Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The United States Coast Guard, in consultation with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, will conduct a public meeting on the International Maritime Organization guidelines for exhaust gas cleaning systems for marine engines. The purpose of this meeting in Washington, DC, is to collect information on how to evaluate exhaust gas cleaning systems to determine under Annex VI regulation 4 of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution by Ships, 1973 as modified by the Protocol of 1978 (MARPOL) if such a system should be considered an equivalent that would be at least as effective in reducing sulfur oxide emissions as the requirements of MARPOL Annex VI regulation 14.

The Coast Guard announces the availability of a Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for the proposed nationwide implementation of the Interagency Operations Centers (IOC) Project.

The Coast Guard is establishing a regulated navigation area (RNA) on the navigable waters of the Sakonnet River under and surrounding construction of the new Route 24 bridge that crosses the Sakonnet River between Tiverton and Portsmouth, Rhode Island. This rule implements certain safety measures including establishment of a temporary channel beneath the bridge, speed restrictions, and suspension of all vessel traffic within the RNA during construction operations that could pose an imminent hazard to vessels operating in the area. This rule is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters during construction of the Route 24 bridge over the main channel of the Sakonnet River.

In the Federal Register published on September 8, 2011, the Coast Guard published a Temporary Final Rule changing the date of the special local regulation for this year's Wilmington YMCA Triathlon. In that Temporary Final Rule, the line number for the temporary line in the Table to Sec. 100.501 was wrong. This Correction fixes that error. The date and all other details in the Final Rule were correct.

The Coast Guard is establishing 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. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect spectators and vessels from the hazards associated with a rowing regatta.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit Information Collection Requests (ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting approval of revisions to the following collections of information: 1625-0037, Certificates of Compliance, Boiler/Pressure Vessel Repairs, Cargo Gear Records, and Shipping Papers, 1625-0041, Various International Agreement Pollution Prevention Certificates and Documents, and Equivalency Certificates, 1625-0042, Requirements for Lightering of Oil and Hazardous Material Cargoes, and l625-0044, Outer Continental Shelf ActivitiesTitle 33 CFR Subchapter N. Our ICRs describe the information we seek to collect from the public. Before submitting these ICRs to OIRA, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

The Coast Guard announces a series of public meetings to receive comments on a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) entitled ``Inspection of Towing Vessels'' that was published in the Federal Register on August 11, 2011. As stated in that document, the regulations proposed in the NPRM would establish safety regulations governing the inspection, standards, and safety management systems of towing vessels. The proposal includes provisions covering: Specific electrical and machinery requirements for new and existing towing vessels, the use and approval of third-party auditors and surveyors, and procedures for obtaining Certificates of Inspection. Without making a specific proposal in the NPRM regarding potential requirements for hours of service or crew endurance management for mariners aboard towing vessels, the Coast Guard also welcomes comments on these two important issues, which are discussed in the NPRM.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on Lake Erie, Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH. This zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of Lake Erie during the Revolution 3 Triathlon. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect participants, spectators and vessels from the hazards associated with a triathlon event.

The Coast Guard will establish special local regulation during the Chesapeake Bay Workboat Race, 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.

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 of a revision to the following collection of information: 1625-0009, Oil Record Book for Ships. Before submitting this ICR to OMB, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the navigable waters near pier 48 in the San Francisco Bay, San Francisco, California in support of the Corporate Party on Hornblower Yacht. This temporary safety zone is established to ensure the safety of participants and spectators from the dangers associated with the pyrotechnics. 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 has received recommendations from the National Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC) regarding potential ways to improve the recreational boating accident reporting process. NBSAC recommended that the Coast Guard: (1) Use a two-tiered reporting system for boating accidents; and (2) take steps to clarify what, how, and when information is reported. This notice solicits public comment on the NBSAC recommendations, as well as general public comment on the burden involved in reporting accidents, and other alternative means of reporting or collecting information.

The Coast Guard proposes to amend its vessel inspection regulations to add the International Anti-fouling System (IAFS) Certificate to the list of certificates a recognized classification society may issue on behalf of the Coast Guard. This action is being taken in response to recently enacted legislation implementing the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships, 2001. This proposed rule would enable recognized classification societies to apply to the Coast Guard for authorization to issue IAFS Certificates to vessel owners on behalf of the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on Lake Erie, Cleveland, OH. This zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of Lake Erie during the Cleveland National Air Show. This safety zone is necessary to protect persons and vessels from the potential safety hazards associated with high speed, low altitude acrobatic and military aircraft.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for a portion of the Gulf of Mexico for the waters off Orange Beach, Alabama. This action is necessary for the protection of crews, vessels, persons, and spectators on navigable waters during the Thunder on the Gulf high speed boat races. Entry into, transiting or anchoring in this zone is prohibited to all vessels, mariners, and persons unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Mobile or a designated representative.

The Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee (MMMAC) will hold its inaugural meeting starting Monday, September 19, and ending Wednesday September 21, 2011. The meetings will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the waters of the Savannah River in Augusta, Georgia during the ESI Ironman 70.3 Augusta Triathlon on Sunday, September 25, 2011. The temporary safety zone is necessary for the safety of the race participants, participant vessels, spectators, and the general public during the 1.1 mile swim portion of the competition. 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 Savannah or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is extending the effective period for the temporary safety zone restricting navigation on the Big Sioux River from the Military Road Bridge in North Sioux City, South Dakota to the confluence of the Missouri River and extending the entire width of the river. Temporary section 33 CFR 165.T11-0511, which established the temporary safety zone, was set to expire August 30, 2011. Extending the effective period for this safety zone provides continued and uninterrupted protection of levees and personnel involved in ongoing high water response. Continuing the safety zone will significantly reduce the threat of destruction to levees. Additionally, to avoid duplicative temporary section numbers, section 33 CFR 165.T11-0511 is redesignated as 33 CFR 165.T11-0528.

The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the US 70 (Alfred C. Cunningham) Bridge across Trent River, mile 0.0, at New Bern, NC, to accommodate a bike race. This deviation allows the drawbridge to be maintained in the closed position to vessels at specific dates and times.

The Coast Guard is updating and consolidating the list of marine events occurring annually within the Eleventh Coast Guard District. These amendments standardize the special local regulations language, update listed events, delete events that are no longer occurring, add new unlisted annual events to the regulation, and standardize the format for all tables in these four sections. When these special local regulations are activated, and thus subject to enforcement, this rule would enable vessel movement restrictions in the regulated area.

The U.S. Coast Guard will establish a safety zone during the construction of the TriMet Bridge on the Willamette River, in Portland, OR. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of recreational vessels and commercial vessels transiting in close proximity to cranes and overhead work associated with this construction project. During the enforcement period, all vessels will be required to transit through the area at a no wake speed and at a safe distance from the work being conducted.

The Coast Guard is establishing special local regulations during the ``Chesapeake Challenge'' power boat races, a marine event to be held on the waters of the Patuxent River, near Solomons, MD on September 24 and 25, 2011. 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 Patuxent River during the event.

The Coast Guard is establishing a Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) on the navigable waters of the Arthur Kill in New York and New Jersey. This temporary interim rule is necessary to enhance navigation, vessel safety, marine environmental protection, and provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters during drilling, blasting and dredging operations in support of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers channel deepening project. We seek comments regarding this rule and will consider those comments before issuing a final rule.

The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the CSX Railroad Vertical Lift Bridge across the Anacostia River, mile 3.4, at Washington, DC. This deviation will test a change to the drawbridge operation schedule to determine whether a permanent change to the schedule is necessary. This deviation will change the current eight hour advance notice requirement for a bridge opening to a 48 hour advance notice requirement for a bridge opening.

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Elgin Joliet and Eastern Railroad Drawbridge, across the Illinois Waterway, mile 290.1, at Joliet, Illinois. The deviation is necessary to allow the replacement of the existing bridge miter rail joints and installation of lift span alignment guides to ensure precise seating. This deviation allows the bridge to be maintained in the closed-to- navigation position for ten hours.