Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Delaware River and Bay Oil Spill Advisory Committee (DRBOSAC) will meet in Philadelphia, PA to discuss various issues to improve oil spill prevention and response strategies for the Delaware River and Bay. This meeting will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of the San Diego Bay in support of the NASSCO Ship Launching for the United States Naval Ship (USNS) Charles Drew. The safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of vessels and users of the waterway. Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within this safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) San Diego or his designated representative.

The U.S. Coast Guard is proposing to establish a permanent safety zone on all waters extending 100 yards from Pier 66, Elliot Bay, WA to ensure adequate safety of the boating public during multiple naval and aerial spectator events associated with the annual Fleet Week Maritime Festival. Entry into, transit through, mooring, or anchoring within these zones is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Puget Sound or Designated Representative.

The Coast Guard has established four permanent security zones in the Brazos River in Freeport, Texas. These security zones are being put in place to protect vessels, waterfront facilities, and surrounding areas from destruction, loss, or injury caused by terrorism, sabotage, subversive acts, accidents, or incidents of a similar nature. Entry into these zones is prohibited except by permission of the Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish multiple permanent safety zones to ensure public safety during annual firework displays at various locations the Captain of the Port, Puget Sound Area of Responsibility (AOR). When these safety zones are activated, and thus subject to enforcement, this rule would limit the movement of vessels within the established firework display areas. This action is necessary to prevent injury and to protect life and property of the maritime public from the hazards associated with firework displays. Entry into, transit through, mooring, or anchoring within these zones during times of enforcement is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Puget Sound or Designated Representative.

The Coast Guard announces a public meeting to receive comments on the aids to navigation in the St. Croix River.

The Coast Guard proposes establishing a safety zone on the Great Wicomico River in the vicinity of Mila, VA in support of the Wicomico Community Fireworks event. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic movement on the Great Wicomico River to protect mariners from the hazards associated with fireworks displays.

The Coast Guard is increasing the rates for pilotage service on the Great Lakes by an average of 5.07% to generate sufficient revenue to cover allowable expenses, target pilot compensation, and return on investment. This increase reflects an August 1, 2010, increase in benchmark contractual wages and benefits and an adjustment for inflation. This rulemaking promotes the Coast Guard strategic goal of maritime safety.

The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) will meet in Metairie, Louisiana (LA) to discuss various issues related to the training and fitness of merchant marine personnel. These meetings will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard proposes a temporary safety zone around a dive platform vessel in Pago Pago Harbor, American Samoa, while diving operations are under way in and around the CHEHALIS wreck. The safety zone is necessary to protect other vessels and the general public from hazards associated with dive operations. Entry into or remaining in the safety zone during the effective period would be prohibited unless authorized by the Coast Guard Captain of the Port Honolulu.

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Senator Ted Hickey (Leon C. Simon) Bascule Bridge across the Inner Harbor Navigational Canal, mile 4.6, at New Orleans, LA. The deviation is necessary to ensure the safety of pedestrians as they bike across the bridge for the Ochsner Ironman 70.3 New Orleans event. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed during the event.

The Coast Guard announces that a Certificate of Alternative Compliance was issued for the tugboat MR SAM 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 C-AGGRESSOR, as required by 33 U.S.C. 1605(c) and 33 CFR 81.18.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in all navigable waters of the Captain of the Port Baltimore zone. The temporary safety zone restricts vessels from transiting the zone during the effective period, unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Baltimore, or his designated representative. This safety zone is necessary to protect mariners from the hazards associated with ice in the navigable waterway.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the waters surrounding the Congress Street Bridge over the Pequonnock River in Bridgeport, Connecticut. This zone is necessary to protect vessels transiting in the area from hazards imposed by construction barges and equipment that are being utilized for partial demolition of the Congress Street Bridge. Entry into this zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Long Island Sound, New Haven, Connecticut.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on Lake Havasu, California in support of the Havasu Landing Annual Regatta. This temporary safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, crew, spectators, participating vessels, and other vessels and users of the waterway. Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within this safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the West Duwamish Waterway, Seattle, Washington. Entry into, transit through, mooring or anchoring within this zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Puget Sound or her Designated Representative. This safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of recreational and commercial traffic in the area during a vessel launch operation at Todd Pacific Shipyards, located at the entrance to the West Duwamish Waterway.

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

The Coast Guard is correcting a notice that appeared in the Federal Register of January 7, 2010 (75 FR 998). The document announced termination of the Long Range Aids to Navigation (Loran-C) Signal commencing on or about February 8, 2010. The document had an incorrect word in the DATES section.

The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the I695 Bridge across Curtis Creek, mile 0.9, at Baltimore, MD. The deviation is necessary to facilitate mechanical repairs to the bridge. This temporary deviation allows the drawbridge to remain in the closed position during the deviation period.

The Coast Guard proposes to change the regulation governing the operation of three bridges across the Quinnipiac and Mill Rivers at New Haven, Connecticut, to relieve the bridge owner from the burden of crewing the bridges during time periods when the bridges seldom receive requests to open while still providing for the reasonable needs of navigation.

The Coast Guard is establishing a regulated navigation area (RNA) covering the Hood Canal in Washington that will be in effect whenever any U.S. Navy submarine is operating in the Hood Canal and being escorted by the Coast Guard. The RNA is necessary to help ensure the safety and security of the submarines, their Coast Guard security escorts, and the maritime public in general. The RNA will do so by requiring all persons and vessels located within the RNA to follow all lawful orders and/or directions given to them by Coast Guard security escort personnel.

The Coast Guard seeks comments from the public on methods for securing cargo in transport vehicles and freight containers in order to determine if a standardized approval or certification process or improved performance criteria for flexible strapping securing systems is needed. Under current U.S. regulations and international codes, there is no certification or qualification standard for blocking, bracing, or for the use of strapping systems for securing cargo. Cargo must be secured to prevent shifting in any direction during transport. Packages of hazardous materials must be braced and dunnaged within a container so that they are not likely to be pierced or crushed and the materials must be in proper condition for transportation. Currently, the specific method for securing cargo is left to the discretion of the individual or company packing the container. The Coast Guard is considering whether there is a need for a standardized certification or approval process for cargo securing systems.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), United States Coast Guard (USCG), announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) to decommission the USCG Loran-C Program and terminate transmission of the North American Loran-C Radionavigation Signal. The ROD is supported by the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact