# § 70034. Regulations
**(a)** **In General.—** In accordance with section 553 of title 5, the Secretary shall issue, and may from time to time amend or repeal, regulations necessary to implement subchapters I through III and this subchapter.
**(b)** **Consultation.—** In the exercise of the regulatory authority under subchapters I through III and this subchapter, the Secretary shall consult with, and receive and consider the views of all interested persons, including—
**(1)** interested Federal departments and agencies;
**(2)** officials of State and local governments;
**(3)** representatives of the maritime community;
**(4)** representatives of port and harbor authorities or associations;
**(5)** representatives of environmental groups;
**(6)** any other interested persons who are knowledgeable or experienced in dealing with problems involving vessel safety, port and waterways safety, and protection of the marine environment; and
**(7)** advisory committees consisting of all interested segments of the public when the establishment of such committees is considered necessary because the issues involved are highly complex or controversial.
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**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 115–282, title IV, § 401(a), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4261; amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. G, title LVXXXV [LXXXV], § 8507(a)(7), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4753.)
## Editorial Notes
### Amendments
2021— substituted “I through III” for “A through C” in subsecs. (a) and (b).
## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
### Safety of Special Activities
> **“(a)** **In General.—** The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall conduct a pilot program to establish and implement a process to—
>
> **“(1)** establish safety zones to address special activities in the exclusive economic zone;
>
> **“(2)** account for the number of safety zones established for special activities;
>
> **“(3)** differentiate whether an applicant who requests a safety zone for such activities is—
>
> **“(A)** an individual;
>
> **“(B)** an organization; or
>
> **“(C)** a government entity; and
>
> **“(4)** account for Coast Guard resources utilized to enforce safety zones established for special activities, including—
>
> **“(A)** the number of Coast Guard or Coast Guard Auxiliary vessels used; and
>
> **“(B)** the number of Coast Guard or Coast Guard Auxiliary patrol hours required.
>
> **“(b)** **Briefing.—** Not later than 180 days after the expiration of the pilot program, the Commandant [of the Coast Guard] shall brief the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate regarding—
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> **“(1)** the process required under subsection (a); and
>
> **“(2)** whether the authority to establish safety zones to address special activities in the exclusive economic zone should be extended or made permanent in the interest of safety.
>
> **“(c)** **Authorization.—** The pilot program under subsection (a) is authorized for fiscal years 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, and 2032.
>
> **“(d)** **Definitions.—** In this section:
>
> **“(1)** **Safety zone.—** The term ‘safety zone’ has the meaning given such term in section 165.20 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations.
>
> **“(2)** **Special activities.—** The term ‘special activities’ includes—
>
> **“(A)** space activities, including launch and reentry, as such terms are defined in section 50902 of title 51, United States Code, carried out by United States citizens; and
>
> **“(B)** offshore energy development activities, as described in section 8(p)(1)(C) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337(p)(1)(C)), on or near a fixed platform.
>
> **“(3)** **United states citizen.—** The term ‘United States citizen’ has the meaning given the term ‘eligible owners’ in section 12103 of title 46, United States Code.
>
> **“(4)** **Fixed platform.—** The term ‘fixed platform’ means an artificial island, installation, or structure permanently attached to the sea-bed for the purpose of exploration or exploitation of resources or for other economic purposes.”
[LXXXIII], § 8343, , , as amended by , , , provided that:
[, , , which directed amendment of , by striking “2-year pilot program” and inserting “pilot program”, was executed by making the substitution in two places to reflect the probable intent of Congress.]
### Safety Zones for Permitted Marine Events
> **“(1)** account for the number of safety zones established for permitted marine events;
>
> **“(2)** differentiate whether the event sponsor who requested a permit for such an event is—
>
> **“(A)** an individual;
>
> **“(B)** an organization; or
>
> **“(C)** a government entity; and
>
> **“(3)** account for Coast Guard resources utilized to enforce safety zones established for permitted marine events, including for—
>
> **“(A)** the number of Coast Guard or Coast Guard Auxiliary vessels used; and
>
> **“(B)** the number of Coast Guard or Coast Guard Auxiliary patrol hours required.”
, , , provided that: