable compliance date may be subject to detention by foreign port state officials and other administrative action by foreign authorities.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of the Pasquotank River in Elizabeth City, NC in support of the fireworks display for the Potato Festival. This action is necessary to protect the life and property of the maritime public and spectators from the hazards posed by aerial fireworks displays. Entry into or movement within this safety zone during the enforcement period is prohibited without approval of the Captain of the Port.

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 to the following collection of information: 1625-0082, Navigation Safety Information and Emergency Instructions for Certain Towing Vessels. 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 has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Rock Island Railroad and Highway Drawbridge across the Upper Mississippi River, mile 482.9, at Rock Island, Illinois. The deviation is necessary to allow the Front Street 5K Run/Walk to cross the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to be maintained in the closed-to-navigation position for one hour.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish special local regulations during the ``Coastal Aquatics Swim Team Open Water Summer Shore Swim'', a marine event to be held on the waters of the Nanticoke River at Bivalve, MD on June 29, 2014. These special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. This action is intended to temporarily restrict vessel traffic in a portion of the Nanticoke River during the event.

The Coast Guard is establishing two permanent safety zones on Lake Erie near Sandusky, OH that will be enforced two consecutive mornings annually during the first or second weekend in September. This is intended to restrict vessel traffic during the swim portion of the Revolution 3 Triathlon in Lake Erie and Sandusky Bay, Sandusky, OH, and is necessary to protect participants, spectators, and vessels from the hazards associated with a triathlon event.

The Coast Guard will enforce a segment of the Safety Zone; Brandon Road Lock and Dam to Lake Michigan including Des Plaines River, Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, Chicago River, Calumet-Saganashkee Channel on all waters of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal from Mile Marker 296.1 to Mile Marker 296.7 at specified times from March 21 to March 30, 2014. This action is necessary to protect the waterway, waterway users, and vessels from the hazards associated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Fish Suppression and Dispersal Barriers testing operations. During any of the enforcement periods listed below, entry into, transiting, mooring, laying-up or anchoring within the enforced area of this safety zone by any person or vessel is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Lake Michigan, or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the operation of the US 90 highway bridge (East Pearl River Bridge), a swing span bridge across the Pearl River, mile 8.8, near Pearlington, Mississippi. The deviation is necessary in order to conduct electrical and structural repairs to the bridge. These repairs are essential for the continued safe operation of the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain temporarily closed to navigation for ten hours on three separate dates to effect the repairs.

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 to the following collection of information: 1625-0017, Various International Agreement Safety Certificates and Documents. 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 proposes to establish a special local regulation on the Indian River located northeast of Ernest F. Lyons Bridge and south of Joes Cove, in Stuart, Florida during the Stuart Sailfish Regatta, a series of high-speed boat races. The Stuart Sailfish Regatta will take place from May 16 through May 18, 2014. Approximately 120 high-speed power boats will be participating in the event. It is anticipated that at least 100 spectator vessels will be present during the event. This special local regulation is necessary for the safety of race participants, participant vessels, spectators and the general public during the event. The special local regulation will establish the following three areas: (1) A race area, where all persons and vessels, except those participating in the high-speed boat races, are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within; (2) a buffer zone around the race area, where all persons and vessels, except those persons and vessels enforcing the buffer zone, or authorized participants or vessels transiting to the race area, are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within; and (3) a spectator area, where all persons are prohibited from entering the water or swimming in the designated area.

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 ``Girls on the Go'' run event. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position during the deviation period.

The Coast Guard is changing the regulation that governs the operation of the Poplar Street Bridge, mile 8.2, and the U.S. 13A Bridge over Broad Creek, mile 8.25, both at Laurel, DE. The new rule will change the current regulation requiring a forty-eight hour advance notice and allow the bridges to remain in the closed position for the passage of vessels. There have been no requests for openings since 1975.

This notice requests individuals interested in serving on the Area Maritime Security Committee (AMSC), Eastern Great Lakes, and the four regional sub-committees: Northeast Ohio Region, Northwestern Pennsylvania Region, Western New York Region, and Eastern New York Region to submit their applications for membership to the Captain of the Port (COTP), Buffalo. The Committee assists the Captain of the Port, Buffalo, in developing, reviewing, and updating the Area Maritime Security Plan for their area of responsibility.

The Coast Guard has established a safety zone in Barnegat Inlet from March 7, 2014 to November 31, 2014 around the Barnegat Inlet north jetty repair project. The Army Corps of Engineers has contracted with Agate Construction to repair the damage to the north jetty that was caused by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012. The presence of work barges in the channel reduces the width of the navigable portion of Barnegat Inlet, making it too narrow for vessels to safely pass each other within the inlet. This regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters of Barnegat Inlet and is intended to restrict traffic movement to protect mariners from hazards associated with the north jetty repair operations.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone within the navigable waters of Lake Havasu for the 2014 Lake Havasu Boat Show Water Ski Marathon. The temporary safety zone is necessary to provide safety for the water ski race participants, crew, rescue personnel, and other users of the waterway. Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within this safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish special local regulations during the ``Choptank Bridge Swim'', a marine event to be held on the waters of the Choptank River between Cambridge, MD and Trappe, MD on May 10, 2014. These special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. This action is intended to temporarily restrict vessel traffic in a portion of the Choptank River during the event.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone within the navigable waters of Mission Bay for Sea World firework shows. This temporary safety zone covers four evening events held in March 2014. The temporary safety zones provide for the safety of participants, crew, rescue personnel, and other users of the waterway. Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within this safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or his designated representative.

The Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC) and its Subcommittees will meet on April 8, 9, and 10, 2014, in Houston, TX, to discuss the safe and secure marine transportation of hazardous materials. The meetings will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish special local regulations during the ``2014 Ocean City Air Show,'' a marine event to be held above the waters of the Atlantic Ocean during June 12-15, 2014. These special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. This action is intended to temporarily restrict vessel traffic in a portion of the Atlantic Ocean in the vicinity of Ocean City, MD during the event.