Final ruleTook effect June 4, 2026

Safety Zones; Rocket Launches in the Gulf of America and South Bay, Boca Chica Beach, TX

Built by the Tribune's code from the Federal Register. No AI wrote this page. Published in the Federal Register May 5, 2026. Document 2026-08732. Updated Nov. 11, 2026.

What it does

The Coast Guard is establishing two permanent safety zones to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by commercial spaceflight activities. The permanent safety zones are located in navigable waters of South Bay, TX and in navigable waters of the Gulf of America. This rule prohibits persons and vessels from being in the safety zones during scheduled launches, unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Corpus Christi (COTP) or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard's summary, as published in the Federal Register.

What changed in the regulation

1 part of Title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations:

33 CFR 165

Wording on eCFR: the day before it took effect and from the day it took effect (first part listed).

Compared with

The Coast Guard has published 341 final rules in 2026 so far, compared with 224 in all of 2025.

Counted by the Tribune from Federal Register records since Jan. 1, 2025.

Before this

122 earlier Federal Register documents under regulation identifier 1625-AA00 since Jan. 1, 2025.

Since then:

May 6, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Key West Paddle Classic, Key West, FL
May 6, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Delaware River, Camden, NJ, Battleship New Jersey
May 6, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Fireworks Displays Within the USCG East District (Formerly Fifth Coast Guard District); The Wharf, Washington, DC
May 7, 2026 Final rule. Safety Zone; West of Cyril E. King Airport, St. Thomas, VI
May 8, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Fireworks Displays, Willamette River, Portland, OR
May 8, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Hudson River, Manhattan, NY
May 8, 2026 Final rule. Safety Zone; Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD
May 11, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Bancroft Canal, Cameron Parish, LA
May 12, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Seddon Channel, Tampa, FL
May 12, 2026 Notice of proposed rulemaking. Safety Zone; James River, Richmond, VA
May 13, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Laguna Madre, South Padre Island, TX
May 13, 2026 Notice of proposed rulemaking. Safety Zones; Fireworks Displays in the USCG East District
May 14, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Gulf Intracoastal Waterway; Florida Avenue Bridge; Temporary Waterway Closure
May 20, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Straits of Mackinac, Lake Michigan, MI
May 20, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Morehead City Harbor, Morehead City, NC
May 21, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal, Chesapeake, VA
May 22, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Cheboygan River, Cheboygan, MI
May 26, 2026 Final rule. Safety Zones; Fireworks Displays in the USCG East District
May 26, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Cape Charles Harbor, Cape Charles, VA
May 26, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Lake Michigan, Milwaukee, WI
May 27, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Humboldt Bay, Humboldt Bay, CA
May 27, 2026 Notice of proposed rulemaking. Safety Zone; Sector Mobile Annual and Recurring Safety Zones
May 27, 2026 Notice of proposed rulemaking. Safety Zones; Annual Events in the Captain of the Port Eastern Great Lakes Zone
May 28, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic City, NJ
May 28, 2026 Final rule. Safety Zone; Annual Fireworks Displays Within the Sector Columbia River Captain of the Port Zone
May 29, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; St. Clair River, Marine City, MI
May 29, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Lake Erie, Hamburg, NY
June 1, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Lake Michigan, Chicago, IL
June 1, 2026 Notice of proposed rulemaking. Safety Zone; Bayfront Park 4th of July Fireworks Display, Intercoastal Waterway, Biscayne Bay, Miami, FL
June 1, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Lake Champlain, Essex, NY
June 2, 2026 Notice of proposed rulemaking. Safety Zones; Recurring Events in Captain of the Port Duluth Zone
June 3, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Wisconsin River, Wausau, WI
June 3, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Lake Michigan, Manistee, MI
June 5, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; James River, Richmond, VA
June 5, 2026 Notice of proposed rulemaking. Safety Zone; Hurricanes, Tropical Storms, and Severe Weather Events in the Sector Mobile Captain of the Port Zone
June 8, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Monongahela River MM 122-122.5, Rivesville, WV
June 9, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Fireworks Displays, Laguna Madre, South Padre Island, TX
June 11, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Maumee River, Perrysburg, OH
June 17, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Ohio River Mile Marker 0-0.5, Allegheny River Mile Marker 0-0.5, Monongahela River Mile Marker 0-0.5, Pittsburgh, PA
June 22, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Offshore, Ritidian Point, GU
June 22, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Toms River, Beachwood, NJ
June 22, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Delaware River, Philadelphia, PA
June 23, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Straits of Mackinac, Mackinaw City, MI
June 23, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Detroit River, Trenton, MI
June 24, 2026 Notice of proposed rulemaking. Safety Zone; Ohio River, Cincinnati, OH
June 25, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Ohio River, Madison, IN
June 25, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Lake Erie, Lakewood, OH
June 25, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Bell Slip, Buffalo, NY
June 25, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Erie Canal, North Tonawanda, NY
June 25, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Lake Erie, Put-In-Bay, OH
June 25, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Ohio River, North Bend, OH
June 25, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Ohio River, Newport, KY
June 25, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Rainy Lake, City of Ranier, MN
June 26, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Ohio River MM 602.0-605.0, Louisville, KY
June 26, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Los Angeles Channel, Los Angeles, CA
June 29, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Ouachita River, West Monroe, LA
June 29, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Columbia River, Richland, WA
June 29, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Lower Mississippi River, Fireworks Display, Vidalia, LA
June 29, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Presque Isle Bay, Erie, PA
June 29, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zones; Potomac River, Woodbridge VA to District of Columbia
June 30, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Aerial Drone Displays, Upper Bay, New York, NY
July 1, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Lake Michigan, Michigan City, IN
July 1, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Grand Traverse Bay, Traverse City, MI
July 2, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Fireworks Display, Monongahela River MM 127-127.5, Fairmont, WV
July 2, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Western Lake Erie, Huron, OH
July 2, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Sandusky Bay, Lakeside, OH
July 2, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Western Lake Erie, Kelleys Island, OH
July 2, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Lake Erie, Lakeside, OH
July 2, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Sandusky Bay, Sandusky, OH
July 2, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Kanawha River, Charleston, WV
July 2, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Bayfront Park 4th of July Fireworks Display, Intercoastal Waterway, Biscayne Bay, Miami, FL
July 2, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Hawks Channel, Marathon, FL
July 2, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; San Pedro Bay, Long Beach, CA
July 2, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; San Pedro Bay, Los Angeles, CA
July 2, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Isthmus Cove, Santa Catalina Island, CA
July 2, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; San Pedro Channel, Newport Beach, CA
July 6, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; America 250 Fireworks 2026, San Francisco, CA
July 6, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Fireworks Displays Within the USCG East District
July 6, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Savannah River, Savannah, GA
July 6, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Lake Michigan, Chicago, IL
July 7, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Corpus Christi Ship Channel, Corpus Christi, TX
July 10, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; North Atlantic Ocean, Virginia Beach, VA
July 10, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; St. Clair River, Port Huron, MI
July 13, 2026 Notice of proposed rulemaking. Safety Zone; Fireworks Display, Columbia River, Cascade Locks, OR
July 13, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Fireworks Display, Lavaca Bay, Point Comfort, TX
July 14, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Dyes Inlet, Silverdale, WA
July 14, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Charleston Harbor, Charleston, SC
July 15, 2026 Final rule. Safety Zones; Recurring Events in Captain of the Port Duluth Zone
July 15, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Cuyahoga River, Cleveland, OH
July 17, 2026 Final rule. Safety Zones; Annual Events in the Captain of the Port Eastern Great Lakes Zone
July 20, 2026 Temporary interim rule and request for comments. Safety Zones; Delaware River Dredging, Marcus Hook, PA
July 21, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Outer Harbor, Buffalo, NY
July 21, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Pier 66, Elliott Bay, Seattle, WA
July 23, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Lake Erie, Avon Lake, OH
July 23, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Lake St. Clair; New Baltimore, MI
July 29, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Lake Ontario, Olcott, NY
July 31, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Fireworks Display, Ohio River, Follansbee, WV
Aug. 4, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Ohio River; River, Aurora, IN
Aug. 6, 2026 Temporary interim rule. Safety Zone; St. Johns River, Jacksonville, FL
Aug. 6, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Lake Erie, Madison Township, OH
Aug. 6, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Rockport Illuminations Fireworks, Rockport Harbor, Rockport, MA
Aug. 7, 2026 Notice of proposed rulemaking. Safety Zone; Chevron GENESIS SPAR Outer Continental Shelf Facility, Green Canyon Block 205A, Gulf of America
Aug. 7, 2026 Notice of proposed rulemaking. Safety Zone; WHALE Floating Production System Outer Continental Shelf Facility, Alaminos Canyon 773, Gulf of America
Aug. 10, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Lake St. Clair; Grosse Pointe Farms, MI
Aug. 11, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Lake Michigan, Chicago, IL
Aug. 12, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; T/V DENISE FOSS (O.N. 1254223), Honolulu, HI
Aug. 14, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Atlantic Ocean, Culebra, Puerto Rico
Aug. 14, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; St. Clair River; Port Huron, MI
Aug. 14, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; West Passage Narragansett Bay, Narragansett, RI
Aug. 17, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Fox River, Green Bay, WI
Aug. 18, 2026 Final rule. Safety Zone; ANCHOR Floating Production Unit (FPU) Outer Continental Shelf Facility, Green Canyon Block 763, Gulf of America
Aug. 18, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Lake Michigan, Gary, IN
Aug. 21, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone: Piers Park, Boston Inner Harbor, East Boston MA
Aug. 24, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; T/V DENISE FOSS (O.N. 1254223), Honolulu, HI
Aug. 26, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Spring Lake, Fruitport, MI
Aug. 26, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Lake St. Clair; New Baltimore, MI
Aug. 27, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Aerial Displays, Upper Bay, New York, NY
Aug. 28, 2026 Final rule. Safety Zone; Hurricanes, Tropical Storms, and Severe Weather Events in the Sector Mobile Captain of the Port Zone
Sept. 1, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Fort Myers Beach, FL
Sept. 2, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Maumee River, Toledo, OH
Sept. 2, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Lake St. Clair, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI
Sept. 2, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Bay Bridge Paddle; Chesapeake Bay, Annapolis, MD
Sept. 3, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Outer Harbor, Buffalo, NY
Sept. 8, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Laguna Madre, South Padre Island, TX
Sept. 11, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; York River, Yorktown, VA
Sept. 14, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Lake Erie, Oregon, OH
Sept. 15, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Rocket Test Site, Rio Grande River, Boca Chica, TX
Sept. 15, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Calcasieu River Channel, Lake Charles, LA
Sept. 16, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Lake St. Clair, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI
Sept. 17, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Key West Main Ship Channel, and Fleming Key Cut, Key West, FL
Sept. 21, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Illinois River, Morris, IL
Sept. 22, 2026 Notice of proposed rulemaking. Safety Zone; Neuse River, New Bern, NC
Sept. 23, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Zach's Bay, Wantagh, NY
Sept. 23, 2026 Notice of proposed rulemaking. Safety Zone; Massachusetts Bay, Boston, MA
Sept. 29, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Bridge Demolition, Upper Mississippi River, Chester, IL
Oct. 1, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; St. Lawrence River, Massena, NY
Oct. 1, 2026 Notice of proposed rulemaking. Safety Zone; Sector Mobile Captain of the Port Zone, Mobile, AL
Oct. 6, 2026 Notice of proposed rulemaking. Safety Zone; Red Bull Flugtag, Intercoastal Waterway, Biscayne Bay, Miami, FL
Oct. 7, 2026 Final rule. Security Zone; U.S. Coast Guard Base, Los Angeles Harbor Main Channel, Los Angeles, CA
Oct. 7, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Luminsea Miami Shootout and Races, Miami Marine Stadium Harbor, Miami FL
Oct. 15, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Lake Michigan, Chicago, IL
Oct. 16, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Atlantic Ocean, Culebra, Puerto Rico
Oct. 16, 2026 Notice of proposed rulemaking. Safety Zone; Cumberland River, Hendersonville, TN
Oct. 19, 2026 Notice of proposed rulemaking. Safety Zone; FRL Inaugural Invitational eFoil Exhibition Race, Miami Marine Stadium Basin, Miami, FL
Oct. 21, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; T/V DENISE FOSS (O.N. 1254223), Honolulu, HI
Oct. 22, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Brownsville Ship Channel, Brownsville, TX
Oct. 27, 2026 Notice of proposed rulemaking. Safety Zone; Southern California Annual Firework Events for the Los Angeles-Long Beach Captain of the Port Zone
Oct. 29, 2026 Final rule. Safety Zone; Firework Display; Cumberland River, Hendersonville, TN
Oct. 30, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; S.S. UNITED STATES Dead Ship Tow, Sector Mobile Captain of the Port Zone, Mobile, AL
Oct. 30, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; M/T KALAHARI, Gulf of America, Pascagoula, MS
Nov. 4, 2026 Temporary final rule. Safety Zone; Lake Michigan, Chicago, IL
Nov. 5, 2026 Notice of proposed rulemaking; correction. Safety Zone; FRL Inaugural Invitational eFoil Exhibition Race, Miami Marine Stadium Basin, Miami, FL; Correction

What happens next and when

This rule is effective June 4, 2026.

The agency's dates, word for word.

Check it yourself

The record as published

Document number	2026-08732
Action	Final rule.
Agencies	Homeland Security Department; Coast Guard
Published	May 5, 2026
Effective date	June 4, 2026
Regulation identifier (RIN)	1625-AA00
Docket	USCG-2025-0332

Source: the Federal Register (public domain). The document in the Federal Register