[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 224 (Tuesday, November 20, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 69562-69564]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-28129]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[Docket No. USCG-2012-0911]
Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Thea Foss Waterway Previously
Known as City Waterway, Tacoma, WA
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations; request for
comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the
operating schedule that governs the Murray Morgan Bridge, also known as
the South 11th Street Bridge, across the Thea Foss Waterway, mile 0.6,
previously known as City Waterway, at Tacoma, WA. This deviation will
test a change to the drawbridge operating schedule to determine whether
a permanent change to the schedule is needed. This test deviation will
modify the existing regulation and add an advance notification
requirement for obtaining bridge openings during designated times. The
Coast Guard has also published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM)
under docket number USCG-2012-0911 to which comments may be posted
[[Page 69563]]
DATES: This deviation is effective from 7 a.m. on January 1, 2013
through 8 a.m. June 15, 2013. Comments and related material must reach
the Coast Guard on or before [Insert date 45 days after date of
publication in the Federal Register].
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2012-0911 using any one of the following methods:
(1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
(2) Fax: 202-493-2251.
(3) Mail or Delivery: 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. Deliveries
accepted between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329.
See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion
of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for instructions on
submitting comments. To avoid duplication, please use only one of these
four methods.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this rule,
call or email the Bridge Administrator, Coast Guard Thirteenth
District; telephone 206-220-7282 email [email protected]. If
you have questions on viewing the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program
Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. 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.
1. Submitting Comments
If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this
rulemaking (USCG-2012-0911), 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 email 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-2012-0911,''
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[frac12] 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.
2. 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,
type the docket number ``USCG-2012-0911'' in the ``Search'' box and
click ``Search.'' Click the ``Open Docket Folder'' on the line
associated with this rulemaking. 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.
3. 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).
4. 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.
B. Basis and Purpose
The Coast Guard, at the request of the City of Tacoma, proposes to
change the regulation which governs the operating schedule of the
Murray Morgan Bridge. This temporary deviation will test three separate
changes requested by the City of Tacoma.
The first change requires that for bridge openings needed between
10 p.m. and 8 a.m., notification be made no later than 8 p.m. prior to
the desired opening. This differs from the existing regulation in that
presently the bridge is required to open at all times (except during
authorized closure periods) provided two hours advance notice is given.
This deviation to the regulation which adds the requirement of
notification by 8 p.m. for openings between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. is being
tested because openings between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. are extremely rare.
Over an 18 month period there were only 6 bridge openings requested
between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. which averages one bridge opening request
per three month period. One of the unique features of the Murray Morgan
Bridge is its height above the waterway providing 60 feet of clearance
at mean high water (MHW) in the closed position. Because of this
vertical clearance the overwhelming majority of vessels which transit
this waterway do not require a bridge opening. The majority of bridge
openings are for locally moored and operated recreational sailboats
with mast heights over 60 feet. Almost all of these vessels are moored
at marinas in very close proximity of the bridge.
The second change being tested in this deviation is removing the
authorized bridge closure periods in the morning and afternoon. The
current regulation states that the draw need not be opened from 6:30
a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, for
vessels of less than 1,000 gross tons. This test deviation requires the
draw to open at all times with proper advance notification. The morning
and afternoon authorized closures of the bridge outlined in the
existing regulation were put into place when the bridge was part of SR
509, a continuous route from Northeast Tacoma to downtown, and traffic
volumes were approximately 15,000 vehicles per day. In 1997 a new SR
509 was constructed approximately 0.7 miles south of the bridge and is
now used as the main traffic corridor. After
[[Page 69564]]
completion of the new SR 509, the Murray Morgan Bridge connection
between Northeast Tacoma and downtown was severed due to roadway
reconfiguration, resulting in traffic volumes dropping dramatically;
therefore, the bridge no longer conveys high volumes of traffic during
the morning and afternoon rush hours.
The third change being tested in this deviation is principally
administrative and changes the contact information for emergency bridge
openings. The existing regulation states ``In emergencies, openings
shall be made as soon as possible upon notification to the Washington
State Department of Transportation.'' The change being tested in this
deviation requires notification for emergency opening to be made to the
City of Tacoma. The reason for this change is because Washington State
turned over ownership and responsibility of the bridge to the City of
Tacoma on January 6, 1998.
Under this temporary deviation the bridge will operate as follows.
The draw of the Murray Morgan Bridge, also known as the South 11th
Street Bridge, across Thea Foss Waterway, previously known as City
Waterway, mile 0.6, at Tacoma, shall open on signal if at least two
hours notice is given. However, to obtain a bridge opening between 10
p.m. and 8 a.m. notification must be made to the City of Tacoma by 8
p.m. In emergencies, openings shall be made as soon as possible upon
notification to the City of Tacoma. The Murray Morgan Bridge is a
vertical lift bridge which provides a vertical clearance of 60 feet
above mean high water. Vessels which do not require a bridge opening
may continue to transit beneath the bridge at any time.
The Coast Guard has issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM)
under docket number USCG-2012-0911 to receive comments on these
changes. Comments can be submitted for this deviation or for the NPRM
by following procedures outlined in the SUBMITTING COMMENTS section
above.
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: October 2, 2012.
Randall D. Overton,
Bridge Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2012-28129 Filed 11-19-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P