Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard announces that the Chief of Prevention Division, Seventh District has issued a certificate of alternative compliance from the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS), for the CAPT. JIM MCALLISTER (O.N. 1289659). We are issuing this notice because its publication is required by statute. Due to the construction and placement of the stern light and sidelights, CAPT. JIM MCALLISTER cannot fully comply with the light, shape, or sound signal provisions of the 72 COLREGS without interfering with the vessel's design and construction. This notification of the issuance of these certificates of alternative compliance promotes the Coast Guard's marine safety mission.

The Coast Guard is proposing to modify the operating schedule that governs the S156 Bridge across the Niantic River, mile 0.1 at Niantic, CT. The bridge owner, the Connecticut Department of Transportation, submitted a request to allow six hours' notice for night time transits during the months of November and April due to infrequent bridge openings. This proposed rule would align the regulations for the S156 Bridge with other Connecticut Department of Transportation bridges.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary moving safety zone during the Swim Around Charleston, a swimming race occurring on the Wando River, the Cooper River, Charleston Harbor, and the Ashley River, in Charleston, South Carolina. The temporary moving safety zone is necessary to protect swimmers, participant vessels, spectators, and the general public during the event. Persons and vessels would be prohibited from entering the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee (Committee) and its working groups will meet to discuss matters relating to medical certification determinations for issuance of licenses, certificates of registry, and merchant mariners' documents, medical standards and guidelines for the physical qualifications of operators of commercial vessels, medical examiner education, and medical research. The meetings will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone for the navigable waters within 100 yards of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Railroad Bridge, at mile 0.7, across the Annisquam River, Gloucester, Massachusetts, from November 1, 2019 through June 30, 2023. The temporary safety zone is necessary to protect personnel, vessels and the marine environment from potential hazards created during the replacement project of the MBTA Railroad Bridge. When enforced, this proposed rule would prohibit vessels and persons from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Boston or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Great Lakes Pilotage Advisory Committee will meet in Port Huron, Michigan, to discuss Committee matters relating to Great Lakes pilotage, including review of proposed Great Lakes pilotage regulations and policies. The meeting will be 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), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting approval for the following collection of information: 1625-NEW, Intermodal Container Inspection Program. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Before submitting this ICR to OIRA, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

The Coast Guard is establishing two temporary moving safety zones in the Baker Range portion of the Delaware River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life and navigation on this portion of the Delaware River during submarine power cable laying operations. This regulation prohibits persons and vessels from entering or transiting through the safety zone without prior authorization from the Captain of the Port Delaware Bay or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for the navigable waters of the Ohio River, from mile marker (MM) 264.6 to MM 265.6, near Point Pleasant on August 31, 2019 for a Labor Day fireworks display. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by the fireworks display. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Ohio Valley or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is proposing to amend the requirements regulating personnel permitted to serve as a person in charge (PIC) of fuel oil transfers on an inspected vessel by adding the option of using a letter of designation (LOD) in lieu of a Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) with a Tankerman-PIC endorsement. Thousands of towing vessels are currently transitioning from being uninspected vessels to becoming inspected vessels. This proposal would allow a PIC currently using the LOD option on one of those uninspected vessels to continue to use that option to perform the same fuel oil transfers once the vessel receives its initial Certificate of Inspection. Under this proposal, obtaining a MMC with a Tankerman- PIC endorsement would become optional for PICs of fuel oil transfers on inspected vessels.

The Coast Guard is issuing this final rule to adjust the limits of liability for vessels, deepwater ports, and onshore facilities under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90), as amended, to reflect the increase in the Consumer Price Index since 2015. These regulatory inflation increases to the limits of liability are required by OPA 90 and are necessary to preserve the deterrent effect and ``polluter pays'' principle embodied in the Act. This update promotes the Coast Guard's missions of maritime safety and stewardship.

The Coast Guard will enforce a special local regulation for the Annual Les Cheneaux Islands Antique Wooden Boat Show on August 10, 2019, from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. During the enforcement period, all vessels will operate at a no wake speed and follow the directions of the on-scene Patrol Commander.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation for a designated area of the Duluth Harbor entrance to Superior Bay on Lake Superior during the Festival of Sail 2019 event in Duluth, MN. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters around the port of Duluth, MN. This rulemaking prohibits persons and vessels from being in the designated region unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Duluth or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce safety zones for the Fireworks at Pier Wisconsin in Milwaukee, WI and for the Sister Bay Marinafest Fireworks on August 31, 2019 from 8:30 p.m. through 10 p.m. to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during these events. During each enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the respective safety zone without the permission of the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan

The Coast Guard is establishing 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. This action is necessary to protect persons and vessels from hazards associated with a high-speed Jet Ski race competition in Orange, TX. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a security zone for certain navigable waters of Lake Erie, Cleveland, OH. This action is necessary to protect the public and surrounding waterways from terrorist acts, sabotage, or other subversive acts, accidents, or other causes of a similar nature. This regulation prohibits persons and vessels from being in the security zone unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Buffalo or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary special local regulation for certain waters of the Intracoastal Waterway. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters in Venice, FL, during the Battle of the Bridges on September 28, 2019. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the race area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port St. Petersburg (COTP) or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard will enforce the Penn's Landing, Delaware River, Philadelphia, PA, safety zone on various dates during August 2019. This action is necessary to ensure safety of life on the navigable waters of the United States immediately prior to, during, and immediately after the fireworks displays. During the enforcement periods, vessels may not enter, remain in, or transit through the safety zones during these enforcement periods unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or designated Coast Guard patrol personnel on scene.

The Coast Guard announces the availability of a draft policy letter that establishes the Coast Guard's proposed acceptance of type- approval testing protocols for BWMS that render nonviable (meaning ``permanently incapable of reproduction'') organisms in ballast water and may be used in addition to the methods established under existing regulations; the process for accepting type-approval testing protocols for BWMS, if any, that render nonviable organisms in ballast water and may be used in addition to the methods established under existing regulations which includes: The process for incorporating accepted protocols into the type-approval procedures established under existing regulations; the acceptance of laboratories to evaluate applicable treatment technologies; and the certification of BWMS that render nonviable organisms in ballast water. This notice solicits public comments on the draft policy letter that is entitled TYPE APROVAL METHODS FOR BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS THAT RENDER NONVIABLE ORGANISMS IN BALLAST WATER, hereinafter referred to in this notice as the ``draft policy letter.''

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters of the Allegheny River from Mile 43.5 to Mile 45.5. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by a high speed boat race. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by Captain of the Port Marine Safety Unit Pittsburgh or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce regulations for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Light the Night Fireworks display safety zone on October 12, 2019. Our regulation for firework display safety zones within the Captain of the Port Zone Columbia River identifies the regulated area for this event on the Willamette River in Portland, OR, and the regulations that will be enforced. These regulations prohibit persons and vessels from entry into, transit through, mooring, or anchoring within the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Columbia River or their designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for certain navigable waters of the Fox River in Green Bay, WI within a 300-foot radius of a vessel being used to launch fireworks. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by a fireworks display. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Lake Michigan.

The Coast Guard will enforce a safety zone for three fireworks displays taking place over the Washington Channel, adjacent to The Wharf DC, Washington, DC; the first on August 4, 2019, the second on September 21, 2019, and the third on December 7, 2019. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of life on navigable waterways during these fireworks displays. Our regulation for recurring fireworks displays from January 12, 2019, through December 31, 2019 identifies the temporary safety zones for these fireworks display events. During the enforcement periods, persons and vessels are prohibited from entering the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Maryland-National Capital Region or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters of the Missouri River between Mile Marker (MM) 28.2 and MM 28.8. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by a fireworks display. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi River or a designated representative

The Coast Guard will enforce special local regulations for the Charlevoix Venetian Boat Parade on July 27, 2019, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. During the enforcement period, the operator of any vessel in the Round Lake, Charlevoix, MI must comply with directions from the Patrol Commander.