Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is establishing a special local regulation for all waters of the Ohio River, surface to bottom, extending from Ohio River mile 557.5 to 558.5 in Madison, IN on September 17 and September 18, 2016. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Madison, IN during the high-speed boat race on September 17 and September 18, 2016. This regulation prohibits persons and vessels from being in the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Ohio Valley or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a special local regulation on the Ohio River from mile 755.0 to mile 759.0 in Owensboro, KY on September 30, 2016 through October 2, 2016. This special regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Owensboro, KY, during the Owensboro Air Show. This rulemaking prohibits transit into, through, and within the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Ohio Valley or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within a 700-yard radius on the surface and 1400-yard radius underwater of the Navy underwater detonation operations in the waters of Apra Outer Harbor, Guam. The Coast Guard believes this safety zone regulation is necessary to protect all persons and vessel that would otherwise transit or be within the affected areas from possible safety hazards associated with underwater detonation operations. Entry of vessels or persons into these zones is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Guam.

The United States Coast Guard will conduct a public listening session in Washington, DC, on the topic of heavy fuel oil use by ships in the Arctic. The purpose of this public listening session is for the Coast Guard to gather information on issues relating to the use of heavy fuel oil (HFO) by ships in the Arctic.

The Towing Safety Advisory Committee will meet in Washington, DC, to review and discuss recommendations from its Subcommittees and to receive briefs listed in the agenda under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. All meetings will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard will enforce regulations for the Sitcum Waterway security zone in Commencement Bay, Tacoma, Washington, from 6 a.m. on September 15, 2016, through 11:59 p.m. on September 20, 2016, unless cancelled sooner by the Captain of the Port. This action is necessary for the security of Department of Defense assets and military cargo in the navigable waters of Puget Sound and adjacent waters. Entry into this security zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or his Designated Representative, or is otherwise provided by exemption or waiver provisions in these security zone regulations.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for the waters of the Tennessee River beginning at mile marker 463.7 and ending at mile marker 464.5, extending bank to bank near Chattanooga, Tennessee. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect persons and property from potential damage and safety hazards during a fireworks display on or over the navigable waterway. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Ohio Valley or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is temporarily modifying the operating schedule that governs the Route 1 & 9 (Lincoln Highway) Bridge across the Hackensack River, mile 2.0, Jersey City, New Jersey. The bridge owner, New Jersey Department of Transportation, submitted a request to restrict bridge openings during the morning and afternoon rush hour periods to alleviate traffic congestion resulting from area roadway closures. It is expected that this change to the regulations would provide relief to vehicular traffic while continuing to meet the reasonable needs of navigation.

The Coast Guard will enforce a special local regulation for the Louisville Dragon Boat Festival on the Ohio River, from mile marker 603.0 and ending at 603.5. This rule is effective from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on September 9, 2016 and from 7 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on September 10, 2016. During the enforcement period, no vessel may transit this regulated area unless registered with the sponsor as a participant or an official patrol vessel, or unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Ohio Valley.

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: 1625-0063, Marine Occupational Health and Safety Standards for Benzene46 CFR 197 Subpart C. 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 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: 1625-0028, Course Approval and Records for Merchant Mariner Training Schools; without change. Our ICR describe 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: 1625-0079, Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1995, 1997 and 2010 Amendments to the International Convention; 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 Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee will meet in Savannah, Georgia to discuss various issues relating to safety in the commercial fishing industry. This meeting will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Montlake Bridge across the Lake Washington Ship Canal, mile 5.2, at Seattle, WA. The Montlake Bridge is a double leaf bascule bridge. The deviation is necessary to allow work crews to replace bridge decking. This deviation allows a single leaf opening with a one hour advance notice during the day, and remains in the closed-to-navigation position at night.

The Coast Guard is changing the comment period on the advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) it published June 9, 2016, regarding anchorage grounds on the Hudson River from Yonkers, NY, to Kingston, NY. Comments will now be due on or before December 6, 2016 instead of September 7, 2016. As of August 29, 2016, the Coast Guard has received more than 2,100 public submissions from many interested persons commenting on the ANPRM. We are extending the comment period to continue encouraging this important public discussion.

The Coast Guard is withdrawing its proposed rule concerning amendments to the regattas and marine parades regulations. The rulemaking was initiated to establish special local regulations during the swim segment of the ``Crisfield CrabMan Triathlon,'' a marine event to be held on the waters of the Little Annemessex River and Somers Cove in Somerset County at Crisfield, MD on September 17, 2016. The Coast Guard was notified on July 25, 2016 that the event had been cancelled.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the US40-322 (Albany Avenue) Bridge across the NJICW (Inside Thorofare), mile 70.0, at Atlantic City, NJ. The deviation is necessary to facilitate the Atlantic City IRONMAN Triathlon. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to- navigation position.

The Coast Guard is establishing two temporary safety zones on the waters of Great Egg Harbor Bay in Marmora, NJ. The first safety zone includes all waters within 250 feet of vessel and machinery conducting demolition operations on the remaining portions of the Route 9, Beesley Point Bridge bascule span. This safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the demolition and will re-route vessel traffic through an alternate channel to facilitate heavy marine equipment operating in the main navigational channel to remove the bascule span of the bridge and will be in place throughout the entire duration of the demolition work. The second safety zone includes all waters within 500 yards of a blasting vessel and equipment being used to conduct bridge pile blasting operations, which is the final phase of the demolition of the Route 9, Beesley Point Bridge bascule span. This safety zone will only be enforced during times of explosive detonation. The safety zone will temporarily restrict vessel traffic from transiting or anchoring in a portion of the Great Egg Harbor Bay while pile blasting and removal operations are being conducted to facilitate the removal of bridge piles from the demolished Route 9, Beesley Point Bridge.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone on the waters of the Tinicum Range, Eddystone Range, Chester Range, and Marcus Hook Range, in the Delaware River from December 1, 2016 to March 15, 2016. The safety zone would temporarily restrict vessel traffic from transiting or anchoring in a portion of the Delaware River while rock blasting, dredging, and rock removal operations are being conducted to facilitate the Delaware River Main Channel Deepening project for the main navigational channel of the Delaware River. This action is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by rock blasting, dredging, and rock removal operations. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters east of Ft. Monroe located in Hampton, VA, on the Chesapeake Bay. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards associated with military exercises involving high-speed, quick maneuvering vessels. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Hampton Roads.

The Coast Guard will enforce regulations for a safety zone for an annual fireworks event in the Captain of the Port Delaware Bay zone from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on September 16, 2016, with a rain date of September 18, 2016. Enforcement of this zone is necessary and intended to ensure safety of life on the navigable waters immediately prior to, during, and immediately after these fireworks events. During the enforcement periods, no vessel may transit this regulated area without approval from the Captain of the Port or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a special local regulation on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway in Bucksport, South Carolina during the Bucksport/Lake Murray Drag Boat Fall Nationals, on September 10 and September 11, 2016. This special local regulation is necessary to ensure the safety of participants, spectators, and the general public during the event. This regulation prohibits persons and vessels from being in the regulated area 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 Rock Island Railroad and Highway Drawbridge across the Upper Mississippi River, mile 482.9, at Rock Island, Illinois. The deviation is necessary to allow the bridge owner time to facilitate repairs to the locking mechanisms on the rail deck of the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to be maintained in the closed-to-navigation position for critical repairs that are essential to the continued safe operation of the drawbridge.

The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee and its working groups will meet to discuss various issues related to the training and fitness of merchant marine personnel. The meetings will be open to the public.