§ 165.T09-1054 - Safety Zone and Regulated Navigation Area, Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, Romeoville, IL.

(a) Safety zone. (1) The following area is a temporary safety zone: All waters of the CSSC located between mile marker 296.1 (approximately 958 feet south of the Romeo Road Bridge) and mile marker 296.7 (aerial pipeline arch located approximately 2,693 feet north east of Romeo Road Bridge).

(2) Regulations. (i) All vessels are prohibited from transiting the safety zone with any non-potable water on board if they intend to release that water in any form within, or on the other side of the safety zone. Non-potable water includes but is not limited to any water taken on board to control or maintain trim, draft, stability or stresses of the vessel, or taken on board due to free communication between the hull of the vessel and exterior water. Potable water is water treated and stored aboard the vessel that is suitable for human consumption.

(ii) Vessels with non-potable water onboard are permitted to transit the safety zone if they have taken steps to prevent the release of that water in any form, in or on the other side of, the safety zone, or alternatively if they have plans to dispose of the water in a biologically sound manner.

(iii) Vessels with non-potable water aboard that intend to discharge on the other side of the zone must contact the COTP, her designated representative or her on-scene representative and obtain permission to transit and discharge prior to transit. Examples of discharges that may be approved by the COTP include plans to dispose of the water in a biologically sound manner or demonstrate through testing that the non-potable water does not contain potential live Silver or Asian carp, or viable eggs or, gametes from these carp.

(iv) In accordance with the general regulations in §165.23 of this part, entry into, transiting, or anchoring within this safety zone by vessels with non-potable water on board is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan, her designated representative, or her on-scene representative.

(v) The “on-scene representative” of the Captain of the Port is any Coast Guard commissioned, warrant or petty officer who has been designated by the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan to act on her behalf. The on-scene representative of the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan will be aboard a Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, or other designated vessel or will be on shore and will communicate with vessels via VHF–FM radio or loudhailer. The Captain of the Port Lake Michigan or her on-scene representative may also be contacted via VHF–FM radio Channel 16 or through the Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan Command Center at 414–747–7182.

(b) Regulated navigation area. (1) The following is a regulated navigation area (RNA): All waters of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, Romeoville, IL located between mile marker 295.5 (approximately 3,600 feet south of the Romeo Road Bridge) and mile marker 297.2 (approximately 2,640 feet north of the aerial pipeline arch).

(2) Regulations. (i) The general regulations contained in 33 CFR 165.13 apply.

(ii) Vessels that comply with the following restrictions are permitted to transit the RNA:

(A) All up-bound and down-bound barge tows that consist of barges carrying flammable liquid cargos (Grade A through C, flashpoint below 140 degrees Fahrenheit, or heated to within 15 degrees Fahrenheit of flash point) must engage the services of a bow boat at all times until the entire tow is clear of the RNA.

(B) Vessels engaged in commercial service, as defined in 46 U.S.C. 2101(5), may not pass (meet or overtake) in the RNA and must make a SECURITE call when approaching the RNA to announce intentions and work out passing arrangements.

(C) Commercial tows transiting the RNA must be made up with only wire rope to ensure electrical connectivity between all segments of the tow.

(D) All vessels are prohibited from loitering in the RNA.

(E) Vessels may enter the RNA for the sole purpose of transiting to the other side and must maintain headway throughout the transit. All vessels and persons are prohibited from dredging, laying cable, dragging, fishing, conducting salvage operations, or any other activity, which could disturb the bottom of the RNA.

(F) Except for law enforcement and emergency response personnel, all personnel on vessels transiting the RNA should remain inside the cabin, or as inboard as practicable. If personnel must be on open decks, they must wear a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device.

(G) Vessels may not moor or lay up on the right or left descending banks of the RNA.

(H) Towboats may not make or break tows if any portion of the towboat or tow is located in the RNA.

(I) Persons on board any vessel transiting this RNA in accordance with this rule or otherwise are advised they do so at their own risk.

(J) Vessels must be greater than twenty feet in length.

(K) Vessels must not be a personal watercraft of any kind (e.g. jet skis, wave runners, kayaks, etc. ).

(c) Definitions. The following definitions apply to this section:

Bow boat means a towing vessel capable of providing positive control of the bow of a tow containing one or more barges, while transiting the RNA. The bow boat must be capable of preventing a tow containing one or more barges from coming into contact with the shore and other moored vessels.

Designated representative means the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan and Commanding Officer, Marine Safety Unit Chicago.

Vessel means every description of watercraft or other artificial contrivance used, or capable or being used, as a means of transportation on water. This definition includes, but is not limited to, barges.

(d) Enforcement period. The regulated navigation area and safety zone will be enforced from 5 p.m. on December 1, 2010, until 5 p.m. on December 1, 2011. This regulated navigation area and safety zone are enforceable with actual notice by Coast Guard personnel beginning 5 p.m. on December 1, 2010, until 5 p.m. on December 1, 2011.

(e) Compliance. All persons and vessels must comply with this section and any additional instructions or orders of the Ninth Coast Guard District Commander, or his designated representatives. Any person on board any vessel transiting this RNA in accordance with this rule or otherwise does so at their own risk.

(f) Waiver. For any vessel, the Ninth Coast Guard District Commander, or his designated representatives, may waive any of the requirements of this section, upon finding that operational conditions or other circumstances are such that application of this section is unnecessary or impractical for the purposes of vessel and mariner safety.

Effective Date Note:   By USCG–2010–1054, 75 FR 75150, Dec. 2, 2010, temporary §165.T09–1054 was added, effective from 5 p.m. on Dec. 1, 2010 until 5 p.m. on Dec. 1, 2011.