[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 7, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8332-8333]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-02404]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket No. USCG-2024-0105]


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 
AXIOM-3 Commercial Crew 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: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With this document, the Coast Guard Captain 
of the Port (COTP) Savannah is activating

[[Page 8333]]

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 February 2, 2024 
through February 10, 2024, for the AXIOM-3 Commercial Crew 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 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 two 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-2024-106, and USCG-2024-0085.\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-2024-0106, and USCG-2024-0085.
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    Twenty-four hours prior to the Axiom-3 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 Axiom-3 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 Axiom-3 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: February 1, 2024.
Nathaniel L. Robinson,
Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Savannah.
[FR Doc. 2024-02404 Filed 2-6-24; 8:45 am]
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