Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee (NOSAC) will meet in Galveston, TX, to discuss various issues relating to offshore safety and security. The meeting will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard is establishing temporary safety zones in Boston Harbor, Boston, Massachusetts, for the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) blasting and dredging operation, to include the underwater blasting locations and the vessel transporting blasting material to and from the work sites, between October 5, 2007 and December 31, 2007. The zone temporarily closes all navigable waters of Boston Harbor within a four hundred (400) yard radius of the four underwater demolition sites located at approximate positions 42[deg]20'05.5'' N, 070[deg]59'53.9'' W, east-southeast of Castle Island; 42[deg]20'19.0'' N, 070[deg]58'46.5'' W, President Roads Anchorage; 42[deg]21'15.80'' N, 070[deg]55'51.95'' W, North Channel; 42[deg]22'03.70'' N, 070[deg]55'18.83'' W, North Channel, while blasting operations are occurring and a moving safety zone of one hundred yards around the M/V EMILY ROSE. The operations will only occur during daylight hours. The safety zone is necessary to protect the maritime public from the potential hazards posed by the blasting and dredging. Entry into this zone is prohibited during the closure period unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Boston, Massachusetts.

The Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Advisory Committee (CFIVSAC) will meet in Seattle, WA, to discuss various issues relating to commercial vessel safety in the fishing industry. The meetings are 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) requesting an extension of their approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0106, Unauthorized Entry into Cuban Territorial Waters. Before submitting this ICR to OMB, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

The Coast Guard is removing the existing drawbridge operation regulation for the draw of the U.S. 165 bridge, mile 110.1, on the Ouachita River at Columbia, Louisiana. The drawbridge has been removed from the waterway. Therefore, the regulation controlling the operation of the drawbridge is no longer necessary.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the old Brightman Street bascule bridge across the Taunton River at mile 1.8, between Fall River and Somerset, Massachusetts. Under this temporary deviation, in effect from 6 a.m. on October 13, 2007 through 5 p.m. on October 27, 2007, the bridge shall open on signal after a one-hour advance notice is given by calling the number posted at the bridge. This deviation is necessary to facilitate scheduled bridge maintenance.

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operations of the Clinton Railroad Drawbridge, Mile 518.0, Clinton, Iowa across the Upper Mississippi River. This deviation allows the bridge to open on signal if at least 24 hours advance notice is given from 12:01 a.m. December 15, 2007 until 9 a.m., March 15, 2008. The deviation is necessary to allow time for performing needed maintenance and repairs to the bridge.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the US2 Bridge across Lake Champlain, mile 91.8, between North Hero Island and Grande Isle (South Hero Island), Vermont. Under this temporary deviation the US2 Bridge may remain in the closed position from October 22, 2007 through February 1, 2008. Vessels that can pass under the draw without a bridge opening may do so at all times. This deviation is necessary to facilitate bridge rehabilitation construction.

On September 11, 2007, the United States Coast Guard published a notice in the Federal Register (72 FR 51828) announcing a meeting of the National Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC) and its subcommittees on boats and associated equipment, prevention through people, and recreational boating safety strategic planning will meet to discuss issues relating to recreational boating safety. A scheduling conflict has required moving the Boats and Associated Equipment subcommittee meeting to the afternoon of Saturday, October 20, 2007 and the Prevention through People subcommittee meeting to the afternoon of Sunday, October 21, 2007.

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the BNSF Railway Company Swing Bridge across the Charenton Drainage and Navigational Canal, mile 0.4, at Baldwin, St. Mary Parish, LA. This deviation provides for the bridge to remain closed to navigation for 5 days with three hour openings each day to conduct maintenance repairs to the drawbridge.

The Coast Guard published a final rule in the Federal Register on August 9, 2007, that revised security regulations in Oahu, Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai, HI (72 FR 44775). While the notice of proposed rulemaking preceding that final rule stated that the Kahe Point, Oahu security zone would be enforced only upon the occurrence of certain events, we did not reflect that provision in the regulatory text. This document corrects that error.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for the Monte Foundation Fireworks Extravaganza to be held at Seacliff State Beach in Aptos, California, on October 13, 2007. The fireworks display will be launched from the Seacliff State Beach Pier. 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.

The Coast Guard proposes to change the drawbridge operation regulations of four Cape May County Bridge Commission (the Commission) bridges: The Corson Inlet Bridge, at mile 0.9, at Strathmere; the Stone Harbor Boulevard Bridge, at NJICW mile 102.0, across Great Channel at Stone Harbor; the Two-Mile Bridge, at NJICW mile 112.2, across Middle Thorofare in Wildwood Crest; and the Townsend Inlet Bridge, at mile 0.3 in Avalon, NJ. This proposal would allow the drawbridges to operate on an advance notice basis on particular dates at particular times during holidays in December of every year. This proposal would allow the draw tenders to spend the holiday with their families while still providing for the reasonable needs of navigation.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for the Monthly Biscayne Bay Yacht Racing Association (BBYRA) Cruising Races, which will temporarily limit the movement of non-participant vessels in Biscayne Bay near Miami, FL. This temporary safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from entering the waters where the event will be held unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Miami, Florida or his designated representative. This regulation is needed to protect the safety of participants, marine spectators and recreational and professional mariner traffic.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the Long Beach Harbor to encompass the waters between Queensway Bay to Island White at Long Beach harbor for the Annual Los Angeles and Long Beach Tug Boat Race. This safety zone is needed to prevent vessels from transiting the area during the race in order to protect vessels and personnel from potential damage and injury. Entry into this safety zone will be prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Los Angeles-Long Beach, or his on-scene representative.

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Stephensville Bridge across Milhomme Bayou, mile 12.2, at Stephensville, St. Martin Parish, Louisiana. This deviation will test a change to the drawbridge operation schedule to determine whether a permanent change to the schedule is needed. The deviation will allow the draw of the Stephensville Bridge to open on signal if at least one hour of advance notice is given. During the advance notice period, the draw shall open on less than one hour notice for an emergency and shall open on demand should a temporary surge in waterway traffic occur.

The Coast Guard proposes to create a security zone in the waters of Nawiliwili Harbor, Kaui, and on the land of the jetty south of Nawiliwili Park, including the jetty access road commonly known as Jetty Road. This zone is intended to enable the Coast Guard and its law enforcement partners to better protect people, vessels, and facilities in and around Nawiliwili Harbor in the face of non-compliant obstructers who have impeded, and threaten to continue impeding, the safe passage of the Hawaii Superferry in Nawiliwili Harbor. This rule would complement, but not replace or supersede, existing regulations that establish a moving 100-yard security zone around large passenger vessels like the Hawaii Superferry.

The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has approved a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the Figure Eight Swing Bridge, at AIWW mile 278.1, at Scotts Hill, NC. Beginning November 1, 2007, until January 31, 2008, this deviation allows the drawbridge to remain closed-to-navigation each day from 6:30 p.m. to 6 a.m., from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., to facilitate sandblasting and painting operations. In addition, commercial vessel openings will be provided at night if at least three hours notice is given by calling (910) 686-0635 or via marine radio on Channel 13.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the United States Coast Guard (Coast Guard), issues this final rule to amend provisions of its previously issued final rule, to allow for greater participation in the TWIC program and codify final fees to obtain a TWIC. This final rule continues to further secure our Nation's ports and modes of transportation, and also implements the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA) and the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006 (SAFE Port Act). Those statutes require credentialed merchant mariners and individuals with unescorted access to secure areas of vessels and facilities to undergo a security threat assessment and receive a biometric credential, known as a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). With this final rule, the Coast Guard amends its regulations on vessel and facility security, requiring the use of the TWIC as an access control measure. Specifically, the Coast Guard is amending its definition of secure areas, to take into account facilities in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, whose workers are not required to obtain work visas from the United States before being allowed to work. With this final rule, TSA amends its regulations on TWIC to allow additional non-resident aliens to apply for a TWIC if they are working in a job that requires them to have unescorted access to a maritime facility regulated under 33 CFR parts 105 or 106. TSA also amends the scope provision of the rule to include additional non-resident aliens that may apply for TWIC. TSA amends its regulations to clarify those credentialed merchant mariners who may receive a TWIC at a reduced fee. TSA amends the fee portion of the regulation, increasing the replacement credential fee from $36 to $60 and codifying the other fees that were announced in the Federal Register on March 20, 2007. Finally, TSA announces a reduction in the fee charged by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to conduct fingerprint-based criminal history record checks (CHRCs) that are submitted to the FBI electronically. Therefore, the standard fee for a TWIC is $132.50 and the reduced TWIC fee for applicants who have completed a comparable threat assessment is $105.25.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the St. Clair River, Marine City, Michigan. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from portions of the St. Clair River during the Marine City Maritime Festival Fireworks Display. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect spectators and vessels from the hazards associated with fireworks displays.

The Coast Guard is amending special local regulations for annual regattas and marine parades in the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan zone. This rule is intended to ensure safety of life on the navigable waters immediately prior to, during, and immediately after regattas or marine parades. This rule will establish restrictions upon, and control the movement of, vessels in a specified area immediately prior to, during, and immediately after regattas or marine parades.

The Coast Guard is establishing temporary special local regulations for the ``Clarksville Hydroplane Challenge'', a power boat race to be held on the waters of the John H. Kerr Reservoir adjacent to Clarksville, Virginia. These special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic in portions of the John H. Kerr Reservoir adjacent to Clarksville, Virginia during the power boat race.

The Coast Guard is establishing special local regulations during the ``Poquoson Seafood Festival Workboat Races'', a marine event to be held October 14, 2007 on the waters of the Back River, Poquoson, Virginia. 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 Back River during the event.

This rule makes non-substantive changes throughout Title 46 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The purpose of this rule is to make conforming amendments and technical corrections to Coast Guard shipping regulations. This rule will have no substantive effect on the regulated public.

The Coast Guard will enforce special local regulations for the Sunset Lake Hydrofest on Sunset Lake from 8:30 a.m. September 29, 2007 through 5:30 p.m. September 30, 2007. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. During the enforcement period, vessel traffic will be restricted in portions of Sunset Lake during the event.