Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document provides required notice of substantive rules issued by the Coast Guard and temporarily effective between February 2006 and August 2009, that expired before they could be published in the Federal Register. This notice lists temporary safety zones, security zones, special local regulations, and drawbridge operation regulations, all of limited duration and for which timely publication in the Federal Register was not possible.

The Coast Guard is reopening the public comment period on the proposed rule published May 7, 2010, which concerns proposed changes in the Standard Numbering System, Vessel Identification System, and Boating Accident Report Database.

The Coast Guard is temporarily establishing a regulated navigation area (RNA) in navigable waters near Great Bay, New Hampshire. This temporary regulation is in effect while the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) conducts boom deployments to test the effectiveness of oil spill response strategies, and is necessary to ensure the safety of exercise participants and the maritime public from hazards associated with the boom deployment exercise. While the RNA is in effect, all vessels must transit at bare steerageway and comply with directions from the Captain of the Port.

The Coast Guard is establishing temporary safety zones within the Captain of the Port Sector Boston Zone for various fireworks events. These safety zones are necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during these fireworks events. Entering into, transiting through, mooring or anchoring within these zones is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Boston.

This rule makes non-substantive changes throughout our regulations. The purpose of this rule is to make conforming amendments and technical corrections to Coast Guard bridge and navigable waters regulations. This rule will have no substantive effect on the regulated public.

The Coast Guard announces the availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed replacement by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey of the 82-year old Goethals Bridge across the Arthur Kill between Staten Island, NY, and Elizabeth, NJ. The FEIS analyzes the potential for impact to the natural, human and cultural environment of the proposed Goethals Bridge Replacement Project.

The U.S. Coast Guard is issuing a correction to a Federal Register Notice published on July 9, 2010 to extend the comment period

The Coast Guard is establishing a regulated navigation area (RNA) across the entire width of the Galveston Channel in the vicinity of Sector Field Office (SFO) Galveston, Texas. This RNA will require vessels to navigate at no wake speeds within this area. Vessel transits at greater than minimum safe speed and causing wake in this area will be prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston or a designated representative. This RNA is needed to protect the Coast Guard SFO Galveston assets, break wall, and piers from further damage associated with excessive wake and to protect ongoing base construction.

The Coast Guard is temporarily changing the drawbridge operation regulations of the Berkley (I-264) Bridge, at mile 0.4, across the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River, Norfolk, VA. This change will allow the drawbridge to operate with four opening periods between the rush hours until October 5, 2012, relieving increased vehicular traffic congestion while still providing for the reasonable needs of navigation.

The National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee (NOSAC) will meet by teleconference to discuss items related to safety of operations and other matters affecting the oil and gas offshore industry. This meeting will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard is establishing temporary special local regulations within the Captain of the Port Sector Boston Zone for several swim events and power boat races. These special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during these events. Entry into, transit through, mooring or anchoring within these zones is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Boston.

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the LA 24 vertical lift span bridge across Company Canal, mile 8.1, at Bourg, Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. The deviation is necessary to perform electrical rehabilitation work on the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed to navigation for twelve consecutive days.

The Coast Guard announces that a Certificate of Alternative Compliance was issued for the offshore supply vessel C-COURAGEOUS as required by 33 U.S.C. 1605(c) and 33 CFR 81.18.

The Coast Guard announces that a Certificate of Alternative Compliance was issued for the offshore supply vessel DWIGHT S. RAMSAY as required by 33 U.S.C. 1605(c) and 33 CFR 81.18.

The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Cape Fear River Memorial Bridge, across the Cape Fear River, mile 26.8, at Wilmington, NC. The deviation restricts the operation of the draw span to facilitate the cleaning and painting of the structure.

The Coast Guard proposes establishing a temporary safety zone on the Elizabeth River in the vicinity of Town Point Reach, Norfolk, Virginia in support of the Elizabeth River Private Fireworks event. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic movement on the specified portion of the Elizabeth River to protect mariners from the hazards associated with fireworks displays.

The Coast Guard will enforce the Navy Pier Southeast Safety Zone in Chicago Harbor during August 4, 2010 through August 29, 2010. 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 zones without permission of the Captain of the Port, Sector Lake Michigan.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in He'eia Kea Small Boat Harbor located in Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii. The safety zone is necessary to protect watercraft and the general public from hazards associated with five vessels moored for approximately 3- weeks off the boat harbor's main pier. Vessels desiring to transit through the zone can request permission by contacting the Captain of the Port Honolulu.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for Lyme Community Days Fireworks on Chaumont Bay, Lyme, New York. All vessels are prohibited from transiting the zone except as specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port or a designated representative. This action is necessary and intended to ensure safety of life on navigable waters immediately prior to, during, and immediately after the fireworks event.

In the Federal Register published on April 15, 2010, the Coast Guard placed the Inland Navigation Rules into the Code of Federal Regulations. That publication contained an error in the ``Discussion of the Rule'' section. This error does not impact the regulations, but has caused confusion among some members of the public.

This action is a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) to the Coast Guard's June 10, 2010, notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that proposed special local regulations for the ``Chesapeake Challenge'' power boat races, a marine event to be held on the waters of the Patuxent River, near Solomons, MD on October 1, 2010. This supplemental proposal adds an additional date to the ``Chesapeake Challenge'' power boat racing on October 3, 2010. 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 temporary safety zone on the Chicago River near Chicago, Illinois. This zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of the Chicago River due to the filming of a major motion picture. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect the surrounding public and vessels from the hazards associated with the different types of stunts that will be performed during the filming of this movie.

The Coast Guard will enforce a special local regulation for the annual Port Huron to Mackinac Island Sail Race. This action is necessary to safely control vessel movements in the vicinity of the race starting point and provide for the safety of the general boating public and commercial shipping. During this period, no person or vessel may enter the regulated area without the permission of the Coast Guard Patrol Commander (PATCOM).

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zones for annual fireworks displays in the Captain of the Port Buffalo Zone from July 2, 2010 through July 31, 2010. This action is necessary to protect the safety of life and property on navigable waters during these events. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the safety zones without the permission of the Captain of the Port Buffalo.

The Coast Guard announces that a Certificate of Alternative Compliance was issued for the offshore supply vessel CALLAIS SEARCHER as required by 33 U.S.C. 1605(c) and 33 CFR 81.18.