Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Lower Hack Bridge across the Hackensack River, mile 3.4, at Jersey City, New Jersey. The deviation is necessary to repair structural steel members on the lift span. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed position to facilitate the above repairs.

The Coast Guard proposes establishing a permanent Special Local Regulation on the Maumee River, Toledo, Ohio. This regulation is intended to restrict vessels from portions of the Maumee River during the Dragon Boat Races which take place during the third or fourth weekend in July each year. This special local regulated area is necessary to protect race participants from other vessel traffic.

The Houston/Galveston Navigation Safety Advisory Committee postponed its originally scheduled February 3, 2011, meeting due to inclement weather. The new meeting date is June 21, 2011, in Texas City, Texas, to discuss waterway improvements, aids to navigation, area projects impacting safety on the Houston Ship Channel, and various other navigation safety matters in the Galveston Bay area. The meeting will be open to the public.

In order to provide safe access routes for the movement of vessel traffic proceeding to or from ports or places along the eastern seaboard of the United States, the Coast Guard is conducting a Port Access Route Study (PARS) to evaluate the continued applicability of, and the need for modifications to, current vessel routing measures. The data gathered during this Atlantic Coast PARS may result in establishment of one or more new vessel routing measures, modification of existing routing measures, or disestablishment of existing routing measures off the Atlantic Coast between Maine and Florida. The goal of the Atlantic Coast PARS is to enhance navigational safety by examining existing shipping routes and waterway uses, and, to the extent practicable, reconciling the paramount right of navigation within designated port access routes with other reasonable waterway uses such as the leasing of outer continental shelf blocks for the construction and operation of offshore renewable energy facilities. The recommendations of the study may lead to future rulemaking action or appropriate international agreements.

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 approval of revisions to the following collection of information: 1625-0109, Drawbridge Operation Regulations. 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.

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: 1625-0003, Coast Guard Boating Accident Form (CG-3865). The sixty day notice was previously published as an extension. Due to a change to form CG-3865, this Notice is being submitted as a revision. 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.

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 an extension of its approval for the following collections of information: 1625-0077, Security Plans for Ports, Vessels, Facilities, and Outer Continental Shelf Facilities and Other Security-Related Requirements; 1625-0085, Streamlined Inspection Program; and 1625-0112, Enhanced Maritime Domain Awareness via Electronic Transmission of Vessel Transit Data. 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.

This rule makes non-substantive amendments to reflect the Coast Guard's reorganization of Sector North Carolina. The amendments describe the boundaries of Sector North Carolina's Marine Inspection Zone and Captain of the Port Zone, and provide updated contact information.

The Commander, Thirteenth Coast Guard District has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Hood Canal floating drawbridge near Port Gamble, Washington to test an operational change and seek public comment regarding that change in order to evaluate the need for a permanent change. The deviation establishes a restricted period from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. every day of the week from 3 p.m. May 27, 2011 through 6 p.m. on September 30, 2011.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the Saugus River, Lynn, Massachusetts, within the Captain of the Port (COTP) Boston Zone to allow for repair of high voltage transmission lines to Logan Airport. This safety zone is required to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the repair of high voltage transmission lines. Entering into, transiting through, mooring or anchoring within this zone is prohibited unless authorized by the COTP.

The Coast Guard will establish a safety zone in San Pablo Bay for Coast Guard Use of Force Training exercises. This safety zone will be established to ensure the safety of the public and participating crews from potential hazards associated with fast-moving Coast Guard small boats and/or helicopters taking part in the exercise. Unauthorized persons or vessels will be 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 U.S. Coast Guard is proposing the establishment of 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 proposes to establish a permanent regulated navigation area (RNA) on Biscayne Bay in Miami, Florida. The RNA would be enforced annually on the Saturday and Sunday of the second week in October (Columbus Day weekend). It would include all waters within one nautical mile of the center of the Intracoastal Waterway between Featherbed Bank and the Rickenbacker Causeway Bridge. All vessels within the RNA would be: Required to transit the regulated navigation area at no more than 15 knots; subject to control by the Coast Guard; and required to follow the instructions of all law enforcement vessels in the area. This RNA is necessary to ensure the safe transit of vessels and to protect the marine environment.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone on Biscayne Bay, east of Bayfront Park, in Miami, Florida during the 2011 Rohto Ironman 70.3 Miami, a triathlon. The Rohto Ironman 70.3 Miami is scheduled to take place on Sunday, October 30, 2011. The temporary safety zone is necessary for the safety of race participants, participant vessels, and the general public during the 1.2 mile swim portion of this competition. Persons and vessels will be prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Miami or a designated representative.

The Commander, District Fifth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Route 1/Rehoboth Blvd Bascule Bridge across the Mispillion River, mile 11.0, at Milford, DE. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed position for two months to accommodate the necessary bridge cleaning and painting of the bridge.

The Great Lakes Pilotage Advisory Committee (GLPAC) will meet on May 20, 2011, in Washington, District of Columbia. The meeting will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in East Passage, Tacoma, Washington for a Regional Water Rescue Exercise near Browns Point. A safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of participating vessels and participants in the water and will do so by prohibiting any person or vessel from entering or remaining in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all waters of the Red River in the State of North Dakota, including those portions of the river bordered by Richland, Cass, Traill, Grand Forks, Walsh, and Pembina Counties, plus those in Minnesota South of a line drawn across latitude 46[deg]20'00'' N, extending the entire width of the river. This safety zone is needed to protect persons and vessels from safety hazards associated with flooding occurring on the Red River. Entry into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi River or a designated representative.

The Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Tower Drawbridge across the Sacramento River, mile 59.0, at Sacramento, CA. The deviation is necessary to allow the community to participate in the Roger's Jewelry Bicycle Ride. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position during the event.

The Coast Guard is changing the regulation governing the operation of the US 50 Bridge over Isle of Wight (Sinepuxent) Bay, mile 0.5, at Ocean City, MD. This rule will require any mariner requesting an opening in the evening hours during the off-season, to do so before the tender office has vacated for the night. The change will ensure draw tender availability for openings. The Coast Guard is also changing the waterway location from Isle of Wight Bay to Isle of Wight (Sinepuxent) Bay. This change is necessary because the waterway is known locally as both Isle of Wight Bay and Sinepuxent Bay. This change will ensure there is no confusion as to the referenced waterway.

The Coast Guard proposes the establishment of a safety zone on the waters of the Newport River under the main span US 70/Morehead CityNewport River high rise bridge in Carteret County, NC. This safety zone is necessary to provide for safety of life on navigable waters during the disestablishment of staging for bridge maintenance. This rule will enhance the safety of the contractors performing maintenance as well as the safety of the vessels that plan to transit this area between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on August 20, 2011.

The Coast Guard is finalizing without change its December 13, 2010, interim rule codifying traffic separation schemes in the approaches to Portland, ME; in the approaches to Boston, MA; in the approaches to Narragansett Bay, RI and Buzzards Bay, MA; and in the approaches to the Cape Fear River, NC, and updating the then-current regulations for the traffic separation scheme in the approaches to Chesapeake Bay, VA. The Coast Guard established these traffic separation schemes under authority of the Ports and Waterways Safety Act.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of the San Francisco Bay in support of the Bay Ferry II Maritime Security Exercise, a multi-agency exercise that tests the proficiency of teams called upon in real life emergency situations onboard ferries or other vessels in the San Francisco Bay. The temporary safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of the public and those participating in the exercise, many of whom will be traveling at high speeds while interfacing with law enforcement responders. Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within the temporary safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or the Captain of the Port's designated representative.

The Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Marine Safety Unit Duluth, MN is establishing a temporary safety zone on the Red River, MN. This safety zone is being established to ensure the safety of the public. The safety zone will prevent individuals from entering all navigable waters of the Red River in the State of Minnesota north of a line drawn across latitude 46[deg]20'00'' N, including those portions of the river in Wilkin, Clay, Norman, Polk, Marshall and Kittson counties, to the United States-Canada international border.

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. through 4:30 p.m. on May 14, 2011. 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.