Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard published a document in the Federal Register on March 9, 2006 (71 FR 12132), establishing special local regulations during the ``Volvo Ocean Race 2005-2006'', sailboat races to be held on the Chesapeake Bay in the vicinity east of Gibson Island, Maryland, and near the William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial (Chesapeake Bay) Bridge. The document contained incorrect coordinates to describe the regulated area.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish special local regulations for the ``Roar on the River Rampage'', a power boat race to be held on the waters of the Pasquotank River, Elizabeth City, North Carolina. 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 Pasquotank River adjacent to Clarksville, Virginia during the power boat race.

Under the Oil Terminal and Tanker Environmental Oversight Act of 1990, the Coast Guard may certify on an annual basis, an alternative voluntary advisory group in lieu of a regional citizens' advisory council 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 the statute. The purpose of this notice is to inform the public that the Coast Guard has recertified the alternative voluntary advisory group for Prince William Sound, Alaska.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal on the Illinois Waterway near Romeoville, Illinois. This safety zone is necessary to close the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal during safety testing of the permanent electrical dispersal barrier. This safety zone intended to restrict vessels from a portion of the Canal in Romeoville, IL, at various times over a 30 day period.

The Coast Guard proposes establishing a safety zone in the vicinity of the Yorktown Fishing Pier in Yorktown, VA on July 4, 2006 in support of the Yorktown July Fourth Fireworks Celebration. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic on York River as necessary to protect mariners from the hazards associated with fireworks displays.

The Coast Guard proposes the establishment of a safety zone in support of the Fireworks Display Over Water event occurring on July 4, 2006 on the banks of Chickohominy River in the vicinity of Barrets Point in Williamsburg, VA. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic on Chickohominy River as necessary to protect mariners from the hazards associated with fireworks displays.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary security zone in certain waters of Washington Channel on the Potomac River off Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, DC during the May 25, 2006, U.S. Coast Guard Commandant's Change of Command ceremony. The security zone is necessary to provide for the security and safety of life and property of event participants, spectators and mariners on U.S. navigable waters during the event. Entry into this zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Baltimore, Maryland, or designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing permanent moving security zones around all escorted High Capacity Passenger Vessels (``HCPV'') and escorted Alaska Marine Highway System Vessels (``AMHS vessels'') during their transits in the navigable waters of the Seventeenth Coast Guard District. All commercial fishing vessels, as defined by applicable United States Code, are exempt from the provisions of this rule only while they are actively engaged in fishing.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal in Sturgeon Bay, WI. This zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal during the Maple-Oregon Bridge Boring Program. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect vessels from hazards associated with underwater drilling operations.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the NJTRO HX Bridge across the Hackensack River at mile 7.7, at Secaucus, New Jersey. Under this temporary deviation, the NJTRO HX Bridge need not open for the passage of vessel traffic from April 18, 2006 through April 27, 2006. This deviation is necessary to facilitate scheduled bridge maintenance.

The Coast Guard is permanently modifying the regulated area defined in 33 CFR 100.518, and is temporarily amending 33 CFR 100.518 to accommodate 2006 date changes for the Safety at Sea Seminar, U.S. Naval Academy Crew Races and the Blue Angels Air Show. This rule is intended to restrict vessel traffic in portions of the Severn River, to provide for safety of life on navigable waters during these events.

The Coast Guard announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the homeporting of four new 418-foot National Security Cutters (NSCs) at Coast Guard Island (CGI) in Alameda, California, and requests public comments. Preparation of the EA is being conducted in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and its implementing regulations. The new NSCs will replace the four existing 30-year old 378-foot High Endurance Cutters (HECs) currently homeported at CGI, starting with one in 2007/2008 and continuing with one replacement per year until 2010/2011, under current plans.

The Coast Guard proposes to temporarily change the drawbridge operation regulations governing the operation of the P.J. McArdle Bridge, across the Chelsea River at mile 0.3, between East Boston and Chelsea, Massachusetts. This proposed rule would allow the bridge to remain closed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 17, 2006, to facilitate the Third Annual Chelsea River Revel Festival and the running of the Chelsea River Revel 5K Road Race. Vessels that can pass under the bridge without a bridge opening may do so at all times.

The Coast Guard has temporarily changed the drawbridge operating regulations governing the operation of the Route 82 Bridge across the Connecticut River at mile 16.8, at East Haddam, Connecticut. This temporary final rule requires the Route 82 Bridge to operate on a fixed opening schedule from April 1, 2006 through June 30, 2006. The bridge shall open at all times for commercial vessels after at least a 24-hour advance notice and a 2-hour confirmation is given by calling the number posted at the bridge. This temporary final rule is necessary to facilitate electrical and mechanical bridge repairs.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary security zone on the waters of the upper Potomac River. This action is necessary to provide for the security of a large number of visitors to the annual July 4th celebration on the National Mall in Washington, DC. The security zone will allow for control of a designated area of the river and safeguard spectators and high-ranking officials.

The Coast Guard proposes to change the request to open regulation of the Little River (S-20) Bridge across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 347.3 in Horry County, South Carolina. This proposed rule will allow the swingbridge to open as necessary on the hour, twenty minutes past the hour and forty minutes past the hour from 6 a.m. through 6 p.m., Monday through Friday except Federal holidays. At all other times, the bridge will open upon demand. This proposed action should improve the movement of vehicular traffic while not unreasonably interfering with the movement of vessel traffic.

The Coast Guard is implementing the special local regulations at 33 CFR 100.507 during the Annual Great Chesapeake Bay Swim and Chesapeake Challenge One Mile Swim events to be held on June 11, 2006. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters before, during and after the event. The effect will be to restrict general navigation in the regulated area for the safety of event participants, and support vessels in the event area.

The Commander, Seventh Coast Guard District, has approved a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the Stickney Point (SR 72) Bridge, Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, mile 68.6, Sarasota County, Florida. This temporary deviation allows the Coast Guard to test an operating schedule with the bridge opening as necessary on the hour, twenty minutes past the hour and forty minutes past the hour, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. At all other times the bridge will open upon demand. This temporary deviation will allow the Coast Guard to gather data to determine if this schedule meets the reasonable needs of navigation while accommodating vehicle traffic and whether it should be proposed as a permanent change.

The Coast Guard is finalizing the March 2005 interim rule changing the rates for pilotage on the Great Lakes. That rate adjustment became effective on April 11, 2005. The Coast Guard is also finalizing the December 2003 interim rule. This final rule incorporates modifications to the interim rule in response to comments posted in the public docket. This rule is necessary to generate sufficient revenues for allowable expenses and to ensure that the pilots receive target compensation.

The Lower Mississippi River Waterway Safety Advisory Committee (LMRWSAC) will meet to discuss various issues relating to navigational safety on the Lower Mississippi River and related waterways. The meeting will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard proposes the establishment of a 420 foot safety zone in support of the Cavalier 4th of July Fireworks Display occurring on July 04, 2006, on the banks of Broad Bay, Virginia Beach, VA. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic on Broad Bay as necessary to protect mariners from the hazards associated with fireworks displays.

Subsequent to an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published in the October 26, 2004, edition of the Federal Register, the Coast Guard proposes to revise the regulations governing the Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) in First Coast Guard District waters to require that certain tank vessels and tug/barge combinations transiting Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts be accompanied by escort tugs and federally licensed pilots. The Coast Guard also proposes to establish a Vessel Movement Reporting System (VMRS) for Buzzards Bay and to require mandatory participation in the VMRS by vessels subject to the Vessel Bridge-to-Bridge VHF Radiotelephone regulations, including tug/barge combinations. Participation in the Buzzards Bay VMRS could be accomplished either automatically through a vessel's Automatic Identification System (AIS) or via VHF radiotelephone. The purpose of this proposed rulemaking is to reduce the likelihood of an incident that might result in a collision, allision, or grounding and the aftermath discharge or release of oil or hazardous material into the navigable waters of the United States.

The Coast Guard proposes temporary special local regulations during the ``Bo Bowman MemorialSharptown Regatta'', a marine event to be held on the waters of the Nanticoke River near Sharptown, Maryland. 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 the Nanticoke River during the event.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation for the St. Petersburg Grand Prix Air Show, St. Petersburg, Florida (Air Show). The Air Show's aeronautic displays will be held daily from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on March 31, 2006 through April 3, 2006. This regulation is needed to restrict persons and vessels from entering, anchoring, mooring, or transiting the regulated area. This regulation is necessary to ensure the safety of Air Show participants, spectators, and mariners in the area.

The Coast Guard is changing the regulations governing the operation of the Boot Key Harbor Bridge, mile 0.13, between Marathon and Boot Key, Monroe County, Florida. Due to the amount of vehicle traffic and the lack of openings during the proposed time period, this action will improve the movement of vehicular traffic while not unreasonably interfering with the movement of vessel traffic. This rule will allow the bridge to open as necessary on the hour between the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. At all other times, the bridge will open on demand following a one-hour notification to the bridge tender. The draw shall open as soon as practicable for the passage of tugs with tows, public vessels of the United States and vessels in a situation where a delay would endanger life or property.