Search Results for agency_names:"Coast Guard"

The U.S. Coast Guard is seeking public comments on an Information Collection Request (ICR) concerning the Credentialing and Manning Requirements for Officers of Towing Vessels, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This request, which is identified with the OMB Control Number 1625-0078, is forwarding to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval. Interested parties can submit their comments by January 13, 2025, via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. The Coast Guard emphasizes the importance of these credentials in ensuring that only qualified individuals operate towing vessels on U.S. navigable waters.

The Coast Guard has proposed a new rule to improve the schedule for operating the Florida East Coast Railroad Bridge over the Okeechobee Waterway in Stuart, FL. The proposed changes aim to make the bridge operation more predictable and reliable due to increased railway activity. The new schedule would ensure the bridge remains open for navigation except when allowing trains to pass, with fixed 10-minute opening periods each hour. The proposal seeks public comments, highlighting the importance of public participation in shaping the final decision.

The Coast Guard will enforce special local regulations on Mission Bay, San Diego, during the San Diego Crew Classic from March 28 to March 30, 2025, between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. each day. These regulations are put in place to ensure the safety of participants and others on the water and prohibit people and vessels from entering or moving through the designated area without permission from the Captain of the Port. The Coast Guard will provide advance notice about this enforcement period through local maritime communication channels.

The Coast Guard will enforce a safety zone in the Suisun Bay near Concord, California, from December 12 to December 19, 2024, to support explosive handling operations at the Military Ocean Terminal Concord (MOTCO). This safety measure is important to protect people, ships, and the marine environment from potential explosions. The safety zone is open for transitory use, but vessel operators wanting to anchor must get permission from the Captain of the Port San Francisco. Notifications about the enforcement will also be provided through Broadcast Notice to Mariners.

The U.S. Coast Guard is seeking public comments on extending the approval for its Streamlined Inspection Program (SIP), under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The SIP offers an alternative method for inspecting vessels, which may help simplify compliance with inspection requirements. The Coast Guard is requesting feedback on the necessity and practicality of the information collected, as well as suggestions for improving efficiency. Comments must be submitted by April 19, 2021, via the designated eRulemaking Portal.

The U.S. Coast Guard has issued a sixty-day notice requesting comments regarding its plan to seek approval from the Office of Management and Budget to extend an information collection request. This request pertains to reporting oil or hazardous substance discharges and suspicious maritime activities, which is mandatory under various federal regulations. The Coast Guard wants feedback on the necessity and effectiveness of this collection process and is inviting the public to submit comments until May 9, 2025, using the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Any changes or extensions will consider the feedback received.

The Coast Guard will enforce special regulations for the California Half Ironman Triathlon in Oceanside, California, on April 5, 2025, from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. These regulations are meant to ensure the safety of participants and spectators during the event. During this time, boats and people are not allowed to anchor, block, loiter, or impede within the designated area unless they have permission from the Captain of the Port or their representative. The Coast Guard will notify the maritime community of this enforcement through various channels.

The Coast Guard has issued a final rule to create a regulated navigation area around the Port of Miami. This rule sets a slow speed zone for vessels under 50 meters in length in Fisherman's Channel and the Main Ship Channel to reduce navigational hazards and protect vessels in this busy area. The rule, effective from January 29, 2025, aims to improve safety for both passenger and cargo operations by minimizing the risks posed by high-speed vessel traffic. The new measures also allow for better monitoring by law enforcement to ensure compliance and bolster port security.

The Coast Guard is making a correction to an earlier notice that asked for public comments on using Safety Management Systems to enhance safety on U.S.-flagged passenger vessels. This correction involves fixing a mistake in the January 15, 2021, notice where there was a wrong reference in a list of questions meant for the public. Specifically, they have changed a reference from “question 4” to “question 6” in one of the questions. The corrected question now asks about comparing the costs and benefits of expanding existing regulations versus requiring Safety Management Systems for all passenger vessels.

The U.S. Coast Guard is seeking public comments on an Information Collection Request (ICR) related to sewage and graywater discharge records for certain cruise vessels operating in Alaskan waters. This request, under the Paperwork Reduction Act, aims to extend approval for the collection of this information, which is critical for enforcing discharge regulations. The Coast Guard is particularly interested in feedback on the necessity, accuracy, and methods to enhance or reduce the burden of collecting this data. Comments can be submitted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal until March 29, 2021.