Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The National Towing Safety Advisory Committee (Committee) and its subcommittees will conduct a series of meetings over 2 days in Annapolis, MD, to review and discuss matters relating to shallow-draft inland navigation, coastal waterway navigation, and towing safety. These meetings will be open to the public.

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 an extension of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0019, Alternative Compliance for International and Inland Navigation Rules; without change. 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.

The Coast Guard is establishing two temporary safety zones, a moving safety zone and a fixed safety zone, around the M/V HAPPY DIAMOND in the navigable waters of the Houston Ship Channel and its vicinity. The temporary safety zones are necessary to protect persons, property, and the marine environment from potential hazards associated with the transfer of large gantry cranes. Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the safety zones unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to change the name and operating schedule that governs the Central Oregon and Pacific railroad bridge across the Umpqua River, mile 11.5, at Reedsport, OR. Coos Bay Rail Line, the bridge owner, requested to change the name of the bridge to a locally recognized name and to change the current operating schedule due to reduced marine traffic using the waterway. The modified rule would change the name of the bridge, allow the bridge to be maintained in the closed to navigation position and remove the requirement for fog signals at the bridge. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard will enforce the Blue Water Resort and Casino Spring Classic special local regulations on the waters of Parker, AZ from April 13, 2024, to April 14, 2024. These special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, crew, spectators, sponsor vessels, and general users of the waterway. During the enforcement period, persons and vessels are prohibited from anchoring, blocking, loitering, or impeding within this regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, or his designated representative.

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 an extension of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0024, Safety Approval of Cargo Containers; without change. 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.

The Coast Guard is altering the operating schedule that governs the Charles Berry Bridge, mile 0.6, and the Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge, mile 1.2, both over the Black River. The regulation has remained primarily unchanged since 1986 and needs to be updated to ensure the needs of all modes of transportation are being met.

The Coast Guard proposes to temporarily modify the operating schedule that governs the Cherry Street Bridge, mile 2.29, over the Milwaukee River. The City of Milwaukee has requested this temporary deviation to allow contractors to complete an extensive rehabilitation of the bridge. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone to be enforced in the event of hurricanes, tropical storms, and other disasters in the San Juan Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of the waters of the San Juan COTP zone. This regulation establishes actions to be completed by parties operating on and around the navigable waterways of the San Juan COTP zone. This may include the owners and operators, and those in management and control positions of regulated facilities, waterfront facilities, and vessels, prior to landfall of hurricanes, tropical storms, and other disasters threatening the San Juan COTP Zone.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary security zone for navigable waters of the Cooper River, in the vicinity of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, in Mount Pleasant, SC. This security zone is necessary to provide for the security and protection of life of participants and spectators during the Cooper River Bridge Run event. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within a 500-yard radius of Tug Nancy Anne, Tug Champion, Tug General, Tug WM Boyd, Tug Shirley Ann and crew boat Timmy V. The safety zone is needed to protect the remotely operated vehicle survey operations from other vessels. Entry of vessels into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Northern Great Lakes.

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 an extension of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0073, Alteration of Unreasonable Obstructive Bridges; without change. 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.

The U.S. Coast Guard is accepting applications to fill six vacancies on the National Chemical Transportation Safety Advisory Committee (Committee). This Committee advises the Secretary of Homeland Security, via the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard on matters relating to the safe and secure marine transportation of hazardous materials.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone for certain waters of the East Passage, Narragansett Bay, RI. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near East Passage, Narragansett Bay, RI, during a sailboat race. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Southeastern New England or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The U.S. Coast Guard is accepting applications to fill four vacancies on the National Boating Safety Advisory Committee (Committee). This Committee advises the Secretary of Homeland Security, via the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, on matters relating to national recreational boating safety.

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 an extension of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0011, Applications for Private Aids to Navigation and for Class I Private Aids to Navigation on Artificial Islands and Fixed Structures; without change. 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.

The National Boating Safety Advisory Committee (Committee) will conduct meetings over three days in Austin, Texas to discuss matters relating to national boating safety. The meetings will be open to the public and will include in-person and virtual attendance options.

The U.S. Coast Guard is accepting applications to fill seven vacancies on the National Maritime Security Advisory Committee (Committee). This Committee advises the Secretary of Homeland Security, via the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard on matters relating to national maritime security, including on enhancing the sharing of information related to cybersecurity risks that may cause a transportation security incident, between relevant Federal agencies and State, local, and tribal governments; relevant public safety and emergency response agencies; relevant law enforcement and security organizations; maritime industry; port owners and operators; and terminal owners and operators.

The Coast Guard has decided to host a public meeting regarding the proposed establishment of shipping safety fairways along the Atlantic coast. In addition, the Coast Guard is extending the comment period on the proposed rule in order to allow participants in the public meeting sufficient time to prepare their comment submissions.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary special local regulation (SLR) for certain navigable waters of the Red River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Shreveport, Louisiana, during high-speed powerboat races from May 24, 2024 through May 26, 2024. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the regulated unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Lower Mississippi River or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone for certain waters in the Gulf of Mexico offshore Marathon, Florida. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters of Marathon, FL, during the 2024 Race World Offshore 7 Mile Grand Prix. The proposed rule prohibits persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Key West or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within a 500-yard radius of the USS New Jersey during active dead ship tow operations. The USS New Jersey will be transiting from berth in Camden, NJ, to Paulsboro, NJ, and then over to the Navy Yard in Philadelphia, PA. The safety zone, which will only be enforced during active towing operations, is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by the dead ship tow. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Delaware Bay.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone for the navigable waters of the Sector Maryland-National Capital Region Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone. It will be enforced, as needed, to ensure the safety of these waters in the event of hurricanes, tropical storms, and other storms with high winds. The rule provides for actions to be completed by industry and vessels within the COTP Zone before and after the landfall of hurricanes, tropical storms, and other severe weather events threatening the State of Maryland.

The Coast Guard is announcing its intent to enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with REGENT Craft, Inc. (REGENT) to evaluate advancements in Wing-In-Ground (WIG) maritime aircraft for applicability to USCG missions. REGENT's sea gliders are representative of that technology. While the Coast Guard is currently considering partnering with REGENT, we are soliciting public comment on the possible nature of and participation of other parties in the proposed CRADA. In addition, the Coast Guard also invites other potential non-Federal participants, who have the interest and capability to bring similar contributions to this type of research, to consider submitting proposals for consideration in similar CRADAs.

The Coast Guard's Mariner Credentialing Program issues merchant mariner credentials and medical certificates, approves training courses and programs, and approves other qualifications such as a Qualified Assessor and a Designated Examiner. Under this rulemaking, the Coast Guard proposes to allow for the electronic submission of information required for credentialing to allow for the future implementation of a new information technology system to support the mariner credentialing process. The Coast Guard also proposes to require the electronic payment of mandatory fees for merchant mariner credentials through Pay.Gov, to remove the requirement for prospective mariners to take an oath before an authorized official, and to change the requirements for the Certificate of Discharge to Merchant Mariners. Finally, the Coast Guard proposes technical amendments to update addresses and websites, to remove antiquated terminology, and to amend language to use gender-neutral terms.