[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 33, Volume 2]
[Revised as of July 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 33CFR147.10]

[Page 162-163]
 
                TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS
 
   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 147--SAFETY ZONES--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 147.10  Establishment of safety zones.

    (a) Whenever it comes to the attention of the District Commander 
that a safety zone and regulations may be required concerning any OCS 
facility being constructed, maintained, or operated on the Outer 
Continental Shelf or its appurtenances and attending vessels, or the 
adjacent waters, the District Commander may initiate appropriate inquiry 
to determine whether a safety zone and regulations should be 
established. In making this determination, the District Commander 
considers all relevant safety factors, including existing or reasonably 
foreseeable congestion of vessels, the presence of unusually harmful or 
hazardous substances, and any obstructions within 500 meters of the OCS 
facility. If the District Commander determines that the circumstances 
warrant the establishment of a safety zone and regulations the District 
Commander takes action as necessary consistent with the provisions of 
this part.
    (b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, a safety 
zone and

[[Page 163]]

necessary regulations may be established concerning any OCS facility 
being constructed, maintained or operated on the Outer Continental 
Shelf, following publication of a notice of proposed rule making in the 
Federal Register and after interested parties have been given the 
opportunity to submit comments. A zone and necessary regulations may be 
in effect during any period when construction equipment and materials 
are within 500 meters of the construction site until the removal of all 
portions of the facility.
    (c) A safety zone and necessary regulations may be established 
without public rule making procedures when the District Commander 
determined that imminent danger exists with respect to the safety of 
life and property on an OCS facility constructed, maintained, or 
operated on the Outer Continental Shelf, its appurtenances and attending 
vessels or adjacent waters. A safety zone and regulations may be made 
effective on the date the rule is published in the Federal Register. 
However, if circumstances require, they may be placed into effect 
immediately, followed promptly by publication in the Federal Register. 
The District Commander may utilize, in addition to broadcast Notices to 
Mariners, Local Notices to Mariners, and Notices to Mariners, 
newspapers, and broadcasting stations to disseminate information 
concerning a safety zone and regulations pertaining thereto. The public 
may comment concerning the establishment of a safety zone or regulations 
under this paragraph. A safety zone or regulations may be modified or 
withdrawn, as appropriate, based on the comments received.
    (d) Geographic coordinates expressed in terms of latitude or 
longitude, or both, are not intended for plotting on maps or charts 
whose referenced horizontal datum is the North American Datum of 1983 
(NAD 83), unless such geographic coordinates are expressly labeled NAD 
83. Geographic coordinates without the NAD 83 reference may be plotted 
on maps or charts reference to NAD 83 only after application of the 
appropriate corrections that are published on the particular map or 
chart being used.

[CGD 78-160, 47 FR 9386, Mar. 4, 1982, as amended by CGD 86-082, 52 FR 
33811, Sept. 8, 1987]