Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On October 28, 2009, the President signed into law the 2010 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act. The Act allows for the termination of the Loran-C system subject to the Coast Guard certifying that termination of the Loran-C signal will not adversely impact the safety of maritime navigation and the Department of Homeland Security certifying that the Loran-C system infrastructure is not needed as a backup to the GPS system or to meet any other Federal navigation requirement. Those certifications were made; and the U.S. Coast Guard will, commencing on or about February 8, 2010, implement plans to terminate the transmission of the Loran-C signal and commence a phased decommissioning of the Loran-C infrastructure. These plans include ending transmissions at 18 Loran stations located in the contiguous United States and 6 Loran stations in Alaska. The Department of Homeland Security anticipates that all Loran stations will cease transmitting the Loran-C signal by October 1, 2010.

The Coast Guard proposes a temporary safety zone around the DRILLSHIP FRONTIER DISCOVERER, while anchored on location in order to drill exploratory wells at various prospects located in the Chukchi and Beaufort Sea Outer Continental Shelf, Alaska, from 12:01 a.m. on July 1, 2010 through 11:59 p.m. on October 31, 2010. The purpose of the temporary safety zone is to protect the DRILLSHIP from vessels operating outside normal shipping channels and fairways. Placing a temporary safety zone around the DRILLSHIP will significantly reduce the threat of allisions, oil spills, and releases of natural gas, and thereby protect the safety of life, property, and the environment.

The Coast Guard is adopting, as a final rule, without change, an interim rule published on July 1, 2009. The interim rule increased the limits of liability that apply under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) to vessels and to deepwater ports subject to the Deepwater Port Act of 1974, to reflect significant increases in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The interim rule also established the methodology the Coast Guard uses to adjust the OPA 90 limits of liability for inflation, and made minor regulatory amendments to clarify applicability of the OPA 90 single-hull tank vessel limits of liability.

The Coast Guard announces that a Certificate of Alternative Compliance was issued for the high speed ferry SUSITNA as required by 33 U.S.C. 1605(c) and 33 CFR 81.18.

The Coast Guard proposes temporary Special Local Regulation within the navigable waters of Oceanside Harbor for the Ironman 70.3 California. This temporary Special Local Regulation is necessary to provide safety for the swimmers, crew, spectators, vessels and other users of the waterway. Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within this Special Local Regulation unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or his designated representative.

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Danziger lift span bridge across the Inner Harbor Navigational Canal, mile 3.1, at New Orleans, LA. The deviation is necessary to remove and install the roller guide assemblies on the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed at two different points of time during the bridge repairs project.

The Coast Guard announces that a Certificate of Alternative Compliance was issued for the offshore supply vessel MICHAEL G MCCALL 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 INFANT JESUS OF PRAGUE as required by 33 U.S.C. 1605(c) and 33 CFR 81.18.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the waters of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway at Oak Island, North Carolina. All vessels are prohibited from transiting the zone near the second crossing to Oak Island, North Carolina except as specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port or a designated representative. The safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of mariners on navigable waters during the installation of bridge girders at the new high-level fixed highway bridge at the second crossing to Oak Island, North Carolina.

The U.S. Coast Guard published a notice in the Federal Register on November 27, 2009 (74 FR 62239), providing required notice of substantive rules issued by the Coast Guard and temporarily effective between March 2005 and November 2008, that expired before they could be published in the Federal Register. That notice inadvertently listed incorrect documents numbers in its table. This document corrects the table by replacing the notice in its entirety.

On December 16, 2005, the Coast Guard published an interim rule that defined ``certain dangerous cargo residue'' (CDC residue). After reviewing comments on the interim rule, the Coast Guard proposes to change that definition to include certain bulk liquids and liquefied gases in residue quantities. Based on changes to the CDC residue definition, the Coast Guard also proposes to revise the definition of ``certain dangerous cargo.'' Additionally, the Coast Guard intends to adopt changes made to 33 CFR part 104 and 105 by the 2005 interim rule.

In 1999, the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century made $5 million available to the Secretary of Homeland Security for payment per year of Coast Guard expenses for personnel and activities directly related to coordinating and carrying out the national recreational boating safety program. In 2005, the law was amended, and the amount was increased to $5.5 million. The Coast Guard is publishing this notice to satisfy a requirement of the Act that a detailed accounting of the projects, programs, and activities funded under the national recreational boating safety program provision of the Act be published annually in the Federal Register. In this notice, we have specified the amount of monies the Coast Guard has committed, obligated, or expended during fiscal year 2009, as of September 30, 2009.

The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District has issued a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the Grassy Sound Channel Bridge (County Route 619), mile 1.0, at Middle Township, NJ. The deviation restricts the operation of the draw span to facilitate the cleaning and painting of the structure.

By this final rule, the Coast Guard amends the list of special areas in effect under Annex V of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978, as amended, (MARPOL) to include the Gulfs and Mediterranean Sea special areas. The current list of special areas in effect is now outdated because it does not list these two special areas. The Coast Guard must update its regulations to harmonize its list of special areas with MARPOL Annex V. This rule will correct the list of special areas in effect to provide accurate information to the public.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety and security zone on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC) near Romeoville, IL. This temporary final rule is intended to restrict all vessels from transiting the navigable waters of the CSSC. The safety and security zone is necessary to protect the waters, waterway users and vessels from hazards associated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) electrical dispersal barrier and for the preparation and safe application of a fish toxicant during a period of time when the barrier will be disabled to conduct maintenance.

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 in the approaches to San Francisco. The goal of the study is to help reduce the risk of marine casualties and increase the efficiency of vessel traffic in the study area. The recommendations of the study may lead to future rulemaking action or appropriate international agreements.

The Coast Guard is adopting the subject interim rule published in the Federal Register August 20, 2009, as a final rule without change. Due to the physical location of Pier 91, Large Passenger Cruise Vessels are required to maneuver near a prominent marina frequented by a large recreational vessel community and near other numerous large commercial fishing vessels located at adjacent piers, posing a high safety and security risk when Large Passenger Cruise Vessels are entering and departing the cruise terminal. Due to the inherent safety and security risks associated with the movement of a cruise ship into or out of this especially tight berth at Pier 91, coupled with the large recreational boating community and commercial traffic in the area, the Coast Guard Captain of the Port Puget Sound finds it necessary to enact these safety and security zones.

The Coast Guard has set the calendar year 2010 minimum random drug testing rate at 50 percent of covered crewmembers.

The Coast Guard announces a Great Lakes Pilotage Advisory Committee (GLPAC) meeting and seeks applications to fill two vacancies on the GLPAC. GLPAC provides advice and makes recommendations to the Secretary on a wide range of issues related to pilotage on the Great Lakes, including the rules and regulations that govern the registration, operating requirements, and training policies for all U.S. registered pilots. The Committee also advises on matters related to ratemaking to determine the appropriate charge for pilot services on the Great Lakes.

The Commander, Seventh Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Cortez bridge across the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, mile 87.4, at Bradenton Beach, FL. The deviation is necessary to facilitate repairs of the bascule leaves of the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to conduct single-leaf operations while repairs are conducted. A two hour notice for double leaf operations will be required.

The Coast Guard proposes to modify the drawbridge operation regulation for the U.S. Highway 101 bascule bridge across the Chehalis River, mile 0.1, at Aberdeen, Washington, so that one-hour notice would be required at all times. The change is necessary to allow the bridge owner to reduce the staffing requirements of the bridge in light of the infrequent openings requested for the bridge.

The Coast Guard will enforce the special local regulation in 33 CFR 100.1101 for the San Diego Christmas Boat Parade of Lights on the San Diego Bay from 5:30 p.m. through 8 p.m. on December 13, 2009, and from 5:30 p.m. through 8 p.m. on December 20, 2009. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, crew, spectators, and other vessels and users of the waterway. During the enforcement period, no spectators shall anchor, block, loiter in, or impede the through transit of participants or official patrol vessels in the regulated area, unless cleared for such entry by or through an official patrol vessel.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone on the navigable waters of the Northwest Harbor of San Clemente Island in support of the Naval Underwater Detonation. This safety zone is necessary to ensure non-authorized personnel and vessels remain safe by keeping clear of the hazardous area during the training activity. 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) or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce the Mission Bay Parade of Lights Special Local Regulation on Mission Bay, CA from 5 p.m. through 10 p.m. on 12 December 2009. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, crew, spectators, sponsor vessels of the race, and general users of the waterway. During the enforcement period, no spectators shall anchor, block, loiter in, or impede the through transit of participants or official patrol vessels in the regulated area during the effective dates and times, unless cleared for such entry by or through an official patrol vessel.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the waters of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway at Sunset Beach, North Carolina. The safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of mariners on navigable waters during the installation of bridge girders at the new high-level fixed highway bridge at Sunset Beach, North Carolina.