Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard proposes to establish 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 permanent safety zone from Brandon Road Lock and Dam to Lake Michigan. This safety zone will cover 77 miles of navigable waterways in the Chicago area and is intended to restrict vessels from entering certain segments of the navigable waters of the Des Plaines River, the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, branches of the Chicago River, and the Calumet-Saganashkee Channel. This safety zone is necessary to protect the waters, waterway users and vessels from hazards associated with a myriad of actions designed to control the spread of aquatic nuisance species. Because the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC) may take such actions at any time and in any segment of the waterways covered by this safety zone, this safety zone will provide the Captain of the Port, Sector Lake Michigan, the ability to take targeted and expeditious action to protect vessels and persons from the hazards associated with any Federal and state efforts to control aquatic nuisance species.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone closing the Atchafalaya River to all commercial traffic from MM 117 (Morgan City Railroad Bridge) to MM 0 (Simmesport, LA). This temporary safety zone is needed to protect the general public, vessels and tows from destruction, and the levee system from destruction, loss or injury due to hazards associated with rising flood water.

The Coast Guard is advising the public of its intent to finalize regulations previously published as an interim rule on January 13, 2006. The IR was published to amend the maritime personnel licensing rules to include new security requirements when mariners apply for original, renewal, and raise-of-grade licenses and certificates of registry, but was never published as a final rule. Because of the lapse in time since the interim rule publication, the Coast Guard is seeking comments from the public on one remaining section of the interim rule that has remained unfinalized. The Coast Guard intends to finalize this one section of the interim rule.

The Coast Guard will enforce the Navy Pier Southeast Safety Zone in Chicago Harbor from July 2, 2011 through July 30, 2011. 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. This rule will establish restrictions upon, and control movement of, vessels in a specified area immediately prior to, during, and immediately after fireworks events. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the safety zones without permission of the Captain of the Port, Sector Lake Michigan.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the waters of the Savannah River in Augusta, Georgia during the Augusta Southern Nationals Drag Boat Race. The Augusta Southern Nationals Drag Boat Race will consist of a series of high-speed boat races. The event is scheduled to take place from Thursday, July 14, 2011 through Sunday, July 18, 2011. The temporary safety zone is necessary for the safety of race participants, 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 Savannah or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing safety zones on the Columbia River, Willamette River, Lewis River, and Pacific Ocean at the mouth of the Chetco River for 4th of July fireworks displays. The safety zones are necessary to help ensure the safety of the maritime public during the displays and will do so by prohibiting persons and vessels from entering the safety zones unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or his designated representatives.

The Coast Guard will enforce the annual Seafair Blue Angels Air Show safety zone on Lake Washington, Seattle, WA from 9 a.m. on August 4, 2011 to 4 p.m. on August 7, 2011. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of the public from inherent dangers associated with these annual aerial displays. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter or transit this safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or Designated Representative.

The U.S. Coast Guard is extending the enforcement of a safety zone established on the waters of the Columbia River surrounding the M/ V DAVY CROCKETT at approximate river mile 117. The original safety zone was established on January 28, 2011. The safety zone is necessary to help ensure the safety of the response workers and maritime public from the hazards associated with ongoing salvage operations involving the M/ V DAVY CROCKETT. All persons and vessels are prohibited from entering or remaining in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Columbia River or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation from mile marker 101.0 (Morgantown Highway Bridge) to mile marker 102.0 (Morgantown Lock and Dam) on the Monongahela River, extending the entire width of the river. The special local regulation is being established to safeguard participants of the Mountaineer Triathlon from the hazards of marine traffic. Entry into, movement within, and departure from this Coast Guard regulated area is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or a designated representative.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding Information Collection Requests (ICRs), 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 collections of information: 1625-0020, Security Zones, Regulated Navigation Areas and Safety Zones, 1625-0022, Application for Tonnage Measurement of Vessels, 1625-0029, Self- propelled Liquefied Gas Vessels, and 1625-0031, Plan Approval and Records for Electrical Engineering RegulationsTitle 46 CFR Subchapter J. The sixty-day notice was previously published as an extension. Due to a new instruction sheet added to this collection, this Notice is being submitted as a revision. Our ICRs describe 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 Secretary of Homeland Security has determined that the establishment of the Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC) is necessary and in the public interest in connection with the performance of duties of the U. S. Coast Guard. Name of Committee: Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee.

The Coast Guard seeks applications for membership on the Navigation Safety Advisory Council (NAVSAC). NAVSAC provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary, Department of Homeland Security, through the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, on matters relating to prevention of maritime collisions, rammings, and groundings, including the Inland and International Rules of the Road, navigation regulations and equipment, routing measures, marine information, diving safety, and aids to navigation systems.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the navigable waters of Monterey Bay, off of Lovers Point, in Pacific Grove, California in support of the Pacific Grove Feast of Lanterns Fireworks Display. This 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 a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone New York on the navigable waters of the Upper New York Bay in the vicinity of Red Hook, New York for a fireworks display. This temporary safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of vessels and spectators from hazards associated with fireworks displays. Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, mooring, or anchoring within the temporary safety zone unless authorized by the COTP New York or the designated on-scene representative.

The Coast Guard seeks public input on whether changes are needed to the regulations covering standard safety features on certain recreational vessels. Specifically, the Coast Guard is seeking comment on whether it should require engine cut-off switches as a standard safety feature on propulsion machinery and/or starting controls installed on recreational vessels less than 26 feet in length, and whether it should require operators of these recreational vessels to use engine cut-off switches. Comments should address the public safety aspects of the new requirements, as well as the cost implications and regulatory burden.

The Coast Guard will enforce various safety zones for annual fireworks events in the Captain of the Port Detroit zone from 9:40 p.m. on May 27, 2011 through 9:45 p.m. on September 4, 2011. This action is necessary and intended to ensure safety of life on the navigable waters immediately prior to, during, and immediately after fireworks events. This rule will establish restrictions upon, and control movement of, vessels in a specified area immediately prior to, during, and immediately after fireworks events. During each enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the respective safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone within the Sector Boston Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone for the demolition of the Chelsea St. Bridge. This safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the demolition operations. Entering into, transiting through, mooring or anchoring within this zone is prohibited unless authorized by the COTP or the designated on-scene representative.

The Coast Guard is amending the special load line exemption regime for certain river barges operating on Lake Michigan, as established in the final rule published on November 18, 2010. Specifically, the weather restrictions based on Small Craft Advisory conditions are being replaced with the original weather restrictions implemented in 2002 by an interim rule.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone at the mouth of the Black River, Lorain, OH for the Lorain Independence Day Fireworks. This zone is intended to restrict vessels from the Black River in Lorain, OH, during the Lorain Independence Day Fireworks on July 3, 2011. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect spectators and vessels from the hazards associated with a firework display.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary regulated navigation area (RNA) in certain waters of the Magothy River, in Sillery Bay, Maryland, on July 23, 2011. This RNA is necessary to provide for the safety of life, property and the environment. This RNA restricts the movement of vessels throughout the regulated area during The Bumper Bash 2011 event.

The Coast Guard will enforce this safety zone for annual fireworks events in the Captain of the Port, Sector Lake Michigan zone at various times from 9:15 p.m. on June 11, 2011 through 11 p.m. on June 29, 2011. This action is necessary and intended to ensure safety of life on the navigable waters immediately prior to, during, and immediately after fireworks events. This rule will establish restrictions upon, and control movement of, vessels in a specified area immediately prior to, during, and immediately after fireworks events. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port, Sector Lake Michigan.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of the James River in Isle of Wight, VA. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the live-fire gun exercises on the M/V Del Monte. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic movement to protect mariners from the hazards associated with the live-fire gun exercise.

The Coast Guard is amending our regulations to expand the established safety zone during the annual Tacoma Freedom Air Show held at Commencement Bay, Tacoma, WA. The safety zone expansion will enlarge the clear area for low flying aircraft during this event. This expanded safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of crews, spectators, participants of the event, participating vessels, and other vessels and users of the waterway during the event. Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within this safety zone unless authorized by the COTP or his designated representative.