[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 95 (Tuesday, May 17, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28309-28311]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-12011]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[Docket No. USCG-2011-0316]
Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal,
Sturgeon Bay, WI
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations; request for
comments.
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SUMMARY: Commander, Ninth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary
deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Michigan
Street and Maple-Oregon Street Bridges across the Sturgeon Bay Ship
Canal, at miles 4.3 and 4.17, respectively, both in Sturgeon Bay,
Wisconsin. This deviation will test a change to the drawbridge
operation schedules during the peak tourist and navigation seasons to
provide for the efficient movement of vehicular traffic and the safety
of navigation on the waterway. This deviation will allow scheduled
openings for recreational vessels and openings on signal for commercial
vessels.
DATES: This deviation is effective from noon on May 27, 2011 through
noon on September 16, 2011. Comments and related material must be
received by the Coast Guard by September 16, 2011.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2011-0316 using any one of the following methods:
(1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
(2) Fax: 202-493-2251.
(3) Mail: Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. Department of
Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
(4) Hand delivery: Same as mail address above, between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone
number is 202-366-9329.
To avoid duplication, please use only one of these four methods.
See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion of
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for instructions on
submitting comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this proposed
rule, call or e-mail Mr. Lee D. Soule, Bridge Management Specialist;
telephone 216-902-6085, facsimile 216-902-6088, or e-mail
[email protected]. If you have questions on viewing or submitting
material to the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket
Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Participation and Request for Comments
We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting
comments and related materials. All
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comments received will be posted, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any personal information you have
provided.
Submitting Comments
If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this
rulemaking (USCG-2011-0316), indicate the specific section of this
document to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for each
suggestion or recommendation. You may submit your comments and material
online (http://www.regulations.gov), or by fax, mail or hand delivery,
but please use only one of these means. If you submit a comment online
via http://www.regulations.gov, it will be considered received by the
Coast Guard when you successfully transmit the comment. If you fax,
hand deliver, or mail your comment, it will be considered as having
been received by the Coast Guard when it is received at the Docket
Management Facility. We recommend that you include your name and a
mailing address, an e-mail address, or a phone number in the body of
your document so that we can contact you if we have questions regarding
your submission.
To submit your comment online, go to http://www.regulations.gov,
click on the ``submit a comment'' box, which will then become
highlighted in blue. In the ``Keyword'' box insert ``USCG-2011-0316,''
click ``Search,'' and then click on the balloon shape in the
``Actions'' column. If you submit your comments by mail or hand
delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11
inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. If you submit them
by mail and would like to know that they reached the Facility, please
enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will
consider all comments and material received during the comment period
and may change the rule based on your comments.
Viewing Comments and Documents
To view comments, as well as documents mentioned in this preamble
as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov,
click on the ``read comments'' box, which will then become highlighted
in blue. In the ``Keyword'' box insert ``USCG-2011-0316'' and click
``Search.'' Click the ``Open Docket Folder'' in the ``Actions'' column.
You may also visit the Docket Management Facility in Room W12-140 on
the ground floor of the Department of Transportation West Building,
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. We have an
agreement with the Department of Transportation to use the Docket
Management Facility.
Privacy Act
Anyone can search the electronic form of comments received into any
of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or
signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association,
business, labor union, etc.). You may review a Privacy Act notice
regarding our public dockets in the January 17, 2008, issue of the
Federal Register (73 FR 3316).
Public Meeting
We do not now plan to hold a public meeting. But you may submit a
request for one on or before September 1, 2011 by using one of the four
methods specified under ADDRESSES. Please explain why one would be
beneficial. If we determine that one would aid this rulemaking, we will
hold one at a time and place announced by a later notice in the Federal
Register.
Basis and Purpose
The Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal is approximately 8.6 miles long and
provides a navigable connection between Lake Michigan and Green Bay.
The area experiences a significant increase in vehicular and vessel
traffic during the peak tourist and navigation season, between
approximately Memorial Day and Labor Day each year.
There are a total of three highway drawbridges across the waterway.
The Michigan Street Bridge provides unlimited vertical clearance in the
open position and 14 feet in the closed position. Maple-Oregon Bridge
provides unlimited vertical clearance in the open position and 25 feet
in the closed position. Bay View Bridge also provides unlimited
vertical clearance in the open position and 42 feet in the closed
position. Both Michigan Street and Maple-Oregon Bridges serve the
downtown Sturgeon Bay area and are located approximately 750-feet apart
on the canal.
A final rule, CGD9-05-080, was published in the October 24, 2005
edition of the Federal Register (70 FR 61380) to allow:
(1) The draw of the Michigan Street Bridge to open for recreational
vessels on the hour 24 hours a day from March 15 through December 31
and on signal if at least 12 hours notice is given from January 1
through March 14 The final rule also included a requirement to open at
any time if 20 or more vessels gathered or vessels are seeking shelter
from severe weather; and
(2) The draw of the Bayview (SR42/57) Bridge, mile 3.3 Sturgeon Bay
to open on signal from March 15 through November 30; and on signal if
at least 12 hours notice is given from December 31 through March 14.
A temporary final rule, USCG-2009-0385, was published in the June
5, 2009 edition of the Federal Register (74 FR 26954), effective from
June 5, 2009 to November 15, 2010 that essentially shifted the March 15
through December 31 one bridge opening per hour at Michigan Street
Bridge to the Maple-Oregon Bridge while the rehabilitation of Michigan
Street was completed and the bridge was kept in the open-to-navigation
position.
Both drawbridges are now operational for vehicular and vessel
traffic and the one opening per hour schedule for Michigan Street
Bridge is reinstated while Maple-Oregon Bridge opens at any time for
vessels. With both Michigan Street and Maple-Oregon Bridges operational
the one opening per hour schedule for Michigan Street is considered
restrictive for vessels, and could potentially create an unsafe
condition for vessel traffic that may be between the two closely
located drawbridges while waiting for bridge openings. The Wisconsin
Department of Transportation (WDOT) requested scheduled drawbridge
openings for both Michigan Street and Maple-Oregon Bridges so vehicular
traffic congestion would not develop on downtown Sturgeon Bay streets
due to unscheduled bridge openings. Commander, Ninth Coast Guard
District, evaluated that request, as well as the need to provide
efficient and safe bridge openings for vessels, and along with WDOT and
local stakeholders developed this temporary test drawbridge schedule
for the 2011 peak tourist and navigation season. Throughout the
temporary drawbridge schedule WDOT will post signs at both drawbridges
and collect vehicular traffic and bridge opening data. Public comments
will also be accepted throughout the test period.
Temporary Drawbridge Schedule
From noon on May 27, 2011 through noon on September 16, 2011, 24-
hours per day and 7-days per week, the Michigan Street Bridge at mile
4.3 over the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal will open on the hour and half-
hour for recreational vessels, if needed. The Maple-Oregon Bridge at
mile 4.17 will open fifteen-minutes before the hour and fifteen minutes
after the hour for recreational vessels, if needed. Both
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bridges will open on signal for all commercial vessels, federal, state,
and local government vessels used for public safety, vessels in
distress, or seeking shelter from severe weather. If at any time more
than 10 vessels accumulate at either bridge the bridge will open and
allow all vessel traffic to clear the bridge. Vessels that may pass
under the bridges without an opening may do so at anytime. In
accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(e), the drawbridges must return to their
regular operating schedule immediately at the end of the designated
time period. This deviation from the operating regulations is
authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.
Dated: April 22, 2011.
Scot M. Striffler,
Bridge Program Manager, Ninth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2011-12011 Filed 5-16-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P