[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 173 (Friday, September 8, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 61963-61964]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-19392]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket No. USCG-2023-0758]


Safety Zones in Reentry Sites; Jacksonville, Florida

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notification of enforcement of regulation.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is activating three safety zones for the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Commercial Crew 
Program 6 (Crew-6) mission reentry vehicle splashdown, and recovery 
operations. These operations will occur in the U.S. Exclusive Economic 
Zone (EEZ). Our regulation for safety zones in reentry sites within the 
Seventh Coast Guard District identifies the regulated areas for this 
event. No U.S.-flagged vessel may enter the safety zones unless 
authorized by the Captain of the Port Savannah or a designated 
representative. Foreign-flagged vessels are encouraged to remain 
outside the safety zones.

DATES: The regulations in 33 CFR 165.T07-0806 will be enforced for the 
safety zones identified in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below 
for the dates and times specified.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this 
notification of enforcement, call or email Lieutenant Junior Grade 
Anthony Harris, Marine Safety Unit Savannah, Waterways Division, U.S. 
Coast Guard; telephone 912-210-8714, email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With this document, the Coast Guard Captain 
of the Port (COTP) Savannah is activating a portion of the safety zone 
as listed in 33 CFR 165.T07-0806(a)(1), and the safety zones listed in 
(a)(2) and (a)(3) on September 4, 2023 through September 11, 2023, for 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Commercial 
Crew Program 6 (Crew-6) mission reentry vehicle splashdown, and the 
associated recovery operations in the U.S. EEZ. These safety zones are 
located within the COTP Savannah Area of Responsibility (AOR) offshore 
of

[[Page 61964]]

Jacksonville, Florida. The Coast Guard is activating these safety zones 
in order to protect vessels and waterway users from the potential 
hazards created by reentry vehicle splashdowns and recovery operations. 
In accordance with the general regulations in 33 CFR part 165, subpart 
C, no U.S.-flagged vessel may enter the safety zones unless authorized 
by the COTP Savannah or a designated representative except as provided 
in Sec.  165.T07-0806(d)(3). All foreign-flagged vessels are encouraged 
to remain outside the safety zones.
    There are four other safety zones listed in Sec.  165.T07-
0806(a)(2) through (a)(5), which are located within the COTP St. 
Petersburg and Jacksonville AORs, that are being simultaneously 
activated through separate notifications of enforcement of the 
regulation document issued under Docket Numbers USCG-2023-0719, and 
USCG-2023-0757.\1\
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    \1\ These notifications of enforcement of the regulation can be 
found at: https://regulations.gov by searching for docket number 
USCG-2023-0719, and USCG-2023-0757.
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    Twenty-four hours prior to the Crew-6 recovery operations, the COTP 
Jacksonville, the COTP Savannah, the COTP St. Petersburg, or designated 
representative will inform the public that whether any of the five 
safety zones described in Sec.  165.T07-0806, paragraph (a), will 
remain activated (subject to enforcement). If one of the safety zones 
described in Sec.  165.T07-0806, paragraph (a), remains activated it 
will be enforced for four hours prior to the Crew-6 splashdown and 
remain activated until announced by Broadcast Notice to Mariners on 
VHF-FM channel 16, and/or Marine Safety Information Bulletin (as 
appropriate) that the safety zone is no longer subject to enforcement. 
After the Crew-6 reentry vehicle splashdown, the COTP or a designated 
representative will grant general permission to come no closer than 3 
nautical miles of any reentry vehicle or space support vessel engaged 
in the recovery operations, within the activated safety zone described 
in Sec.  165.T07-0806, paragraph (a). Once the reentry vehicle, and any 
personnel involved in reentry service, are removed from the water and 
secured onboard a space support vessel, the COTP or designated 
representative will issue a Broadcast Notice to Mariners on VHF-FM 
channel 16 announcing the activated safety zone is no longer subject to 
enforcement. The recovery operations are expected to last approximately 
one hour.
    The Coast Guard may be assisted by other Federal, State, or local 
law enforcement agencies in enforcing this regulation.

    Dated: September 1, 2023.
Nathaniel L. Robinson,
Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Savannah.
[FR Doc. 2023-19392 Filed 9-7-23; 8:45 am]
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