Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is issuing a final rule to eliminate outdated regulations that imposed unnecessary screening requirements on cruise ships and cruise ship terminals. This final rule replaces these outdated regulations with simpler, consolidated regulations that provide efficient and clear requirements for the screening of baggage, personal items, and persons on a cruise ship. This final rule will enhance the security of cruise ship terminals and allow terminal operators to use effective screening mechanisms with minimal impact to business operations.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters of the Ohio River from mile marker (MM) 236 to MM 239. The safety zone is needed to provide for the safety of life and property due to severe out draft from high water that have rendered the Ohio River conditions to be hazardous to navigation. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Ohio Valley (COTP) or designated representative.

The Coast Guard is reopening the public comment period on the request for comments on the potential establishment of Regulated Navigation Areas (RNAs) at the harbor entrance bars to Crescent Harbor, Humboldt Bay, Noyo River, and Morro Bay that published on February 8, 2018. The comment period ended on March 12, 2018. The Coast Guard did not receive any comments on the original request for comments and has decided to re-open the comment period to provide additional opportunity for informed public comment.

The Coast Guard has modified a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Margate Boulevard/Margate Bridge, which carries Margate Boulevard across the New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway, Beach Thorofare, mile 74.0, at Margate City, NJ. This modified deviation is necessary to facilitate bridge maintenance. This modified deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to- navigation position.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the South Park highway bridge, across the Duwamish Waterway mile 3.8, at Seattle, WA. This deviation will test a change to the drawbridge operation schedule, to determine whether a permanent change to the schedule is appropriate. This deviation will allow the bridge to open during nighttime hours after receiving a 12 hour advance notice.

The Coast Guard proposes to modify the operating schedule that governs the Chambers Bay railroad lift bridge (Chambers Bay Bridge) across Chambers Bay, mile 0.01, near Steilacoom in Pierce County, WA. The modified schedule would remove the stationed bridge operator at the subject drawbridge during the evening hours due to minimal usage between these hours.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone for certain navigable waters on the Mississippi Sound over the Biloxi Harbor Channel in Biloxi, MS. The proposed rulemaking is necessary to provide for the safety of life and property on these navigable waters during the 2018 Biloxi Air Show. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from entering the safety zone unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Mobile (COTP) or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the lower deck of the Steel Bridge across the Willamette River, mile 12.1, in Portland, OR. The deviation is necessary to support the Shamrock Stride event. This deviation allows the lower lift span of the bridge to remain in the closed-to- navigation position.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Flagler Memorial (SR A1A) Bridge, mile 1021.8, the Royal Park (SR 704) Bridge, mile 1022.6, and the Southern Boulevard (SR 700/80) Bridge, mile 1024.7, across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, at West Palm Beach, Florida. This deviation will extend the test to change the drawbridge operation schedules to determine whether permanent changes to the schedules are needed. This deviation allows the Flagler Memorial, Royal Park and Southern Boulevard Bridges to operate on alternative schedules when the President of the United States, members of the First Family, or other persons under the protection of the Secret Service visit Mar-a-Lago. This deviation is necessary to accommodate the increase in vehicular traffic when the presidential motorcade is in transit.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone for certain waters of the Patapsco River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters of the Inner Harbor at Baltimore, MD, during a fireworks display on April 21, 2018. If necessary, due to inclement weather, the event will be rescheduled to April 22, 2018. This action will prohibit persons and vessels from entering the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Maryland-National Capital Region or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the SR 529 highway bridges, north and south bound, across the Snohomish River, mile 3.6 near Everett, WA, and the SR 529 highway bridges, north and south bound, across Steamboat Slough, mile 1.1 and 1.2, near Marysville, WA. The deviation is necessary to accommodate the Everett Half Marathon run event. This deviation allows the bridges to remain in the closed-to-navigation position during the marathon to allow safe movement of event participants.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone on certain waters of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. This proposed safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of the swimmers, participant vessels, spectators, and the general public during the swim portion of the Xterra Triathlon. This rule is intended to prohibit non-participant vessels and persons from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within 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 Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone on the waters of the Charleston Harbor in Charleston, South Carolina during Charleston Race Week. Charleston Race Week is a series of sail boat races throughout Charleston Harbor. The safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of participants, spectators, and the general public during the event. This regulation prohibits persons and vessels from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the safety zones unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the SR 13 (Market Street) Bridge across Nanticoke River, mile 39.6, in Seaford, DE. The deviation is necessary to facilitate placement of an emergency temporary public water line on the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed- to-navigation position.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the navigable waters of Lake Tahoe near Commons Beach in support of the Monte Foundation Snowfest Festival Fireworks Display on March 2, 2018. This safety zone is established to ensure the safety of participants and spectators from the dangers associated with 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 their designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a special local regulation (SLR) for certain navigable waters of Biscayne Bay, Miami, FL for the Miami Grand Prix of the Sea. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of the public, spectators, vessels, and marine environment from potential hazards during high-speed, offshore-style boat and Personal Water Craft (PWC) races during the Miami Grand Prix of the Sea. This SLR is necessary to provide for the safety of the public, spectators, vessels, and marine environment during the Miami Grand Prix of the Sea. The SLR would establish two regulated areas, a safety zone and no anchoring zone. Non-participant persons and vessels would be prohibited from entering, transiting, anchoring in, or remaining within the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Miami (COTP) or a designated representative. All vessels would be prohibited from anchoring in the no anchoring zone. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

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 an extension of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0068, State Access to the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund for removal costs under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, without change. 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.

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 an extension of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0012, Certificate of Discharge to Merchant Mariner; without change. 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 has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Northwestern Pacific (SMART) railroad bridge across the Petaluma River, mile 12.4, at Haystack Landing (Petaluma), CA. This deviation will test a change to the drawbridge operation schedule to determine whether a permanent change to the schedule is appropriate. This test deviation will modify the existing regulation to add an advance notification requirement for obtaining bridge openings.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Route 280 Bridge across the Passaic River, mile 5.8, at Harrison, New Jersey. The deviation is necessary to perform work on the switch gear power source of the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to undergo necessary maintenance for Route 21 interchange improvements. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed during the maintenance period.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Tower Drawbridge across the Sacramento River, mile 59.0 at Sacramento, CA. The deviation is necessary to allow the local community to participate in footrace events. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to- navigation position during the deviation period.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone for all navigable waters of the Tennessee River, beginning at mile marker 446.0 and ending at mile marker 454.5 during periods of high water flow. This safety zone is necessary to provide safety for mariners transiting on the Tennessee River during periods of high water flow. Entry into this area will be prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Ohio Valley or designated representative.

The National Maritime Security Advisory Committee will meet in Oakland, California, to review and discuss various issues relating to national maritime security. All meetings will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard is issuing an interim final rule to apply changes made by the 2016 final rule, Harmonization of Standards for Fire Protection, Detection, and Extinguishing Equipment, to inspected towing vessels. Applying these updated fire protection requirements to inspected towing vessels will align regulations for inspected towing vessels with other commercial vessel regulations.