# 2026-16130: No Boats Near WHALE: Coast Guard Guards Giant Ocean Beast

2026-16130, Safety Zone; WHALE Floating Production System Outer Continental Shelf Facility, Alaminos Canyon 773, Gulf of America, is a Federal Register proposed rule from Homeland Security Department, Coast Guard published 2026-08-07, effective Comments and related material must be received by the Coast Guard on or before September 8, 2026.; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-14).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16130
- As of: 2026-08-14
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-16130
- Title: Safety Zone; WHALE Floating Production System Outer Continental Shelf Facility, Alaminos Canyon 773, Gulf of America
- Type: Proposed Rule
- Agencies: Homeland Security Department; Coast Guard
- Citation: 91 FR 51118
- Published: 2026-08-07
- Effective: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast Guard on or before September 8, 2026.
- Comments close: 2026-09-08
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: 1625-AA00
- Last updated: 2026-08-14

## In one line

No Boats Near WHALE: Coast Guard Guards Giant Ocean Beast

## Summary

The Coast Guard wants to create a safety zone around the WHALE Floating Production System in the Gulf of America to keep boats away unless they get special permission. This will help prevent accidents, spills, and security problems, protecting people, property, and the environment. If you have thoughts, send them in by September 8, 2026!

## Abstract

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a safety zone around the WHALE Floating Production System (FPS), on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the Gulf of America. Establishing a safety zone around the facility will significantly reduce the threat of allisions, collisions, security breaches, oil spills, and releases of natural gas, and thereby protect the safety of life, property, and the environment. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit entry of vessels into this safety zone unless specifically authorized by the Commander, Coast Guard Heartland District or their designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

## Effects PRIA read

- 500m Safety Zone Blocks Vessel Transit: cost, low. The Coast Guard proposes a permanent safety zone 500 meters (1640.4 feet) from each point on the WHALE Floating Production System at 26°13'25.55" N, 94°40'25.39" W. No vessel may enter or remain in that zone unless it is an attending vessel, is under 100 feet and not towing, or has permission from…
- Small Vessels and Attending Ships May Enter: benefit, low. The proposed rule explicitly allows attending vessels (per 33 CFR 147.20) and vessels under 100 feet in length overall that are not engaged in towing to enter the WHALE FPS safety zone without special permission. Other vessels must obtain authorization from the District Commander to enter.
- Coast Guard Certifies Little Small-Business Impact: benefit, low. The Coast Guard certifies under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 605(b)) that this proposed safety zone would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Small entities that believe they would be affected are invited to submit comments explaining how an…

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- [2026-08699](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08699): Shipping Safety Fairways Along the Atlantic Coast, 2026-05-05
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## Sources
- [2026-16130 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/07/2026-16130/safety-zone-whale-floating-production-system-outer-continental-shelf-facility-alaminos-canyon-773)
- [2026-16130 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-07/pdf/2026-16130.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-16124, Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Drawbridge Operation Regulation; San Bernard R…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16124)
- [Next: 2026-16134, Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16134)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16130 (as of 2026-08-14).