Coast Guard Catches Up on Expired Waterway Safety Rules
Published Date: 1/12/2026
Rule
Summary
The Coast Guard is letting everyone know about temporary safety and security rules they put in place last fall that expired before they could be officially published. These rules affect boaters, event organizers, and waterfront businesses by setting up safety zones and special event regulations to keep things safe and secure. While these rules didn’t cost money, they helped protect people and property during important events and emergencies.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Temporary marine safety and security rules
The Coast Guard temporarily put safety zones, security zones, and special local regulations into effect for short periods and these rules became effective primarily between October 2023 and December 2023 but expired before they could be published in the Federal Register. The rules were enforced by Coast Guard patrol vessels and publicized by Local Notices to Mariners and press releases, and the agency reports they did not impose costs while helping protect people and property during events and emergencies.
Retrospective publication of temporary rules
Because the temporary rules expired before they could be published, the Coast Guard published a consolidated notice listing those expired temporary safety zones, security zones, and special local regulations so the public is officially notified. Copies of individual temporary rules and notifications of enforcement are available at www.regulations.gov under their docket numbers.
Local maritime zones affected specific states
The unpublished temporary rules listed in this notice applied to specific locations and dates (examples include Newport, RI on 2023-09-30; San Francisco, CA on 2023-10-05 and 2023-11-16; New York City, NY on 2023-10-12; Port Isabel, TX on 2023-11-17; Canaveral, FL on 2023-12-16; and Savannah, GA on 2023-12-31). Mariners and waterfront event participants in the listed states could have been subject to those temporary restrictions during the stated effective dates.
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