Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is modifying the operating schedule that governs the Morrison Bridge across the Willamette River, mile 12.8, at Portland, Oregon. The temporary interim rule is necessary to accommodate Multnomah County's (bridge owner) unexpected extension of time required to replace the bridge decking. This temporary rule is necessary due to the amount of days requested by the bridge owner. The active deviation expires at the 180th day, and the Coast Guard does not approve back-to-back deviations.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Mare Island Drawbridge across the Napa River, mile 2.8 at Vallejo, CA. The deviation is necessary to allow the community to participate in the Waterfront Weekend Triathlon. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position during the deviation period.

The Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory 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.

This final rule adds the Polar Ship Certificate to a list of certificates that certain U.S. and foreign-flag ships will need to carry on board if they engage in international voyages in polar waters. This rule also enables the Coast Guard to authorize recognized classification societies to issue the Polar Ship Certificate on the Coast Guard's behalf. We are taking this action because the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) has been amended to require certain ships operating in Arctic or Antarctic waters to have a Polar Ship Certificate. This rule will help ensure that U.S.-flagged ships that need this certificatecommercial cargo ships greater than 500 gross tonnage and passenger ships carrying more than 12 passengers, that operate in polar waters as defined by SOLAS chapter XIV while engaged in international voyageswill be able to obtain it in a timely manner.

The Coast Guard is updating the special local regulations and permanent safety zones in Coast Guard Sector Northern New England Captain of the Port Zone for annual recurring marine events. When enforced, these special local regulations and safety zones will restrict vessels from portions of water areas during certain annually recurring events. The special local regulations and safety zones are intended to expedite public notification and ensure the protection of the maritime public and event participants from the hazards associated with certain maritime events.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters on the Mississippi River between mile marker (MM) 96.0 and MM 96.5. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near New Orleans, LA, during a fireworks display. Entry of vessels or persons into this safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector New Orleans (COTP) or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation for all navigable waters of the Maumee River, Toledo, OH from the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Bridge at Maumee river mile 4.30 to the Michael DiSalle Bridge at River mile 6.73. This regulated area is necessary to protect spectators and vessels from potential hazards associated with the Frogtown Regatta. Entry of vessels or persons into this regulated area is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Detroit, or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is making technical amendments to its vessel documentation regulations. A Certificate of Documentation, which is required for the operation of a vessel in certain trades, serves as evidence of vessel nationality, and permits a vessel to be subject to preferred mortgages. The amendments make non-substantive edits to align Coast Guard regulations with current vessel documentation statutes, correct typographical errors, and align procedural requirements with current Coast Guard practice.

The U.S. Coast Guard seeks applications for membership on the Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee. The Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee provides advice and makes recommendations to the Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security on various matters relating to the safe operation of commercial fishing industry vessels.

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 approval for reinstatement, without change, of the following collection of information: 1625-0100, Advanced Notice of Vessel Arrival. 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 will enforce one safety zone within the Captain of the Port Boston zone on September 17, 2017. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of vessels, spectators, and participants from hazards associated with swim event. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel, except for the safety vessels assisting with the events, may enter the safety zones without permission of the Captain of the Port (COTP) or their designated on-scene representative.

The National Boating Safety Advisory Council and its Subcommittees will meet to discuss issues relating to recreational boating safety. These meetings will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Harvey Canal Fourth Street Bridge across the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) mile 0.24 West of Harvey Lock (WHL), at Harvey, Louisiana. The deviation is necessary to allow the contractor to rehabilitate the bridge to continue full operation. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed-to-navigation for 77 consecutive days.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within a 2000-foot portion of the St. Clair River in the vicinity of St. Clair, MI. This zone is necessary to protect vessels from potential hazards associated with the L4D Optic Ground Wire Crossing.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters of the Tennessee River extending from mile marker (MM) 646.8 to MM 647.0. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters near Knoxville, TN, during the University of Tennessee Football Season recurring fireworks displays. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Ohio Valley (COTP) or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Union Pacific Railroad Drawbridge across the Carquinez Strait, mile 7.0, at Martinez, CA. The deviation is necessary to allow advance notification for openings due to mechanical issues at the bridge and to conduct repairs to resolve said issues. This deviation requires the bridge to open on signal if at least 30 minutes notice is given to the bridge operator from approaching vessels and allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to- navigation during operating equipment replacement.

The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) meeting scheduled for September 14 and 15, 2017 and announced in the Federal Register on August 22, 2017 (82 FR 39879) has been cancelled. A notice of meeting will be published in the Federal Register when the meeting is rescheduled.

The Coast Guard is extending the comment period for its notice of availability and request for comments, published on July 12, 2017. The notice announced the availability of the draft Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 05-17 entitled Guidelines for Addressing Cyber Risks at Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) Regulated Facilities, and requested public comments on the draft. The comment period was set to close on September 11, 2017. The Coast Guard has received requests to extend the comment period by 30 days due to the conditions caused by hurricane Harvey, which prevent some members of the public from submitting comments by the original deadline.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters on the Upper Mississippi River (UMR) between mile marker (MM) 179.2 and MM 180. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect persons and property from potential damage and safety hazards during a fireworks display on and over the navigable waterway. During the period of enforcement, entry into the safety zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi River (COTP) or other designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a recurring special local regulation for navigable waters of the Atlantic Ocean in the vicinity of the Fort Lauderdale for the Grand Prix of the Seas. The Fort Lauderdale Grand Prix of the Seas race course is located east of South Beach Park and North of the Port Everglades inlet. Approximately one hundred high-speed personal watercraft are expected to participate in this annual event. The special local regulation is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards during the race event. All vessels and persons in the regulated area must follow the direction of Coast Guard personnel, law enforcement, and race officials. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on a portion of Shark River, in Neptune City, NJ, from September 5, 2017, through September 23, 2017, while dredging operations are being conducted in the main navigational channel. This safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during dredging operations and will restrict vessel traffic from transiting the main navigational channel.

The Coast Guard is modifying the operating schedule of four bridges across the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GICW); Stickney Point Drawbridge, mile 68.6, Siesta Drive Drawbridge, mile 71.6, Cortez Drawbridge, mile, 87.4, and Anna Maria Drawbridge, mile 89.2, in Sarasota, FL. The request was made to the Coast Guard to change the operation of four drawbridges due to an increase in vehicle traffic throughout these areas at all times of the year. This rulemaking would change the bridges' operating schedules from a three times an hour opening schedule to a twice an hour opening schedule throughout the year.

The Coast Guard is modifying the operating schedule that governs the CSX Railroad Bridge across the Rice Creek, mile 0.8, in Palatka, Putnam County, FL. This rule will change the existing open on demand during the day and 24 hour advance notice for a bridge opening during the night, to 24 hour advance notice for an opening at all times.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for multiple fireworks events launched in the vicinity of Penn's Landing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for the waters of Delaware River, Philadelphia, PA. Enforcement of this safety zone is necessary and intended to enhance safety of life on navigable waters immediately prior to, during, and immediately after these fireworks events. During the enforcement periods, no vessel may enter in or transit this regulated area without approval from the Captain of the Port or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Morrison Bridge across the Willamette River, mile 12.8, at Portland, Oregon. The deviation is necessary to accommodate Multnomah County's (bridge owner) replacement of the bridge decking. This deviation allows the bridge to only open half of the span, single leaf, to allow for the replacement of bridge decking. The deviation also allows the vertical clearance to be reduced due to the project's containment system.