[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 198 (Friday, October 14, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 62310-62311]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-22391]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket No. USCG-2022-0807]


Safety Zones in Reentry Sites; Tampa and Tallahassee, Florida

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notification of enforcement of regulation.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is activating two safety zones for the SpaceX 
Commercial Crew-4 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 St. Petersburg or a designated 
representative. Foreign-flagged vessels are encouraged to remain 
outside the safety zones.

DATES: The regulations in 33 CFR 165.T07-0289 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 Marine Science Technician 
second class Regina Cuevas, Waterways Management Division, U.S. Coast 
Guard; telephone 813-228-2191 ext 8333, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With this document, the Coast Guard Captain 
of the Port (COTP) St. Petersburg is activating two safety zones as 
listed in 33 CFR 165.T07-0289(a)(4) through (a)(5), on October 13, 2022 
through October 20, 2022 for the SpaceX Commercial Crew-4 mission 
(Crew-4), reentry vehicle splashdown, and the associated recovery 
operations in the U.S. EEZ. These two safety zones are located within 
the COTP St. Petersburg Area of Responsibility (AOR) offshore of Tampa 
and Tallahassee, Florida. The COTP St. Petersburg 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 our exclusive economic zone and implements a special 
activities provision of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. 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 St. 
Petersburg or a designated representative except as provided in Sec.  
165.T07-0289(d)(3). All foreign-flagged vessels are encouraged to 
remain outside the safety zones.
    There are three other safety zones listed in Sec.  165.T07-
0289(a)(1) through (a)(3), which are located within the COTP 
Jacksonville AOR, that are being simultaneously activated through a 
separate notification of enforcement of the regulation document issued 
under Docket Number USCG-2022-0805.\1\
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    \1\ This notification of enforcement of the regulation can be 
found at: https://regulations.gov by searching for docket number 
USCG-2022-0805.
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    Twenty-four hours prior to the Crew-4 recovery operations scheduled 
as early as October 13, 2022, the COTP Jacksonville or COTP St. 
Petersburg, or designated representative will inform the public whether 
any of the five safety zones described in Sec.  165.T07-0289, paragraph 
(a), will remain activated (subject to enforcement). If one of the 
safety zones described in Sec.  165.T07-0289, paragraph (a), remains 
activated, it will be enforced for four hours prior to the Crew-4 
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-4 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.T07-0289, 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

[[Page 62311]]

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: October 7, 2022.
Michael P. Kahle,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Sector St. Petersburg.
[FR Doc. 2022-22391 Filed 10-13-22; 8:45 am]
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