Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District is extending the previously published stay (suspension) of reporting requirements under the Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) established by 33 CFR 165.830 for barges loaded with certain dangerous cargoes (CDC barges) in the inland rivers of the Eighth Coast Guard District. This extension is necessary because the Coast Guard continues to analyze future reporting needs and evaluate possible changes in CDC reporting requirements. This extension of the suspension of the CDC reporting requirements in no way relieves towing vessel operators and fleeting area managers responsible for CDC barges in the RNA from their dangerous cargo or vessel arrival and movement reporting obligations currently in effect under other regulations or placed into effect under appropriate Coast Guard authority.

The Coast Guard is establishing a special local regulation on the waters of the Gulf of Mexico in the vicinity of Clearwater, Florida during the Clearwater Super Boat National Championship Race. The race is scheduled to take place from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on September 29, 2013. Approximately 35 boats, ranging in length from 24 feet to 50 feet, traveling at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour are expected to participate. Additionally, it is anticipated that 400 spectator vessels will be present along the race course. The 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 will temporarily restrict vessel traffic in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico in the vicinity of Clearwater, Florida. The special local regulation will establish the following three areas: A race area, where all persons and vessels, except those persons and vessels participating in the high speed boat races, are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within; a buffer area, where all persons and vessels, except those vessels enforcing the buffer area, are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within; and a spectator area, where all vessels must be anchored or operate at No Wake Speed.

The Coast Guard is issuing a final rule that makes non- substantive changes throughout titles 46 and 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The purpose of this rule is to make conforming amendments and technical corrections to Coast Guard shipping and transportation regulations. This rule will have no substantive effect on the regulated public. These changes are provided to coincide with the annual recodification of titles 46 and 49 on October 1, 2013.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge across Lake Pontchartrain, mile 4.80, near Slidell, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. The deviation is necessary to replace worn joints on the north draw of the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed to vessel traffic for six hours on three consecutive days.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary regulated navigation area (RNA) on the navigable waters of Weymouth Fore River in the vicinity of the Fore River Bridge (Mile 3.5) between Weymouth and Quincy, MA. This rule will place temporary speed, wake, and entry restrictions on vessels during bridge replacement operations. This rule is necessary to provide for the safety of life in the vicinity of the Fore River Bridge during its construction.

The Coast Guard will enforce the Navy Pier Southeast Safety Zone in Chicago Harbor during specified periods from October 26, 2013 through January 1, 2014. This action is necessary and intended to ensure safety of life on the navigable waters of the United States immediately prior to, during, and immediately after fireworks events. Enforcement of this safety zone will establish restrictions upon, and control movement of, vessels in a specified area immediately prior to, during, and immediately after various fireworks events. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port, Lake Michigan.

The Coast Guard will enforce marine event special local regulations on the navigable waters of Lake Havasu during the International Jet Sports Boating Association (IJSBA) World Finals, to be held on October 5, 2013 thru October 13, 2013. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of life and property on navigable waters. During the enforcement period, the special local regulations establish a regulated area that people and vessels will be prohibited from entering. Vessels may enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the area if authorized by the Captain of the Port or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary Special Local Regulation on the Maumee River, Toledo, Ohio. This Special Local Regulation is necessary to protect race participants from other vessel traffic. This temporary Special Local Regulation is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of the Maumee River during the annual Frogtown Race Regatta.

The Coast Guard is extending the comment period for the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) entitled ``Electrical Equipment in Hazardous Locations,'' published on June 24, 2013, until November 30, 2013. We are extending the comment period at the request of industry to ensure stakeholders have adequate time to submit complete responses.

The Coast Guard is disestablishing the existing regulation for the Safety Zone: Chelsea River, Boston Inner Harbor, Boston, MA. Since the implementation of the regulation, physical changes have occurred within the confines of the safety zone, making the safety zone unnecessary.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the Quogue Bridge, mile 1.1, across Quogue Canal, at Southampton, New York. This temporary deviation authorizes the Quogue Bridge to keep one of the two movable spans in the closed position in order to facilitate rehabilitation at the bridge.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Islamorada, Florida during the Pro Hydro- X Tour. The Pro Hydro-X Tour is a series of Jet Ski races. The race course is in an oval configuration. There will be 7 Jet Skis on the course for each race. The Pro Hydro-X Tour is scheduled to take place on September 20, 21, and 22, 2013. Approximately 50 participants are anticipated to participate in this event. This safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants and general public on the navigable waters of the United States during the event. The safety zone establishes a regulated area that will encompass the race course area. Non-participant persons and vessels will be prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Key West or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing safety zones in the navigable waters of the San Francisco Bay near Pier 27 in San Francisco, CA in support of 2013 America's Cup air shows. These safety zones are established to provide a clear area on the water for pilots to initiate maneuvers and also provide for the safety of pilots, spectators, and other vessels transiting the area in the unlikely event that an aircraft crashes during the air show. All persons or vessels are prohibited from entering the safety zones and all persons or vessels are prohibited from anchoring or otherwise loitering in the area during the scheduled events without the permission of the Captain of the Port or their designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce a safety zone in the Captain of the Port New York Zone on the specified date and time. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of vessels and spectators from hazards associated with fireworks displays. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the safety zone without permission from the Captain of the Port (COTP).

The Coast Guard will enforce the Sitcum Waterway Security Zone in Commencement Bay, Tacoma, Washington from 6 a.m. on September 12, 2013 through 11:59 p.m. on September 20, 2013 unless cancelled sooner by the Captain of the Port. This action is necessary for the security of Department of Defense assets and military cargo in the navigable waters of Puget Sound and adjacent waters. Entry into this zone is prohibited unless otherwise exempted or excluded under 33 CFR 165.1321 or unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or his Designated Representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a special local regulation on the waters of Biscayne Bay, east of Bayfront Park, in Miami, Florida, during the Red Bull Flugtag. The Red Bull Flugtag is scheduled to take place on September 21, 2013. The event consists of approximately 100 participants launching 30 self-propelled flying objects from a 30 foot ramp to the water below. Approximately 100 spectator vessels are anticipated to be at the event. The special local regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, participant vessels, spectators, and the general public on the navigable waters of the United States during the event. The special local regulation will establish an event area, where non-participant persons and vessels are prohibited from entering, transiting, anchoring, or remaining within.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone upon certain waters of the Patapsco River, Northwest Harbor and Inner Harbor during the movement of the historic sloop-of-war USS CONSTELLATION on September 26, 2013. If necessary, due to inclement weather, the event will be rescheduled for October 3, 2013. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the tow of the vessel from its berth at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland, to a point on the Patapsco River near the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore, Maryland, and its return. This action will restrict vessel traffic in portions of the Patapsco River, Northwest Harbor, and Inner Harbor during the event.

The Coast Guard is delaying the effective date of this interim rule by four months, to give the public additional time in advance of implementing the interim rule. The interim rule updates and revises regulatory tables that list liquid hazardous materials, liquefied gases, and compressed gases that have been approved for maritime transportation in bulk, and that indicate how each substance's pollution potential has been categorized. The interim rule provides new information about approved substances and their categorizations, but would not change which substances are approved or how each substance is categorized. Updated information is of value to shippers and to the owners and operators of U.S.-flag tank and bulk cargo vessels in any waters and most foreign-flag tank and oceangoing bulk cargo vessels in U.S. waters. This interim rule promotes the Coast Guard's maritime safety and stewardship missions.

The Coast Guard is canceling the temporary deviation from the regulations published on June 11, 2013, (78 FR 34893) governing the operation of the Atlantic Beach Bridge, mile 0.4, across Reynolds Channel, at Lawrence, New York. The owner of the bridge, Nassau County Bridge Authority, requested six, five hour closure periods, scheduled to occur during the effective period of the above temporary deviation. As a result of the bridge owner's recent request we must cancel the existing temporary deviation and issue a new temporary deviation to include the bridge closures.

The Coast Guard amends the drawbridge operation regulations that govern the operation of the highway bridge across the Hudson River, mile 152.7, between Troy and Green Island, New York. The owner of the bridge, New York State Department of Transportation, requested that a twenty four hour advance notice be given for bridge openings. In addition, we removed the regulations for the 112th Street Bridge, mile 155.4, between Troy and Cohoes which has been converted to a fixed bridge. It is expected that this change to the regulations will provide relief to the bridge owner from crewing the bridge while continuing to meet the reasonable needs of navigation as well as remove obsolete regulations from the Code of Federal Regulations.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Bridge across the Illinois Waterway, mile 88.8, at Beardstown, Illinois. The deviation is necessary to install new conley rail components which can only be done when the bridge is in the closed-to- navigation position. The deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position during two 12-hour periods.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone on the navigable waters of the North Atlantic Ocean in Virginia Beach, VA to support the Virginia Symphony Orchestra fireworks display. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic movement in the designated area in order to protect the life and property of the maritime public and spectators from the hazards associated with fireworks displays.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the State Highway 4 Drawbridge across Old River, mile 14.8 between Victoria Island and Byron Tract, CA. The deviation is necessary to allow the bridge owner to make critical repairs to the bridge shafts and gears. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position during the deviation period.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway Bridge across the Lake Washington Ship Canal, mile 0.1, at Seattle, WA. This deviation is necessary to facilitate heavy maintenance on the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the down, or closed position, during the maintenance period.

The Coast Guard intends to promulgate regulations that will require vessels engaged in OCS activities (defined in 33 CFR Chapter I, Subchapter N) to develop, implement, and maintain a vessel-specific Safety and Environmental Management System (SEMS) that incorporates the management program and principles of the American Petroleum Institute's Recommended Practice for Development of a Safety and Environmental Management Program for Offshore Operations and Facilities, Third Edition, May 2004 (API RP 75). The Coast Guard intends for this SEMS to be developed and implemented by the vessel's owner or operator and compatible with a designated lease operator's SEMS required under Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) regulations. The Coast Guard seeks comments on whether a SEMS that incorporates the management program and principles of API RP 75 is appropriate for vessels engaged in OCS activities, would reduce risk and casualties, and improve safety on the OCS. Comments should address the feasibility of implementing a SEMS that incorporates API RP 75, the compatibility with BSEE SEMS regulations, potential methods of oversight, safety issues, costs and regulatory burdens, and other issues of concern to the regulated community and general public. The Coast Guard would use such comments to assist in developing these new regulations.