Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is removing an established security zone in the Port of Port Lavaca-Point Comfort. Under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, owners or operators of local facilities are required to take specific action to improve facility security. As such, a security zone around local facilities will no longer be necessary under normal conditions. This final rule removes an established security zone.

The Coast Guard is changing the regulations that govern the operation of the S.R. 18-B Bridge, over Kent Island Narrows, mile 1.0, in Kent Island, MD. The final rule allows the S.R. 18-B Bridge to open on signal for vessel traffic on the hour and half-hour from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., from May 1 through October 31, but need not be opened from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. From November 1 through April 30, the draw shall open on signal from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., but need not be opened from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. The draw shall open on signal for public vessels of the United States, State, or local government vessels used for public safety purposes, and vessels in distress. This change will allow for a more efficient flow of vessel traffic.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Coast Guard intends to seek the approval of OMB for the renewal of three Information Collection Requests (ICRs). The ICRs are for (1) 1625-0028, Course Approvals for Merchant Marine Training Schools, (2) 1625-0034, Ships' Stores Certification for Hazardous Materials Aboard Ships, and (3) 1625-0043, Ports and Waterways Safety Title 33 CFR Subchapter P. Before submitting the ICRs to OMB, the Coast Guard is inviting comments on them as described below.

The Licensing Working Group of the Towing Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC) will meet to discuss matters relating to specific issues of towing safety. The meetings will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard is seeking applications for appointment to membership on the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC). MERPAC provides advice and makes recommendations to the Coast Guard on matters related to the training, qualification, licensing, certification, and fitness of seamen serving in the U.S. merchant marine.

The Coast Guard is conducting a Port Access Route Study (PARS) to evaluate the applicability of and the need for modifications to current vessel routing measures in the approaches to Block Island Sound, between Montauk Channel and The Race, and the area from the Point Judith Pilot Boarding area to The Race. The goal of the study is to help reduce the risk of marine casualties and increase the efficiency of vessel traffic management in the study area. The recommendations of the study may lead to future rulemaking action or appropriate international agreements.

The Coast Guard is establishing special local regulations for the loading, transport, and launching of fireworks used during twenty two separate Fourth of July fireworks displays to be held in various locations in Northern California and Western Nevada. These special local regulations are intended to prohibit vessels and people from entering into or remaining within the regulated areas to ensure the safety of participants, spectators, and mariners transiting the event areas.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the drawbridge operation regulations for the Metropolitan Avenue Bridge, mile 3.4, across English Kills at New York City, New York. Under this temporary deviation the bridge may remain in the closed position from July 8, 2005 through July 22, 2005 and from July 25, 2005 through August 31, 2005. This temporary deviation is necessary to facilitate bridge maintenance.

The Coast Guard is changing the regulation governing the operation of the State Highway 188 vertical lift span bridge, across Bayou La Batre, mile 2.3, at Bayou La Batre, Alabama. This rule will allow the draw of the bridge to open on the hour during the predominant daylight hours, remain closed except for emergencies at night and remain closed to navigation at specific vehicular peak rush hour periods. This rule will allow for better coordination and facilitate movement of both vehicular and marine traffic at the bridge site due to an increase in commuter traffic Monday thru Friday.

The Coast Guard announces that the Captain of the Port (COTP) Los Angeles-Long Beach will hold a public meeting regarding the maritime safety and security aspects of the proposed San Pedro Bay, California liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility. The Coast Guard also requests public comments regarding the maritime safety and security aspects of the aforementioned proposed LNG facility.

The Coast Guard announces the availability of and seeks comments on the application for recertification submitted by the Cook Inlet Regional Citizen's Advisory Council (CIRCAC) for September 1, 2005, through August 31, 2006. 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 Cook Inlet, Alaska. The current certification for CIRCAC will expire August 31, 2005.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for the 2005 Mentor Harbor Offshore Powerboat Race. The safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of the people participating in this event on July 10, 2005. The safety zone will restrict vessels from portions of the southern shore of Lake Erie.

The Coast Guard is establishing temporary moving Safety Zones around the Tall Ships participating in the Tacoma Tall Ships 2005 Parade of Sail and simulated cannon battle events. The Safety Zones will be in effect in Quartermaster Harbor and Commencement Bay, Washington. These actions are necessary to provide for the safety of life and property on the navigable waters in Quartermaster Harbor and Commencement Bay, Washington for the participating Tall Ships during Tacoma Tall Ships 2005. This rule will temporarily restrict vessel traffic in portions of Quartermaster Harbor and Commencement Bay, Washington.

The Coast Guard is establishing safety zones on the waters of the Suislaw, Willamette, Columbia, Coos, and Chehalis Rivers, located in the Area of Responsibility of the Captain of the Port, Portland, Oregon, during fireworks displays. The Captain of the Port, Portland, Oregon, is taking this action to safeguard watercraft and their occupants from safety hazards associated with these displays. Entry into these safety zones is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port.

This notice informs the public of issues related to recent legislation requiring owners and operators of nontank vessels to prepare plans for responding to discharges of oil from their vessels. These issues include questions on the size of the population of vessels affected and enforcement of the legislation by the Coast Guard. The notice also discusses Coast Guard's efforts to engage the regulated community at the earliest stages and to encourage early public participation in the process of responding to this new legislation.

The Coast Guard seeks applications for membership on the Navigation Safety Advisory Council (NAVSAC). NAVSAC provides advice and makes recommendations to the Secretary on matters relating to prevention of collisions, groundings, and rammings.

In response to a request from the public, the Coast Guard is once again reopening the public comment period on a petition from the City of Fall River, Massachusetts. Fall River's petition asks the Coast Guard to promulgate regulations establishing thermal and vapor dispersion exclusion zones for marine spills of liquefied natural gas, similar to Department of Transportation regulations for such spills on land.

The Coast Guard published a document in the Federal Register on May 27, 2005, concerning a public meeting to provide a forum for citizens to provide oral comments relating to the ``2005 Piankatank River Race'', a marine event proposed to be held over the waters of the Piankatank River in Gloucester County, Virginia on July 23, 2005. The document contained the incorrect zip code in the ADDRESSES paragraph.

The Coast Guard is establishing special local regulations for the navigable waters of San Francisco Bay dealing with the loading, transport, and launching of fireworks used during a fireworks display to be held after a San Francisco Giants baseball game on July 19, 2005. These special local regulations are intended to prohibit vessels and people from entering into or remaining within the regulated areas in order to ensure the safety of participants and spectators.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for the Salem Celebrate the Fourth fireworks on July 4, 2005 in Salem, Massachusetts. The safety zone will prohibit entry into or movement within this portion of Salem Harbor during its effective period.

The Coast Guard has temporarily changed the operating regulations for the First Avenue South dual drawbridges across the Duwamish Waterway, mile 2.5, at Seattle, Washington. The change allows the bridge owner to keep the bridges closed during night hours from July 15 to November 15, 2005, between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Sunday through Friday. This will facilitate painting the structures while properly containing debris and paint.

The Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Advisory Committee (CFIVSAC) will meet to discuss various issues relating to commercial vessel safety in the fishing industry. The meetings are open to the public.

The Coast Guard will hold four public hearings to solicit comments on the draft programmatic environmental impact statement (DPEIS) for the rulemaking on Vessel and Facility Response Plans for Oil: 2003 Removal Equipment Requirements and Alternative Technology Revisions. The DPEIS addresses the increase of the oil removal capacity requirements for tank vessels and marine transportation-related facilities and added requirements for new response technologies. We seek comments from any interested or affected stakeholders and encourage all stakeholders to attend these hearings.

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, has temporarily changed the regulation governing the operation of the Cedar Lake Road Swing Span drawbridge across the Tchoutacabouffa River, mile 8.0, at Cedar Lake, Harrison County, Mississippi. The rule states that the draw of the bridge shall open on signal with twenty-four hours notice; except that the draw will remain closed to navigation Monday through Friday from June 27 through October 28, 2005 with the exception of July 4, 2005. However, from August 1 through September 23, 2005 it will open on signal with twenty-four hours notice every other weekend, beginning with the weekend of August 13, 2005. The closure is necessary for remedial structural repairs to be made to the bridge that are essential for the continued operation of the draw span.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary security zone in Duluth's inner harbor for the Commissioning ceremony of the Coast Guard Cutter ALDER. The security zone is necessary to ensure the security of dignitaries attending this ceremony on June 10, 2005. The security zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of Duluth Harbor in Duluth, Minnesota.