2011-32258. Safety Zone, Brandon Road Lock and Dam to Lake Michigan Including Des Plaines River, Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, Chicago River, and Calumet-Saganashkee Channel, Chicago, IL

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION:

Notice of enforcement of regulation.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard will enforce a segment of the Safety Zone; Brandon Road Lock and Dam to Lake Michigan including Des Plaines River, Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, Chicago River, Calumet-Saganashkee Channel on all waters of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal from Mile Marker 296.1 to Mile Marker 296.7 at various times from December 21, 2011 until December 22, 2011. This action is necessary to protect the waterways, waterway users, and vessels from hazards associated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' maintenance operations of dispersal barrier IIB. During these operations, dispersal barriers IIA and IIB will be running simultaneously at 2.3 volts per inch necessitating the restriction to reduce potential safety hazards.

During the enforcement period, entry into, transiting, mooring, laying-up or anchoring within the enforced area of this safety zone by any person or vessel is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Lake Michigan, or his or her designated representative.

DATES:

The regulations in 33 CFR 165.930 will be enforced from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on December 21-22, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

If you have questions on this notice, call or email CWO Jon Grob, Prevention Department, Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan, telephone [phone], email address [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Coast Guard will enforce a segment of the Safety Zone; Brandon Road Lock and Dam to Lake Michigan including Des Plaines River, Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, Chicago River, Calumet-Saganashkee Channel, Chicago, IL, listed in 33 CFR 165.930, on all waters of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal from Mile Marker 296.1 to Mile Marker 296.7 at the following times:

(1) On December 21-22, 2011, from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m. and from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.

This enforcement action is necessary because the Captain of the Port, Sector Lake Michigan has determined that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' dispersal barrier maintenance and simultaneous operations of Barriers IIA and IIB pose risks to life and property. The combination of vessel traffic and the maintenance operations in the water makes the controlling of vessels through the impacted portion of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal necessary to prevent injury and property loss.

In accordance with the general regulations in § 165.23 of this part, entry into, transiting, mooring, laying up or anchoring within the enforced area of this safety zone by any person or vessel is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Lake Michigan, or his or her designated representative.

This notice is issued under authority of 33 CFR § 165.930 and 5 U.S.C. 552(a). In addition to this notice in the Federal Register, the Captain of the Port, Sector Lake Michigan, will also provide notice through other means, which may include, but are not limited to, Broadcast Notice to Mariners, Local Notice to Mariners, local news media, distribution in leaflet form, and on-scene oral notice.

Additionally, the Captain of the Port, Sector Lake Michigan, may notify representatives from the maritime industry through telephonic and email notifications.

Dated: November 21, 2011.

M.W. Sibley,

Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, Sector Lake Michigan.