Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The purpose of this notice is to inform the public that the Coast Guard has recertified the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council (PWSRCAC) as an alternative voluntary advisory group for Prince William Sound, Alaska. This certification allows the PWSRCAC to monitor the activities of terminal facilities and crude oil tankers under the Prince William Sound Program established by statute.

The Coast Guard is changing the regulation governing the operation of the State Route 433 (S433) Bridge across Liberty Bayou, mile 2.0, at Slidell, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana and cancelling the test deviation presently in effect for this bridge. This change is being made in order to reduce the hours of manned operation of the bridge to make more efficient use of personnel and operating resources.

The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has approved a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the Margate Bridge, at ICW mile 74.0, across Beach Thorofare at Margate, New Jersey. This deviation is necessary to make emergency structural steel repairs.

The Coast Guard has set the calendar year 2008 minimum random drug testing rate at 50 percent of covered crewmembers.

The Coast Guard proposes establishment of three, multi- purpose, temporary restricted anchorages with associated safety/ security zones to service vessels intending to call on the ports of Jacksonville or Fernandina within the Captain of the Port Zone Jacksonville as defined by 33 CFR 3.35-20. The temporary restricted anchorages and safety/security zones identify clearly to all mariners the pre-established area of the Captain of the Port Zone for geographic separation and/or restriction of certain vessels that may pose a safety, public health, environmental, or security threat to the port. The proposed temporary restricted anchorages are necessary to protect the public, port infrastructure, maritime environment, and viability of the Marine Transportation System from hazards associated with safety, public health, environmental, and security threats.

The Coast Guard proposes to create special local regulations to regulate recurring marine events in the Fifth Coast Guard District. These regulations would apply to all permitted events listed in the table attached to the regulation, and include events such as regattas, and marine parades. These regulations are being proposed to reduce the Coast Guard's administrative workload and expedite public notification of events.

The Coast Guard National Maritime Center (NMC), which was previously located in Arlington, VA, and more in Kearneysville, WV, has moved into its new permanent location in Martinsburg, WV, as part of a planned effort to restructure and centralize the Mariner Licensing and Documentation (MLD) Program. This notice provides information regarding both the MLD Program restructuring and how to address correspondence to the appropriate staff of the reorganized and relocated NMC.

The Coast Guard proposes to change the drawbridge operating regulations governing the operation of the Bayville Bridge, mile 0.1, across Mill Neck creek at Oyster Bay, New York. This proposed rule would allow the bridge to open on signal between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. from May 1 through October 31 and between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, from November 1 through April 30. At all other times the bridge would open after a two-hour advance notice is given by calling the number posted at the bridge. The purpose of this rule is to help relieve the bridge owner from the burden of crewing the bridge during time periods that the bridge receives few requests to open while continuing to meet the reasonable needs of navigation.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) and Analysis to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requesting an approval for the following collection of information: 1625-NEW, Proceedings of the Marine Safety and Security Council, the Coast Guard Journal of Safety and Security at Sea; online subscription request form. Before submitting this ICR to OMB, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for loading, transport, and launching of fireworks used to celebrate the Bass Wedding Ceremony. The fireworks displays will be held on March 8, 2008, on San Francisco Bay. This safety zone is established to ensure the safety of participants and spectators from the dangers associated with the pyrotechnics. Unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or remaining in the safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port or his designated representative.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this request for comments announces that the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding five Information Collection Requests (ICRs), abstracted below, to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requesting an extension of their approval for the following collections of information: (1) 1625-0005, Application and Permit to Handle Hazardous Materials; (2) 1625-0020, Security Zones, Regulated Navigation Areas, and Safety Zones; (3) 1625- 0029, Self-propelled Liquefied Gas Vessels; (4) 1625-0031, Plan Approval and Records for Electrical Engineering RegulationsTitle 46 CFR Subchapter J; and (5) 1625-0085, Streamlined Inspection Program. Our ICRs describe 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 Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the S.R. 74 Bridge, across the AIWW mile 283.1 at Wrightsville Beach, NC, to accommodate the annual race.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) and Analysis to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requesting an approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0077, Security Plans for Ports, Vessels, Facilities, and Outer Continental Shelf Facilities and Other Security-Related Requirements. Before submitting this ICR to OMB, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

The Coast Guard announces that effective anti-terrorism measures are not in place in certain ports of Indonesia and that it will impose conditions of entry on vessels arriving from that country.

The Coast Guard seeks applications for membership on the Great Lakes Pilotage Advisory Committee (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, 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 owner, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), to conduct electrical maintenance. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed- to-navigation position during the maintenance period.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish Gull Point(PT) Special Anchorage area in the Weymouth Fore River, Weymouth, Massachusetts. This proposed action is necessary to facilitate safe navigation and provide a safe and secure anchorage for vessels of not more than 65 feet in length. This action is intended to increase the safety of life and property in the Weymouth Fore River, improve the safety of anchored vessels, and provide for the overall safe and efficient flow of vessel traffic and commerce.

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 public to cross the bridge to participate in the scheduled Shamrock Half Marathon Footrace, a community event. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position during the race.

The Coast Guard published in the Federal Register of February 5, 2008, a notice of proposed rulemaking which, among other things, would amend the regulatory requirements for vessel operators to establish and maintain evidence of financial responsibility. That document contained an incorrect effective date and was also unclear. This document corrects the preamble and regulatory text to the proposed rule to clarify the effective date and the distinction between the financial responsibility applicable amounts and limits of liability.

This notice announces a teleconference of the Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Advisory Committee (CFIVSAC). The purpose of the teleconference is for CFIVSAC to discuss and prepare recommendations for the Coast Guard concerning the work of the Communications Subcommittee and the Risk Management Subcommittee and to discuss other CFIVSAC actions resulting from its last public meeting on November 13 and 14, 2007.

The Lower Mississippi River Waterway Safety Advisory Committee will meet in New Orleans to discuss various issues relating to navigational safety on the Lower Mississippi River and related waterways. This meeting will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard proposes a temporary safety zone within the navigable waters of the Pacific Ocean in Oceanside Harbor, California for the Ford Ironman 70.3 California Triathlon. This temporary safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants (swimmers), crew, spectators, 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.

This proposed rule proposes restrictions on vessel movement in portions of the Calumet Sag Channel and the Little Calumet River during the annual Southland Regatta. The Southland Regatta is a university rowing race that will be held annually during the first weekend of November. This proposed rule is intended to ensure safety of life on the navigable waters immediately prior to, during, and immediately after regattas or marine parades.

The Coast Guard amends the anchorage regulations for Port Everglades, Florida. The amendment modifies the current anchorage area by eliminating that portion of the anchorage closest to sensitive coral reef areas, expands that portion of the anchorage area that poses less risk to these areas, and limits the amount of time a vessel may remain in the anchorage area. These changes ensure all vessels have fair access to the anchorage area, and provide a higher degree of vessel and environmental safety by reducing the possibility of vessels grounding in sensitive coral reef areas.

The Coast Guard is proposing to update the rates for pilotage on the Great Lakes. Based on our review, we propose to adjust the pilotage rates an average of 8.17% for the 2008 shipping season to generate sufficient revenue to cover allowable expenses, target pilot compensation, and returns on investment. We also are proposing a clarification of the duty of pilots and pilot associations to cooperate with lawful authority. This rulemaking promotes the Coast Guard strategic goal of maritime safety.