Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard will enforce established safety zones for maritime events starting in May 2021 to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways. Our regulation for safety zones within the Captain of the Port Sault Sainte Marie Zone identifies the regulated area for these safety zones. During the enforcement periods, vessels must stay out of the established safety zone and may only enter with permission from the designated representative of the Captain of the Port Sault Sainte Marie.

The Coast Guard proposes to authorize the Amtrak Railroad Bridge, mile 3.77, across the South Branch of the Chicago River, to be operated remotely and establish an intermediate opening position. The request was made by the bridge owner. This proposed rule will improve vessel flow through the river. This proposed rule will not change the operating schedule of the bridge.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the California Department of Transportation Route 4 highway bridge, across Old River, mile 14.8, between Victoria Island and Byron Tract, California. The amount of vessel traffic transiting the bridge site does not warrant an open on signal requirement for this drawbridge. This deviation will test a change to the drawbridge operation schedule to determine whether a permanent change to the schedule is needed. The Coast Guard is seeking comments from the public regarding these proposed changes.

The Coast Guard proposes to change the operating schedule that governs the Welch Causeway (SR 699) Bridge, mile 122.8 at Madeira Beach, Florida. A request was made by the City of Madeira Beach, FL to place the drawbridge on a daily operating schedule to alleviate vehicle congestion due to on demand bridge openings. This change may be necessary to balance the needs of all modes of transportion due to the economic growth in the vicinity of the bridge. The Coast Guard is seeking comments from the public regarding these proposed changes.

The Coast Guard is establishing a security zone for the protection of persons under the protection of the United States Secret Service (USSS) as they transit by vehicle on the route 141 bridge over the Christina River near Newport, Delaware. The security zone will be enforced intermittently and only during times necessary to protect persons under the protection of the USSS as they transit over the bridge and will restrict vessel traffic while the zone is being enforced. Only vessels or people specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Delaware Bay, or designated representative, may enter or remain in the regulated area.

The United States Coast Guard (Coast Guard), as the lead agency, announced its intent to prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the Waterways Commerce Cutter (WCC) Program's acquisition and operation of up to 30 WCCs on April 19, 2021. This is an update to that notice to publish public meeting information.

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: 1625-0043, Ports and Waterways Safety; 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.

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: 1625-0085, Streamlined Inspection Program; 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 establishing a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters of Corpus Christi Bay and the Corpus Christi Ship Channel. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near the Corpus Christi Bayfront, during an airshow. This rulemaking will prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Corpus Christi or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard announces its intent to enter into one or more cooperative research and development agreements (CRADA) with companies to evaluate a detect and avoid (DAA) system to determine its potential use in a maritime environment to enable the Coast Guard to safely fly sUAS beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). The Coast Guard will conduct flight testing and evaluations of sUAS under a wide variety of simulated but realistic and relevant real-world maritime operational scenarios, such as: Law enforcement; search and rescue; and maritime environmental responses. The Coast Guard is currently considering separate partnerships with Scientific Applications & Research Associates (SARA) Inc., Iris Automation Inc., and Echodyne Corp. and solicits public comment on the possible participation of other parties in the proposed CRADAs, and the nature of that participation. 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 announces its intent to enter into a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) with several companies to help inform the Cutter IT Integrated Product Team on methods for improving the Cutter Tactical Commander to Boarding Team communications user experience when using CG tactical mobile IT systems. This CRADA will also investigate alternative equipment and or architectures which may provide more robust and reliable tactical mobile network connectivity to underway cutters under a variety of scenarios. The Coast Guard is currently considering partnering with IMPRESS Technologies Inc. and solicits public comment on the possible participation of other parties in the proposed CRADA, and the nature of that participation. 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 is proposing to establish temporary special local regulations for certain waters of the Potomac River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters located between Jones Point, VA, and National Harbor, MD, during a swim event on June 6, 2021. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from entering the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Maryland-National Capital Region or the Coast Guard Event Patrol Commander. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard will enforce a security zone along the Potomac River and Anacostia River, and adjacent waters at Washington, DC, for activities associated with the U.S. President's address before a Joint Session of Congress. The zone will be enforced on April 28, 2021. This action is necessary to protect government officials, mitigate potential terrorist acts and incidents, and enhance public and maritime safety and security immediately before, during, and after this activity. During the enforcement period, entry into or remaining within the zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce the special local regulations for the annual Opening Day on the San Francisco Bay Boat Parade on April 25, 2021 to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways in the San Francisco Bay during this event. Our regulation for marine events in Northern California identifies the regulated area for this event in San Francisco, CA. During the enforcement period, unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring in the regulated area, unless authorized by the Patrol Commander (PATCOM) or other Federal, State, or local law enforcement agencies on scene to assist the Coast Guard in enforcing the regulated area.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for the navigable water within a 500-yard radius of several tugs and barges in the Straits of Mackinac. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from the potential hazards created by the work, inspection, surveying and the removal and replacement of cables for the Straits of Mackinac. Entry of vessels or persons into the zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sault Sainte Marie or their designated representative. Due to the lengthy duration of this safety zone, the Coast Guard is accepting and reviewing public comments until May 7, 2021. While this rule is being enforced beginning April 20, 2021, the Coast Guard reserves the right to modify the safety zone if an issue is raised by the public comments that requires such a modification.

The Coast Guard proposes to change the operating schedules of the bridges over the Milwaukee, Menomonee, and Kinnickinnic Rivers and South Menomonee and Burnham Canals. The City of Milwaukee requested the regulations to be reviewed and updated to allow for a more balanced flow of maritime and land based transportation.

The Coast Guard will enforce a special local regulation on May 7, 8, and 9, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day to provide for the safety of life on certain navigable waters during the Fort Lauderdale Air Show. During the enforcement period, all non-participant persons and vessels will be prohibited from entering, transiting, anchoring in, or remaining within the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Miami or a designated representative. The operator of any vessel in the regulated area must comply with instructions from the Coast Guard or designated representative.

The Coast Guard is modifying the operating schedule that governs the National Steel Corporation Railroad Bridge, mile 0.40, the Delray Connecting Railroad Bridge, mile 0.34, and the Delray Connecting Railroad Bridge, mile 0.80, over the River Rouge. Delray Connecting Railroad Company, the owner and operator of these three bridges, has requested to stop continual drawtender service and to operate the two bridges only while trains are crossing the bridge, leaving them in the open position at all other times, while the third bridge would open upon signal if a 4-hour advance notice is received.

The Coast Guard is proposing to modify the security zone boundaries surrounding the Electric Boat Shipyard in Groton, Connecticut. The proposed amendment to the Security Zone is due to the expanding operations at Electric Boat Shipyard. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is seeking additional information related to the notice of study that was published on June 29, 2020, regarding the Northern New York Bight Port Access Route Study (NNYBPARS). Following a review of the comments and materials received, we identified several areas of additional inquiry related to the study. We invite your comments and responses to the proposed questions and information requests.

The Coast Guard is revising an existing, moving security zone for the Port of San Juan, San Juan, Puerto Rico. The revision expands the existing moving security zone to a 200-yard radius around all cruise ships entering, departing, or anchored in the Port of San Juan. While the cruise ships are moored at the Port of San Juan, the security zone remains a 50-yard radius around the cruise ships. This action continues to prohibit persons and vessels from entering, anchoring, mooring or transiting in the security zone, unless authorized by the Coast Guard Captain of the Port of San Juan or a designated representative. This action is necessary to better meet the safety and security needs of the Port of San Juan.

The Coast Guard proposes to modify the operating schedule that governs the Seaboard System Railroad Bridge, across the Okeechobee Waterway, mile 28.2, at Indiantown, Florida. This proposed change would allow the swing bridge to be remotely operated, change the start and end times for advance notification for an opening during the overnight hours and update the name of the bridge. The Coast Guard is seeking comments from the public regarding the proposed changes.

The Coast Guard is establishing a permanent safety zone for certain waters of the Christiansted Harbor, St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands when liquefied gas carriers are in transit to, moored, or are departing from the Virgin Island Water and Power Authority (WAPA) dock. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near the WAPA dock. This rule prohibits persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port San Juan or a designated representative. This action is necessary to better meet the safety and security needs of the Port of San Juan.

The Coast Guard proposes to revise the notes for its First Coast Guard District special anchorage area regulations and to remove language from the text of four of these regulations because those provisions are inconsistent with simply designating the location of a special anchorage area. These existing notes and regulatory text provisions, which contain obsolete and duplicative language, would be replaced with a note in a new section we are adding that would apply to all special anchorage area regulations in the First Coast Guard District. The note would advise interested persons that state and local regulations may apply and that they should contact other authorities, such as the local harbormaster, to ensure compliance with any such applicable regulations. These changes are primarily editorial in nature and are intended to clarify and update First Coast Guard District special anchorage area regulations. This proposed rule would not create, remove, or change any previously established special anchorage areas in the First Coast Guard District.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone for certain navigable waters of the Sabine River, extending the entire width of the river, adjacent to the public boat ramp located in Orange, TX. The safety zone is necessary to protect persons and vessels from hazards associated with a high-speed boat race competition in Orange, TX. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone would be prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.