Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the Niagara River near North Tonawanda, NY. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of the Niagara River during the Thunder on the Niagara hydroplane race. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect mariners and vessels from the navigational hazards associated with a hydroplane race.

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 on each day from August 12 through August 16, 2013. This action is necessary to protect the waterways, waterway users, and vessels from the hazards associated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dispersal barriers performance testing. 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 Towing Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC) and its subcommittees will meet on September 4 through 6, 2013, in Chicago, Illinois to discuss issues related to shallow draft inland, coastal waterway navigation and towing safety. The meetings will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zone for the Luna Pier Fireworks Show, Luna Pier, MI, from 9:25 p.m. until 10:25 p.m. on August 24, 2013. Enforcement of this zone is necessary to ensure the safety of life on the navigable waters of the United States immediately prior to, during, and immediately after the associated marine event. During the aforementioned period, the Coast Guard will enforce restrictions upon, and control movement of, vessels on those waters of Lake Erie within a 300-yard radius of the fireworks launch site at the Clyde E. Evens Municipal Pier, located at position 41[deg]48'32'' N, 83[deg]26'23'' W (NAD 83) immediately prior to, during, and immediately after the fireworks event.

The Coast Guard will establish 8 permanent safety zones for annually recurring marine events in the Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP) Duluth zone. These safety zones are needed to protect both spectators and participants from the hazards associated with the events. During the enforcement period of the safety zones, persons and vessels are prohibited from entering, transitioning through, remaining, anchoring or mooring within the zone unless specifically authorized by the COTP or designated representative.

The Coast Guard announces the availability of a draft update to the Marine Safety Manual (MSM), Volume III, Marine Industry Personnel, and the corresponding Commandant Change Notice that highlights the changes made to that manual. MSM Volume III provides information and interpretations on international conventions and U.S. statutory and regulatory issues relating to marine industry personnel. This Commandant Change Notice discusses the substantive changes to chapters 20 through 26 of MSM Volume III. The Coast Guard seeks and will consider comments on this draft before issuing a final version of this manual.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the operation of the I64 Bridge across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, South Branch of the Elizabeth River, mile 7.1, at Chesapeake, VA. This deviation is necessary to facilitate maintenance work on the moveable spans. This temporary deviation allows the drawbridge to remain in the closed to navigation position.

The Coast Guard is amending special local regulations for annual regattas and marine parades in the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan Zone. This rule is intended to provide for the safety of life and property on navigable waters immediately prior to, during, and immediately after regattas or marine parades. This rule will establish restrictions upon, and control the movement of, vessels in a portion of the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan Zone.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Grassy Sound Channel Bridge (Ocean Drive) across Grassy Sound, mile 1.0, at Middle Township, NJ. The deviation is necessary to accommodate the ``Tri the Wildwoods Triathlon and 5k'' event. This temporary deviation allows the bridge draw span to remain in the closed to navigation position for 4 hours during the event.

The Coast Guard proposes rate adjustments for pilotage services on the Great Lakes, which were last amended in February 2013. The proposed adjustments would establish new base rates and are made in accordance with a full ratemaking procedure. The proposed update reflects the Coast Guard exercising the discretion provided by Step 7 of the Appendix A methodology. The result is an upward adjustment to match the rate increase of the Canadian Great Lakes Pilotage Authority. We also propose adjusting weighting factors used to determine rates for vessels of different size, providing a procedure for temporary surcharges, and including dues paid to the American Pilots Association. This notice of proposed rulemaking promotes the Coast Guard's strategic goal of maritime safety.

The Coast Guard proposes to disestablish the existing Safety Zone for the 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 provisions of the safety zone no longer applicable.

The Coast Guard will enforce a Safety Zone for the AVI Resort and Casino Labor Day Fireworks Display located on the Colorado River in Laughlin, Nevada from 8 p.m. until 9:45 p.m. on September 1, 2013. This action is necessary for the safety of spectators and participants, including all crews, vessels and persons on navigable waters during the AVI Resort and Casino Fireworks. During the enforcement period, in accordance with the established Safety Zone, entry into transiting through or anchoring in the Safety Zone is prohibited to all vessels not registered with the event sponsor as participants or official patrol vessels, unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector San Diego or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone on the navigable waters of the San Diego Bay in support of the Kuoni Destination Management Fireworks Display on August 6, 2013. This temporary safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, crew, spectators, participating vessels, and other vessels and 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 has established temporary safety zones around the following Pacific Northwest Grain Handlers Association facilities: the Columbia Grain facility on the Willamette River in Portland, OR, the United Grain Corporation facility on the Columbia River in Vancouver, WA, the Temco Irving facility on the Willamette River in Portland, OR, the Temco Kalama facility on the Columbia River in Kalama, WA, and the Louis Dreyfus Commodities facility on the Willamette River in Portland, OR. These safety zones extend approximately between the navigable channel and the shoreline of the facility described. These safety zones have been established to ensure that on-water protest activities near these facilities do not create hazardous navigation conditions for vessels protesting, transiting in the navigable channel, or attempting to moor at the facilities and that any on-water activities do not create hazardous conditions while grain- shipment vessels are moored at the facilities. This rule revises the safety zones already promulgated to add one additional grain facility, respond to comments already received, and to correct typographical errors in previous versions of the safety zones at the Columbia Grain and United Grain Corporation facilities.

The Coast Guard is updating special local regulations and permanent safety zones in the Coast Guard Captain of the Port Northern New England Zone for annual recurring marine events. When these special local regulations or safety zones are activated and subject to enforcement this rule will restrict vessels from portions of water areas during these annual recurring events. The revised special local regulations and safety zones will expedite public notification of events, and ensure the protection of the maritime public and event participants from the hazards associated with these annual recurring events.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the operation of the S.R. 74 Bridge, at mile 283.1, over the AICW, at Wrightsville Beach, NC. The deviation is necessary to facilitate electrical system and equipment upgrades to the bridge. This temporary deviation allows the drawbridge to remain in the closed to navigation position.

The Coast Guard is establishing three temporary safety zones on the Chicago River in Chicago, IL. These safety zones are intended to restrict vessels from a portion of the Chicago River due to the filming of a motion picture. These temporary safety zones are necessary to protect the surrounding public and vessels from the hazards associated with the stunt work, rigging, and other hazards involved in the filming of a motion picture.

The Coast Guard will enforce safety zones in the Captain of the Port New York Zone on the specified dates and times. 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 zones without permission of the Captain of the Port.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all waters of the Upper Mississippi River, from mile 662.8 to 663.9, extending the entire width of the river. This safety zone is needed to protect vessels transiting through the area on the Upper Mississippi River. Entry into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Upper Mississippi River or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that govern four Multnomah County bridges: The Broadway Bridge, mile 11.7, the Burnside Bridge, mile 12.4, the Morrison Bridge, mile 12.8, and the Hawthorne Bridge, mile 13.1, all crossing the Willamette River at Portland, OR. This deviation is necessary to accommodate the annual Portland Providence Bridge Pedal event. This deviation allows the bridges to remain in the closed position to allow safe movement of event participants.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding an Information Collection Request (ICR), abstracted below, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting a revision of a currently approved collection of information: 1625-0087; U.S. Coast Guard International Ice Patrol (IIP) Customer Survey. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Review and comments by OIRA ensure we only impose paperwork burdens commensurate with our performance of duties.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on Sister Bay near Sister Bay, WI. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of Sister Bay due to a fireworks display and ski show. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect the surrounding public and vessels from the hazards associated with the fireworks display and ski show in Sister Bay on August 31, 2013.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on Lake Michigan near Winnetka, IL. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of Lake Michigan due to a fireworks display. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect the surrounding public and vessels from the hazards associated with the fireworks display.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish and modify anchorage grounds within the Port of New York. This action is necessary to facilitate safe navigation and provide safe and secure anchorages for vessels operating in the area. This proposed rule is intended to increase the safety of life and property of both the anchored vessels and those operating in the area as well as provide for the overall safe and efficient flow of commerce.

The United States Coast Guard will hold a public workshop in Washington, DC on topics related to the development of a mandatory code for ships operating in polar waters by the International Maritime Organization (IMO Polar Code). Various safety topics will be discussed including design, equipment, and operational requirements. This workshop is intended to be an interactive exchange of information between policymakers, industry experts, and interested members of the public.