Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 approval for the following collection of information: 1625-new, Various International Agreement Certificates and Documents. 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 the navigable waters of the Atlantic Ocean in Virginia Beach, VA. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the USO Patriotic Festival Air Show. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic movement in the restricted area in order to protect mariners from the hazards associated with air show events.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Third Street Drawbridge across the China Basin, mile 0.0, at San Francisco, CA. The deviation is necessary to allow the public to cross the bridge to participate in the scheduled San Francisco Marathon, a community event. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position during the deviation period.

The Coast Guard proposes to modify the operating schedule that governs the highway bridge (Troy Green Island) 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 are removing 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 would 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 is adding, deleting, and modifying safety zones and special local regulations and adding language to clarify time frames and notification requirements for annual marine events in the Sector Long Island Sound Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone. When these regulated areas are activated and subject to enforcement, this rule will restrict vessels from portions of water areas during these recurring events. The safety zones and special local regulations will facilitate public notification of events and provide protective measures for the maritime public and event participants from the hazards associated with these recurring events.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on Lake Erie, Bay Village, OH. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of Lake Erie during the Bay Village Independence Day Fireworks display. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect spectators and vessels from the hazards associated with a fireworks display.

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 (COTP).

The Coast Guard proposes to amend the Safety Zone for Chicago Harbor, Navy Pier Southeast, Chicago, IL. This Zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of Chicago Harbor during fireworks displays, races, and other marine events that occur throughout each calendar year. The safety zone established by this proposed rule is necessary to protect spectators, participants, and vessels from the hazards associated with these fireworks displays, boat races, and other events.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedules that govern the Route 30/Absecon Boulevard Bridge across Beach Thorofare, NJICW mile 67.2 and the US40-322 (Albany Avenue) across Inside Thorofare, NJICW mile 70.0, both at Atlantic City, NJ. This deviation allows the drawbridges to remain closed-to- navigation to accommodate the free movement of vehicles during the re- scheduled 2013 Atlantic City Air Show.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish four temporary safety zones upon the navigable waters of San Diego Bay for the Port of San Diego Big Bay Boom Fireworks display from 8:45 p.m. to 10 p.m. on July 4, 2013. These proposed safety zones are necessary to provide for the safety of the crew, spectators, and other users and vessels of the waterway. Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within these temporary safety zones during, immediately before and after the fireworks event unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone on the navigable waters of Mission Bay in support of the Sea World San Diego Fireworks 2013 season. This 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 proposes to establish permanent safety zones in Hawaii's nine commercial harbors (Nawiliwili and Port Allen, Kauai; Barber's Point and Honolulu Harbor, Oahu; Kaunakakai, Molokai; Kaumalapau, Lanai; Kahalui, Maui and Kawaihae and Hilo on the Island of Hawaii). The purpose of these safety zones is to expedite the evacuation of the harbors in the event a tsunami warning is issued for the main Hawaiian Islands.

The Coast Guard is adding three new fireworks events and correcting the location of five existing events outlined in 33 CFR 165.1332 to ensure public safety during annual firework displays at various locations in the Captain of the Port, Puget Sound Area of Responsibility. When these safety zones are activated and subject to enforcement, this rule limits the movement of vessels within the established firework display areas. These additions and corrections are necessary to prevent injury and to protect life and property of the maritime public from hazards associated with firework displays.

The Coast Guard is proposing the establishment of a temporary safety zone on Shallowbag Bay, Manteo, NC on October 4, 2013, for a fireworks display as part of the Outer Banks Bluegrass Festival. This action is necessary to protect the life and property of the maritime public from the hazards posed by fireworks displays. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of Shallowbag Bay River during the Outer Banks Bluegrass Festival Fireworks display.

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zone for the Berkeley Marina Fourth of July 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 will enforce a safety zone for the 2013 Pridefest fireworks on June 8, 2013, from 9:15 p.m. until 10:15 p.m. If the fireworks display is cancelled due to inclement weather, then the zone will be enforced on June 9, 2013, from 9:15 p.m. until 10:15 p.m. This action is necessary and intended to ensure safety of life on the navigable waters immediately prior to, during, and immediately after the fireworks display. During the aforementioned periods, the Coast Guard will enforce restrictions upon, and control movement of, vessels in the safety zone. No person or vessel may enter the safety zone while it is being enforced without permission of the Captain of the Port, Lake Michigan.

A working group of the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) will meet to work on Task Statement 83, entitled ``Development of competency requirements to meet the provisions of Table A-III/2 of the Convention on the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (1978), as amended (STCW), for personnel working on small vessels with high horsepower.'' This meeting will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the Illinois River from Mile Marker 231.0 to Mile Marker 271.4. This zone is intended to place restrictions on vessels due to the salvage and port recovery operations in this part of the Illinois River, and the potential structural concerns regarding the Marseilles Dam. This safety zone is necessary to protect the general public, vessels, and tows from the hazards associated with salvage and port recovery operations and the potential catastrophic failure of the Marseilles Dam.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a special local regulation on the waters of Bahia de Ponce in Ponce, Puerto Rico during the Cruce a Nado Internacional de la Bahia de Ponce Puerto Rico, a swimming event. The event is scheduled to take place on Sunday, September 1, 2013. Approximately 100 swimmers are anticipated to participate in the event, and no spectator vessels are anticipated to be present. The special local regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters of the United States during the event. The special local regulation establishes a swim area, where all persons and vessels, except those participating in the race or vessels patrolling the swim area, will be prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port San Juan or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes a permanent regulated navigation area (RNA), enforcement of which would take place only during times when a tsunami warning is issued for the Hawaiian Islands by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. Tsunami warnings require the evacuation of a large number of vessels from their respective harbors. Following the evacuation, these vessels must remain offshore until the emergency situation has passed and the harbors have been deemed safe for re- entry. Past tsunami warnings have created potentially dangerous offshore traffic congestion between commercial and recreational vessel traffic. Because of this, designated vessel traffic staging areas are necessary for a safe and orderly evacuation of Southern Oahu ports.

The Coast Guard announces that International Maritime Organization (IMO) Resolution MEPC.203(62) amended Annex VI to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). On July 15, 2011, the IMO formally adopted Resolution MEPC.203(62), which entered into force on January 1, 2013, and amends MARPOL Annex VI by adding Chapter 4 and amending existing regulations in Annex VI. These amendments require the issuance of an International Energy Efficiency Certificate and the preparation of a Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan for both new and existing ships. To obtain the certificate, (1) new ships, (2) new ships when they undergo a major conversion, and (3) existing ships that undergo a major conversion after January 1, 2013, so extensive that it is regarded as a newly constructed ship, must first have an Attained Energy Efficiency Design Index. These requirements apply to all U.S. flag ships 400 gross tonnage and above that engage in voyages to ports or offshore terminals under the jurisdiction of other Parties to MARPOL. The Coast Guard Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance has issued Policy Letter 13-02 to provide amplifying guidance on U.S. implementation of MARPOL Annex VI Chapter 4 and associated requirements.

The Coast Guard is extending the comment period for the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published March 22, 2013, entitled ``Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)Reader Requirements'' for 30 days. This extension of the comment period is designed to accommodate requests from the public for more time to review the proposed rule and associated analysis.

The Coast Guard proposes to revise the operating schedule that governs the Winneconne Highway Bridge at Mile 2.4, and the Canadian National Railroad Bridge at mile 27.8, both over the Wolf River. A review of the current regulation was requested by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WDOT) and the Canadian National Railroad.

The Coast Guard will enforce the Navy Pier Southeast Safety Zone in Chicago Harbor during specified periods from May 25, 2013, through June 29, 2013. 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 the Special Local Regulation for the annual National Maritime Week Tugboat Races in Elliott Bay, WA from 12 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. on May 11, 2013. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of all participants and spectators from the inherent dangers associated with these types of races which includes large wakes. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter or remain in the regulated area except for participants in the event, supporting personnel, vessels registered with the event organizer, and personnel or vessels authorized by the Coast Guard Patrol Commander.