[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 163 (Tuesday, August 23, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52566-52567]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-21458]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[Docket No. USCG-2011-0591]
Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Anacostia River, Washington, DC
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations; request for
comments.
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SUMMARY: The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has issued a
temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the
CSX Railroad Vertical Lift Bridge across the Anacostia River, mile 3.4,
at Washington, DC. This deviation will test a change to the drawbridge
operation schedule to determine whether a permanent change to the
schedule is necessary. This deviation will change the current eight
hour advance notice requirement for a bridge opening to a 48 hour
advance notice requirement for a bridge opening.
DATES: This deviation is effective from August 23, 2011 through
February 21, 2012.
Comments and related material must be received by the Coast Guard
on December 21, 2011.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2011-0591 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 Lindsey Middleton, Coast Guard; telephone 757-398-
6629, 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 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-2011-0591), 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-2011-0591,''
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-2011-0591'' 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
[[Page 52567]]
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 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 CSX Railroad Company has requested a change in the operation
regulations for the CSX Railroad Vertical Lift Bridge, across the
Anacostia River, mile 3.4, at Washington, DC. The change will replace
the current eight hour advance notice requirement for a bridge opening
to a 48 hour advance notice requirement for a bridge opening. The
bridge is part of a rail line that is used for regular passenger
service therefore, it is necessary that ample time is given to maintain
an accurate schedule for trains and vessels for safe and efficient
travel across and through the bridge.
The current operating schedule for the bridge is set out in 33 CFR
117.253(b). The regulation was established in August 2004 and allows
the bridge to be operated from a remote location, the Benning Yard
office. The draw of the bridge shall open on signal at all times for
public vessels of the United States, state and local government
vessels, commercial vessels and any vessels in an emergency involving
danger to life or property. The draw shall open on signal between 9
a.m. and 12 p.m., and between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. from May 15 through
September 30; and between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. from May 15 through
September 30 if notice is given to the controller no later than 6 p.m.
on the day for which the opening is requested. At all other times the
bridge will open if at least 8 hours notice is given.
The vertical clearance of the bridge is 5 feet at Mean High Water
in the closed position and 29 feet at Mean High Water in the open
position. We are testing the potential operating regulation adjustment
to discover any impacts to train traffic and water navigation as a
result of the bridge opening request time adjustment. During the test
deviation period a bridge opening count has been requested from the CSX
Railroad Company. There are 21 train transits across this bridge every
day. A review of the bridge operating logs shows two bridge openings
have been requested in the past two years for vessels taller than five
feet. The test period will go into effect immediately and will end 180
days from the effective date. The test deviation will be in effect
simultaneously with a notice of proposed rulemaking which is also part
of docket no. USCG-2011-0591, for the same operating regulation change.
Vessels that are able to pass under the bridge in the closed
position may do so at any time. There are no alternate routes for
vessels that cannot pass under the bridge in the closed position. The
Coast Guard will inform waterway users through the Local and Broadcast
Notices to Mariners. The bridge will be able to open for emergencies.
In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(e), the drawbridge must return to
its 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: July 22, 2011.
William D. Lee,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2011-21458 Filed 8-22-11; 8:45 am]
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