2025-00013. Security Zone; Potomac River and Anacostia River, and Adjacent Waters; Washington, DC

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Department of Homeland Security

Coast Guard

1. 33 CFR Part 165
2. [Docket No. USCG-2024-1094]
3. RIN 1625-AA87

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION:

Notification of enforcement of regulation.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard will enforce a security zone along the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers and adjacent waters at Washington, DC to protect government officials, mitigate potential terrorist acts, and enhance public and maritime safety and security in the days leading up to and after the 60th Presidential Inauguration. During the enforcement period, entry into or remaining within the security zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or his designated representative.

DATES:

The regulations in 33 CFR 165.508 will be enforced from 8 a.m. on January 18, 2025, through 11:59 p.m. on January 21, 2025, for the security zone identified in 33 CFR 165.508(a)(6).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

If you have questions about this rule, call or email LCDR Kate Newkirk, Sector Maryland-NCR, Waterways Management Division, U.S. Coast Guard; 410-365-8141, [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

On October 2, 2024, the Coast Guard was notified by the event organizer that the anticipated dates for the activities associated with the 60th Presidential Inauguration are scheduled from January 18, 2025, to January 21, 2025. The Coast Guard will enforce regulations in 33 CFR 165.508 for the zone identified in paragraph (a)(6). This action is being taken to protect government officials, mitigate potential terrorist acts and incidents, and enhance public and maritime safety and security immediately before, during, and after this event. Thirty-three CFR 165.508(d)(4) provides that the security zone will be enforced from 8 a.m. on January 18, 2025, until 11:59 p.m. on January 21, 2025. Subsection (d)(1) of § 165.508 also provides that the security zone will be enforced, in addition to the specified times in paragraphs (d)(4) of that section, upon issuance of a notice of enforcement by the Captain of the Port Maryland-National Capital Region.

Our regulation entitled “Security Zone; Potomac River and Anacostia River, and adjacent waters; Washington, DC,” § 165.508, specifies the location for this security zone as an area that includes all navigable waters described in paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3). This security zone includes: (1) the area comprising Zone 1, all navigable waters of the Potomac River, from shoreline to shoreline, bounded to the north by the Francis Scott Key (US-29) Bridge, at mile 113, and bounded to the south by a line drawn from the Virginia shoreline at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, at 38°51′21.3″ N, 077°02′00.0″ W, eastward across the Potomac River to the District of Columbia shoreline at Hains Point at position 38°51′24.3″ N, 077°01′19.8″ W, including the waters of the Boundary Channel, Pentagon Lagoon, Georgetown Channel Tidal Basin, and Roaches Run; (2) the area comprising Zone 2, all navigable waters of the Anacostia River, from shoreline to shoreline, bounded to the north by the John Philip Sousa (Pennsylvania Avenue) Bridge, at mile 2.9, and bounded to the south by a line drawn from the District of Columbia shoreline at Hains Point at position 38°51′24.3″ N, 077°01′19.8″ W, southward across the Anacostia River to the District of Columbia shoreline at Giesboro Point at ( print page 1040) position 38°50′52.4″ N, 077°01′10.9″ W, including the waters of the Washington Channel; (3) the area comprising Zone 3, all navigable waters of the Potomac River, from shoreline to shoreline, bounded to the north by a line drawn from the Virginia shoreline at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, at 38°51′21.3″ N, 077°02′00.0″ W, eastward across the Potomac River to the District of Columbia shoreline at Hains Point at position 38°51′24.3″ N, 077°01′19.8″ W, thence southward across the Anacostia River to the District of Columbia shoreline at Giesboro Point at position 38°50′52.4″ N, 077°01′10.9″ W, and bounded to the south by the Woodrow Wilson Memorial (I-95/I-495) Bridge, at mile 103.8.

As specified in § 165.508 (b), during the enforcement period, entry into or remaining in the zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Coast Guard Captain of the Port Maryland-National Capital Region. Public vessels and vessels already at berth at the time the security zone is implemented do not have to depart the security zone. All vessels underway within the security zone at the time it is implemented are to depart the zone at the time the security zone is implemented. To seek permission to transit the zone, the Captain of the Port Maryland-National Capital Region can be contacted at telephone number [phone] or on Marine Band Radio, VHF-FM channel 16 (156.8 MHz). Coast Guard vessels enforcing this zone can be contacted on Marine Band Radio, VHF-FM channel 16 (156.8 MHz). The Coast Guard may be assisted by other Federal, state or local law enforcement agencies in enforcing this regulation. If the Captain of the Port or his designated on-scene patrol personnel determines the security zone need not be enforced for the full duration stated in this notice, a Broadcast Notice to Mariners may be used to suspend enforcement and grant general permission to enter the security zone.

This notification of enforcement is issued under authority of 33 CFR 165.508 and 5 U.S.C. 552(a). In addition to this notification of enforcement in the Federal Register , the Coast Guard will provide notification of this enforcement period via the Local Notice to Mariners and marine information broadcasts.

Dated: January 2, 2025.

Patrick C. Burkett,

Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, Sector Maryland-National Capital Region.