Coast Guard Establishes Potomac Safety Zone After Aircraft Incident
Published Date: 2/13/2025
Rule
Summary
The Coast Guard is setting up a temporary safety zone on the Potomac River between the 14th Street Bridge and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge to keep people and boats safe after an aircraft accident. Only authorized boats can enter this area while first responders and dive teams work. This means boaters in the area need to follow new rules for a while to stay safe.
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Temporary Potomac River safety zone
You may not enter the Potomac River waters between the 14th Street Bridge (north) and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge (south) unless the Captain of the Port Sector Maryland-National Capital Region or a designated representative specifically authorizes you. The safety zone is temporary and is in place to protect the public and vessels and to keep first responders and dive teams safe while they work.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-08699 — Shipping Safety Fairways Along the Atlantic Coast
The Coast Guard is making the Atlantic Coast safer for ships by setting up special shipping lanes from New York to Florida. They’re reopening the comment period until June 22, 2026, so everyone can share their thoughts before the rules are finalized. This affects ship operators and coastal communities, aiming to keep sea travel smooth and safe without extra costs right now.
2026-10612 — Special Local Regulation; Sail Grand Prix, Upper Bay, New York City, NY
The Coast Guard is setting up a temporary no-go zone in Upper Bay, NYC, for the Sail Grand Prix sailboat race on May 30-31, 2026. Boats and people can’t enter the race area during race hours unless they get special permission. This keeps everyone safe while the super-fast boats zoom around and thousands of fans watch.
2026-10597 — Special Local Regulations; Marine Events Within the Sector Columbia River Captain of the Port Zone
From May 30 to August 8, 2026, the Coast Guard will enforce special rules on parts of the Columbia and Snake Rivers to keep everyone safe during cool events like boat races and swims. If you’re boating in these areas, you’ll need to follow instructions from Coast Guard patrols or risk being stopped. These rules help protect people and property but don’t cost you anything extra—just a little patience and attention to timing!
2026-10588 — Safety Zone; Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic City, NJ
From May 29 to May 31, 2026, between 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., the Coast Guard is setting up a temporary safety zone in the Atlantic Ocean near Atlantic City, NJ, to keep everyone safe during an offshore airshow. Boats and people can’t enter this area unless they get special permission. This means some water traffic will be paused for a few hours each day, but it’s all about keeping the skies and seas safe and fun!
2026-10596 — Safety Zone; Annual Fireworks Displays Within the Sector Columbia River Captain of the Port Zone
Starting June 29, 2026, the Coast Guard is updating safety zones for annual fireworks shows along the Columbia River. They’re adding a new safety zone, removing one that’s no longer needed, renaming a display, and adding a second date for another. These changes keep everyone safe by controlling who can be near the fireworks during the shows—especially boaters and visitors in the area.
2026-10478 — Safety Zone; Sector Mobile Annual and Recurring Safety Zones
The Coast Guard wants to update safety zones for yearly events like airshows, fireworks, and boat races in the Mobile area to keep everyone safe. These zones will block off certain water areas during events unless you have special permission. If you use these waterways, watch for new rules starting soon, and get your comments in by June 26, 2026!
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-02558 — Federal Acknowledgment of American Indian Tribes
The Department of Interior is updating how American Indian tribes get officially recognized by the federal government. This change affects tribes seeking acknowledgment and delays the new rules from February 14 to March 21, 2025. The update aims to make the process clearer and fairer, with no immediate cost changes announced.
Next: 2025-02592 — Wyoming Regulatory Program and Montana Regulatory Program
Hey Wyoming and Montana! Your new regulatory program changes are hitting the pause button for now, thanks to a Presidential order on January 20, 2025. This means no new rules will kick in just yet, giving everyone more time to review and prepare. If you’re affected, hang tight—no sudden money or deadline surprises are coming your way right now!