Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the operation of the draws of three bridges which operate as one unit, specifically, the S71 bridge, mile 0.8, the railroad bridge, mile 0.9, and the S35 bridge, mile 0.9, all of which are across the Shark River (South Channel), at Avon Township, NJ. This deviation is necessary to facilitate stringer replacement on the Shark River railroad bridge. This temporary deviation will allow the drawbridges, which operate in unison, to remain in the closed-to- navigation position on specific dates and times.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone while the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Squadron conducts aerobatic performances over Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii. This safety zone encompasses a small area of the Kane'ohe Bay Naval Defensive Sea Area, including an area that extends approximately 150 yards northeast and 250 yards southwest of the Defensive Sea Area. This safety zone extends from the surface of the water to the ocean floor. This safety zone is necessary to protect watercraft and the general public from hazards associated with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels aircraft low flying, high powered jet aerobatics over open waters. Vessels desiring to transit through the zone can request permission by contacting the Honolulu Captain of the Port at telephone number 808- 842-2600.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone upon specified waters of the Potomac River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during a fireworks display launched from a floating platform located within the National Harbor Access Channel at Oxon Hill in Prince Georges County, Maryland. This safety zone is intended to protect the maritime public in a portion of the Potomac River.

The U. S. Coast Guard is making available an interim report issued by the Atlantic Coast Port Access Route Study (ACPARS) workgroup. The interim report provides status of the workgroup efforts and the remaining requirements to complete the study. The Coast Guard welcomes comments on the interim report or submission of additional information for consideration by the workgroup.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a permanent security zone on the waters of the East River and Bronx Kill, in the vicinity of Randalls and Wards Islands, New York; revise the description of the Wall Street Heliport security zone on the East River, New York; and clarify the enforcement times and locations of the security zones that are located near the United Nations Headquarters in Manhattan, New York, as set forth in 33 CFR 165.164(a)(4) and (a)(5). This action is necessary to protect visiting dignitaries and the Port of New York/New Jersey against terrorism, sabotage or other subversive acts and incidents of a similar nature during the dignitaries' visit to New York City. The zones are intended to restrict vessels from a portion of the East River and Bronx Kill when public officials are scheduled to arrive and depart the area. Persons or vessels would not be allowed to enter these security zones without permission from the Captain of the Port New York (COTP) or the COTP's designated on-scene representative.

On June 13, 2012, the Coast Guard published in the Federal Register an announcement of effective date that announced an information collection approval for the Standards for Living Organisms in Ships' Ballast Water Discharged in U.S. Waters (BWDS) Final Rule (77 FR 35268). The rulemaking triggered new information collection requirements affecting vessel owners and their potential requests for an extension of the compliance date if they cannot practicably comply with the compliance date otherwise applicable to their vessels. The June 13, 2012, document announced that the request to revise the existing collection of information to add the new request for an extension provision was approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and may now be enforced. The OMB control number is 1625-0069. The approval for this collection of information expires on May 31, 2015. In the June 13, 2012, document, the Coast Guard inadvertently failed to indicate that we received public submissions to the BWDS Final Rule (77 FR 17254). The Coast Guard is now publishing a document to advise the public that we received four public submissions to this collection of information. As the four public submissions were not collection of information-related, we did not revise our collection of information estimates. You may view copies of the public submissions and the Coast Guard responses to them in the BWDS docket online by going to https://www.regulations.gov, inserting USCG-2001-10486 in the ``Keyword'' box, and then clicking ``Search.'' A corrected information collection request package has been submitted to OMB for their review. The current 1625-0069 approval by OMB is still effective. If OMB decides to amend the current 1625-0069 approval, a copy of that decision will be placed in the docket.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Loop Parkway Bridge, mile 0.7, across Long Creek, and the Meadowbrook Parkway Bridge, mile 12.8, across Sloop Channel, at Hempstead, New York. This deviation is necessary to facilitate the 2012 March of Dimes Motorcycle Run. The deviation allows the two bridges listed above to remain in the closed position during this public event.

The Coast Guard proposes establishing a permanent Special Local Regulation on the Maumee River, Toledo, Ohio. This regulation is intended to regulate vessel movement in portions of the Maumee River during the annual Dragon Boat Races. This special local regulated area is necessary to protect race participants from other vessel traffic.

The Coast Guard will enforce the Special Local Regulation, Hydroplane Races within the Captain of the Port Puget Sound Area of Responsibility for the 2012 Fall Championship hydroplane event in Lake Sammamish, WA from 12 p.m. until 5 p.m. each day from September 28, 2012 through September 30, 2012. This action is necessary to restrict vessel movement in the vicinity of the race courses thereby ensuring the safety of participants and spectators during these events. During the enforcement period non-participant vessels are prohibited from entering the designated race areas. Spectator craft entering, exiting or moving within the spectator area must operate at speeds which will create a minimum wake.

The Coast Guard is seeking public comment regarding criteria for granting medical waivers to mariners who have anti-tachycardia devices or implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). Current Coast Guard guidance found in Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular 04-08, Medical and Physical Evaluation Guidelines for Merchant Mariner Credentials (NVIC 04-08), states that anti-tachycardia devices or ICDs are generally not waiverable. The Coast Guard is considering changing that policy. Prior to issuing a policy change on whether to grant waivers for anti-tachycardia devices or ICDs and the criteria for such waivers, the Coast Guard will accept comments from the public on whether the proposed criteria would adequately address safety concerns regarding merchant mariners with ICDs.

The Coast Guard will establish a temporary safety zone on the Cuyahoga River, Cleveland, OH. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of the Cuyahoga River during the Head of the Cuyahoga, the U.S. Rowing Masters Head Race International Championship, and the Cleveland Dragon Boat Festival. This safety zone is necessary to protect spectators, participants, and vessels from the hazards associated with rowing regattas.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone for sailing regattas to be conducted on the waters of San Francisco Bay adjacent to the City of San Francisco waterfront in the vicinity of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. This rule will regulate the on-water activities associated with 2012 America's Cup World Series regattas scheduled for October 2-3, 2012. This safety zone is established to ensure the safety of mariners transiting the area from the dangers associated with the sailing events. Unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or remaining in the safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port or their designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a special anchorage area in Stockton Springs, Maine. This proposed action is necessary to facilitate safe navigation in that area and provide safe and secure anchorages for vessels not more than 20 meters in length. This action is intended to increase the safety of life and property in Stockton Springs, improve the safety of anchored vessels, and provide for the overall safe and efficient flow of vessel traffic and commerce.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting an extension of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0071, Boat Owner's Report, Possible Safety Defect. 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 United States Coast Guard announces that it will impose conditions of entry on vessels arriving from the country of the Republic of Yemen, with the exception of vessels arriving from the Ash Shihr Terminal, the Balhalf LNG Terminal, and the Port of Hodeidah.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on Lake Erie and Cleveland Harbor at Burke Lakefront Airport, Cleveland, OH. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of Lake Erie and Cleveland Harbor (near Burke Lakefront Airport). This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect participants, spectators, and vessels from the hazards associated with aerial insertions and aircraft maneuvers.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating regulation that governs the Tower Drawbridge across Sacramento River, mile 59.0, at Sacramento, CA. The deviation is necessary to allow the community to participate in the A.L.S. 5K walk and run event. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position during the event.

The Coast Guard proposes to temporarily change the enforcement period of special local regulations for one recurring marine event in the Fifth Coast Guard District. This event is the Poquoson Seafood Festival Workboat Race, which includes a series of boat races to be held on the waters of Back River, Poquoson, Virginia. These special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the events. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic during the power boat races on the Back River in the vicinity of Messick Point, in Poquoson, Virginia.

The Coast Guard proposes to amend the inland navigation rules and their annexes in 33 CFR parts 83 through 88 to align the regulations with amendments made by the International Maritime Organization to the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, to which the United States is a signatory, and to incorporate recommendations made by the Navigation Safety Advisory Council. These changes would harmonize domestic and international law by reducing and alleviating equipment requirements on vessels, addressing technological advancements, such as wing-in-ground craft, and increasing public awareness of the inland navigation rules. The changes would also make references to applicable requirements easier to locate by using the same format in domestic regulations as is used in the international convention.

The Commander, Seventh Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the S41 Swingbridge across the Wando River mile 10.0, at Cainhoy, Berkeley County, South Carolina. This deviation will test a change to the drawbridge operation schedule to determine whether a permanent change to the schedule is needed. This deviation will allow the S41 Swingbridge to open on the hour and half-hour which is anticipated to improve vessel traffic flow.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the waters of the Atlantic Ocean in the vicinity of Apache Pier in Myrtle Beach, SC, during the Labor Day fireworks demonstration. This regulation is necessary to protect life and property on the navigable waters of the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Myrtle Beach, SC. Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary moving safety zone during the Swim Around Charleston, a swimming race occurring on waters of the Wando River, the Cooper River, Charleston Harbor, and the Ashley River, in Charleston, South Carolina. The Swim Around Charleston is scheduled to take place on Sunday, September 23, 2012. The temporary safety zone is necessary for the safety of the swimmers, participant vessels, spectators, and the general public during the event. Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone within Sector Boston's Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone for the drilling, blasting, and dredging operation on the navigable waters of Boston Inner Harbor, in the main ship channel near Castle Island. This temporary safety zone is necessary to enhance navigation, vessel safety, marine environmental protection, and provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters during the drilling, blasting and dredging operations in support of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers rock removal project. Entering into, transiting through, mooring or anchoring within this safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the COTP or the designated on-scene representative.

The Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee (MMMAC) will meet on September 25-26, 2012 to discuss matters relating to medical certification determinations for issuance of merchant mariner credentials, medical standards and guidelines for physical qualifications of operators of commercial vessels, medical examiner education, and medical research. The meeting will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard is revising the existing Cottonwood Island anchorage and establishing a new designated anchorage. The change is necessary to ensure that there are sufficient anchorage grounds on the Columbia River.