Security Zone; Potomac River and Anacostia River, and Adjacent Waters; Washington, DC

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

ACTION:

Notification of enforcement of regulation.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard will enforce a security zone along the Potomac River, the Anacostia River, and adjacent waters at Washington, DC, for activities associated with the U.S. President's State of the Union Address. The zone will be enforced on March 7, 2024, through the early morning hours of March 8, 2024. During the enforcement period, entry into, or remaining within the zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or his designated representative.

DATES:

The regulations in 33 CFR 165.508 will be enforced from 9 a.m. on March 7, 2024, until 2 a.m. on March 8, 2024, for the security zone locations identified in 33 CFR 165.508(a)(6).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

If you have questions about this notification of enforcement, call or email LTJG Ausley, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Maryland-National Capital Region (Waterways Management Division); telephone 410–576–2519, email navin.m.ausley@uscg.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Coast Guard will enforce regulations in 33 CFR 165.508 for the security zone locations identified in paragraph (a)(6) from 9 a.m. on March 7, 2024, to 2 a.m. on March 8, 2024. This action is being taken to protect government officials, mitigate potential terrorist acts and incidents, and enhance public and maritime safety and security immediately before, during, and after the U.S. President's State of the Union Address before a Joint Session of Congress. Our regulations for the Security Zone; Potomac River and Anacostia River, and adjacent waters; Washington, DC, § 165.508(a)(6), specifies the location for this security zone as an area that includes all navigable waters described in paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3), which includes Zones 1, 2, and 3.

• Security Zone 1, paragraph (a)(1); all navigable waters of the Potomac River, from shoreline to shoreline, bounded to the north by the Francis Scott Key (US–29) Bridge, at mile 113, and bounded to the south by a line drawn from the Virginia shoreline at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, at 38°51′21.3″ N, 077°02′00.0″ W, eastward across the Potomac River to the District of Columbia shoreline at Hains Point at position 38°51′24.3″ N, 077°01′19.8″ W, including the waters of the Boundary Channel, Pentagon Lagoon, Georgetown Channel Tidal Basin, and Roaches Run.
• Security Zone 2, paragraph (a)(2); all navigable waters of the Anacostia River, from shoreline to shoreline, bounded to the north by the John Philip Sousa (Pennsylvania Avenue) Bridge, at mile 2.9, and bounded to the south by a line drawn from the District of Columbia shoreline at Hains Point at position 38°51′24.3″ N, 077°01′19.8″ W, southward across the Anacostia River to the District of Columbia shoreline at Giesboro Point at position 38°50′52.4″ N, 077°01′10.9″ W, including the waters of the Washington Channel.
• Security Zone 3 paragraph (a)(3); all navigable waters of the Potomac River, from shoreline to shoreline, bounded to the north by a line drawn from the Virginia shoreline at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, at 38°51′21.3″ N, 077°02′00.0″ W, eastward across the Potomac River to the District of Columbia shoreline at Hains Point at position 38°51′24.3″ N, 077°01′19.8″ W, thence southward across the Anacostia River to the District of Columbia shoreline at Giesboro Point at position 38°50′52.4″ N, 077°01′10.9″ W, and bounded to the south by the Woodrow Wilson Memorial (I–95/I–495) Bridge, at mile 103.8.

During the enforcement period, as specified in § 165.508(b), entry into or remaining in these zones is prohibited unless authorized by the Coast Guard Captain of the Port Maryland-National Capital Region. Public vessels and vessels already at berth at the time the security zone is implemented do not have to depart the security zone. All vessels underway within the security zone at the time it is implemented are to depart the zone at the time the security zone is implemented. To seek permission to transit the zone, the Captain of the Port Maryland-National Capital Region can be contacted at telephone number (410) 576–2693 or on Marine Band Radio, VHF–FM channel 16 (156.8 MHz). Coast Guard vessels enforcing this zone can be contacted on Marine Band Radio, VHF–FM channel 16 (156.8 MHz). The Coast Guard may be assisted by other Federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies in enforcing this regulation. If the Captain of the Port or his designated on-scene patrol personnel determines the security zone need not be enforced for the full duration stated in this notice, a Broadcast Notice to Mariners may be used to suspend enforcement and grant general permission to enter the security zone.

In addition to this notice of enforcement in the Federal Register , the Coast Guard plans to provide notification of this enforcement period via the Local Notice to Mariners, and marine information broadcasts.