Proposed Rule2024-07704
Regulated Navigation Area; Port of Miami, Miami, FL
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
April 11, 2024
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentCoast Guard
Abstract
The Coast Guard is seeking information and comments on a potential regulated navigation area for certain waters surrounding the Port of Miami. The current proposal in consideration would establish a slow speed zone throughout Fisherman's Channel and the Main Ship Channel for vessels less than 150 meters in length. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 71 (Thursday, April 11, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 71 (Thursday, April 11, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 25553-25554]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-07704]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 165
[Docket Number USCG-2024-0205]
RIN 1625-AA11
Regulated Navigation Area; Port of Miami, Miami, FL
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of inquiry.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is seeking information and comments on a
potential regulated navigation area for certain waters surrounding the
Port of Miami. The current proposal in consideration would establish a
slow speed zone throughout Fisherman's Channel and the Main Ship
Channel for vessels less than 150 meters in length. We invite your
comments on this proposed rulemaking.
DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast
Guard on or before May 13, 2024.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2024-0205 using the Federal Decision-Making Portal at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. See the ``Public Participation and Request for
Comments'' portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for further
instructions on submitting comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this
notice or study, call or email Mr. David Lieberman, Seventh Coast Guard
District (dpw), U.S. Coast Guard; telephone (571) 608-3465, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#753114031c115b395b391c1017100718141b4735000616125b181c19"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c783a6b1aea3e98be98baea2a5a2b5aaa6a9f587b2b4a4a0e9aaaeab">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Table of Abbreviations
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
NOI Notice of Inquiry
Sec. Section
U.S.C. United States Code
II. Background, Purpose, and Legal Basis
The Captain of the Port (COTP) Miami has determined there has been
an increase in navigational risk in certain waterways in proximity to
the Port of Miami as the port continues to expand and vessel traffic
increases. On May 10th and 11th of 2023, Coast Guard Navigation Center
(NAVCEN) and Sector Miami held a Ports and Waterways Safety Assessment
(PAWSA) with key local stakeholders. As a result, the workshop
identified hazards associated to the port, with the largest concern for
navigational safety being the high speed of vessels and wake created by
increased vessel traffic. The Coast Guard has received reports of an
increasing number of incidents as vessel traffic has increased.
On June 25, 2023, around 3:30 a.m. a recreational vessel traveling
at a high rate of speed through the Main ship channel collided with a
vehicle ferry. This incident resulted in the loss of life as well as
impact to the movement of passenger and cargo vessels in the Port of
Miami over a 12-hour period. Additionally, on February 12, 2024, a
recreational vessel collied with an inspected passenger vessel in
Fisherman's Channel. This incident resulted in 13 injuries. With the
creation of a regulated navigation area the Coast Guard intends to
reduce the navigational risk associated with high-speed vessel
operations in a densely trafficked waterway.
In addition to these incidents, the Port of Miami is expanding its
cruise ship terminals and expects vessel and passenger throughput
increases over the next several years. This increase in passenger
service, accompanied by an increase in Liquified Natural Gas (LNG)
bunkering operations in the port introduce a new set of operational
risks in the area.
These risks, in combination with the criticality of this port to
the local and regional economy, form the basis for evaluation of
additional measures to enhance navigation safety. The establishment of
a regulated navigation area is expected to promote improvements to
vessel traffic management, reduce high speed operations and enhance
navigation safety. The current proposal in consideration would
establish a slow speed restriction on vessels less than 150 meters
within the Port of Miami.
III. Information Requested
To aid us in further developing a proposed rule, we seek responses
from waterway users to the following questions:
(1) Do you currently transit through Fisherman's Channel or the
Main Channel in Biscayne Bay?
(2) How often do you transit this waterway?
(3) Is there a specific part of either channel that you find to be
dangerous to navigate in?
(4) Has your vessel or other property ever been damaged as a result
of vessel operations in this area?
[[Page 25554]]
(5) Is there a specific speed limitation you think would help
reduce the risk of transiting through this area?
(6) Is there a specific part of either channel you think should
require a reduced speed?
(7) Is there a specific part of either channel you think should not
require a reduced speed?
(8) What challenges have you experienced when transiting this area
due to increased vessel traffic?
(9) How would a speed restriction impact your ability to safety
operate your vessel?
(10) Do you think other measures would be more appropriate than a
speed restriction? If so, what measures would you propose?
(11) Are there any other factors you think the Coast Guard should
consider before moving forward with this rulemaking?
IV. Public Participation and Request for Comments
We encourage you to submit comments in response to this NOI through
the Federal Decision Making Portal at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. To
do so, go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, type USCG-2024-0205 in the
search box and click ``Search.'' Next, look for this document in the
Search Results column, and click on it. Then click on the Comment
option. In your submission, please include the docket number for this
notice of inquiry and provide a reason for each suggestion or
recommendation. If your material cannot be submitted using <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> contact the person in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section of this document for alternate instructions.
To view documents mentioned in this proposed rule as being
available in the docket, find the docket as described in the previous
paragraph, and then select ``Supporting & Related Material'' in the
Document Type column. Public comments will also be placed in our online
docket and can be viewed by following instructions on the <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> Frequently Asked Questions web page. We review all
comments received, but we may choose not to post off-topic,
inappropriate, or duplicate comments that we receive. Additionally, if
you go to the online docket and sign up for email alerts, you will be
notified when comments are posted or a final rule is published.
We accept anonymous comments. Comments we post to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> will include any personal information you have
provided. For more about privacy and submissions in response to this
document, see DHS's eRulemaking System of Records notice (85 FR 14226,
March 11, 2020).
We may hold a public meeting, if necessary, to receive oral
comments on this Notice of Inquiry and will announce the date, time,
and location in a separate document published in the Federal Register.
If you signed up for docket email alerts mentioned in the paragraph
above, you will receive an email notice when the public meeting notice
is published and placed in the docket.
This document is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 46
U.S.C. 70034.
Dated: April 8, 2024.
Nicholas C. Seniuk,
Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, Seventh Coast Guard District Waterways
Management.
[FR Doc. 2024-07704 Filed 4-10-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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