[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 147 (Wednesday, July 31, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 61383-61384]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-16846]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2024-0111]


Heavy Weather and Disaster Risk Management; Los Angeles-Long 
Beach Captain of the Port Zone

AGENCY: Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

ACTION: Notification of inquiry; request for comments; notice of 
meeting.

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SUMMARY: We are requesting your comments on establishing port 
conditions and heavy weather safety zones throughout the Los Angeles-
Long Beach Captain of the Port Zone. Safety zones and port conditions 
would establish safe practices in the event natural or manmade 
disasters affect navigable waterways. We seek your comments on which 
weather or disaster parameters would necessitate changing port 
conditions or establishing safety zones based on individual harbors 
throughout the Los Angeles-Long Beach Captain of the Port Zone (COTP 
Zone) from San Clemente to Morro Bay. We also plan to host a public 
meeting on August 12, 2024.

DATES: Your comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on 
or before August 31, 2024.
    A public meeting will be held 10 a.m. August 12, 2024. See the 
``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion of the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for further details.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2024-0111 using the Federal portal at https://www.regulations.gov. See 
the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion of the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for further instructions on 
submitting comments.
    The public meeting will be held virtually. Please contact the 
person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section for call-
in information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this 
notification of inquiry or about the virtual meeting call-in 
information, call or email LCDR Kevin Kinsella, Waterways Management, 
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach; telephone (310) 357-
1603, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DHS Department of Homeland Security
U.S.C. United States Code

II. Background and Purpose

    Southern California has the potential to be affected by hurricanes, 
tropical storms, and other natural disasters on a yearly basis, 
especially between the months of June and November. The Captain of the 
Port (COTP) Los Angeles-Long Beach proposes establishing safety zones 
to provide for the safety of life during and after such storms. In 
August of 2023, heavy weather from Tropical Storm Hilary was expected 
to make landfall along the coast of the Los Angeles-Long Beach COTP 
Zone producing 35 or higher knot winds. At the time there were no 
established heavy weather procedures for the COTP Zone and the COTP 
implemented necessary measures derived from other related plans and 
procedures.
    The purpose of this notification of inquiry is to solicit public 
input to help the Coast Guard prepare to protect

[[Page 61384]]

mariners, port infrastructure, and the environment during and after 
extreme weather and other natural disasters. We seek your comments on 
which weather or disaster parameters would necessitate changing port 
conditions or establishing safety zones based on individual harbors 
throughout the Los Angeles-Long Beach Captain of the Port Zone (COTP 
Zone) from San Clemente to Morro Bay. After considering the comments 
from this notification and public meeting, the Coast Guard will publish 
a notice of proposed rulemaking with opportunity for additional 
comments if we determine that there is a need to pursue a rulemaking.

III. Information Requested

    The Coast Guard requests comments on the following questions:
    1. Do you agree or disagree with the need for establishing safety 
measures with regards to heavy weather and disasters on the navigable 
waters throughout the Los Angeles-Long Beach COTP Zone? If so or if 
not, what is your reason?
    2. What weather parameters do you think specific harbors should 
limit or control vessel traffic movement? (Example: Port Condition 
WHISKEY means a condition set by the COTP when weather advisories 
indicate sustained gale force winds (39-54 mph/34-47 knots) from a 
tropical or hurricane force storm are predicted to make landfall at the 
port within 72 hours.)
    3. What control measures do you think should be in place for the 
corresponding port conditions? (Example: Port Condition WHISKEY. All 
vessel and port facilities must exercise due diligence in preparation 
for potential storm impacts. Ports and waterfront facilities must begin 
removing all debris and securing potential flying hazards. Oceangoing 
vessels 500 gross tons (GT) and above must make plans to depart no 
later than the setting of Port Condition Yankee unless authorized by 
the COTP. Vessels wishing to remain in port are required to submit a 
Notice of Intent to Remain in Port to the COTP prior to setting Port 
Condition X-Ray.)

IV. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We encourage you to submit comments in response to this 
notification of inquiry through the Federal Decision Making portal at 
https://www.regulations.gov. To do so, go to https://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-2024-0111 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 notification of inquiry and 
provide a reason for each suggestion or recommendation. If your 
material cannot be submitted using https://www.regulations.gov, contact 
the person in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this 
document for alternate instructions.
    Public comments will also be placed in our online docket and can be 
viewed by following instructions on the https://www.regulations.gov 
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.
    We accept anonymous comments. Comments we post to https://www.regulations.gov 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 plan to hold one public meeting virtually. The public meeting 
will take place at 10 a.m. on August 12, 2024. For information on 
facilities or services for individuals with disabilities or to request 
special assistance at the public meeting, contact the person named in 
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section, above.
    This document is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a).

    Dated: July 26, 2024.
S.L. Crecy,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard,Captain of the Port Sector Los Angeles-Long 
Beach.
[FR Doc. 2024-16846 Filed 7-30-24; 8:45 am]
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