[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 109 (Thursday, June 6, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 33971-33972]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-13424]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[Docket No. USCG-2012-0911]
Drawbridge Operation Regulation; City Waterway Also Known as Thea
Foss Waterway, Tacoma, WA
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of deviation from drawbridge regulation.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the
operating schedule that governs the South 11th Street (``Murray
Morgan'') Bridge across the City Waterway also known as the
[[Page 33972]]
Thea Foss Waterway, mile 0.6, at Tacoma, WA. The current test deviation
will expire 8 a.m. June 15, 2013. This deviation is necessary to
continue with the current operating schedule until the final rulemaking
changes permanently go into effect.
DATES: This deviation is effective from 8 a.m. on June 15, 2013 to 8
a.m. June 30, 2013.
ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2012-0911] is available
at http://www.regulations.gov. Type the docket number in the ``SEARCH''
box and click ``SEARCH.'' Click on Open Docket Folder on the line
associated with this deviation. 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this
temporary deviation, call or email Lieutenant Commander Steven Fischer,
Bridge Specialist, Coast Guard Thirteenth District; telephone 206-220-
7277, email [email protected]. If you have questions on
viewing the docket, call Barbara Hairston, Program Manager, Docket
Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 20, 2012, the Coast Guard
published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) entitled, ``Drawbridge
Operation Regulation; Thea Foss Waterway previously known as City
Waterway, Tacoma, WA'' in the Federal Register (77 FR 69576). This NPRM
proposed three changes to the operating schedule 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.
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.
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 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 change 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
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 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 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.
In conjunction with the NPRM published on November 20, 2012, the
Coast Guard published a temporary deviation from regulations entitled,
``Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Thea Foss Waterway previously known
as City Waterway, Tacoma, WA'' in the Federal Register (77 FR 69562) to
test the operating schedule under the proposed regulations. Under this
temporary deviation the bridge operates 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 (MHW) while in the closed position and 135 feet
of vertical clearance in the open position. Vessels which do not
require a bridge opening may continue to transit beneath the bridge at
any time.
This test deviation is set to expire at 8 a.m. June 15, 2013.
However, the final rule which will make these changes to the operating
schedule permanent will not be effective by the date in which the test
deviation expires. Therefore, to maintain safe and efficient transit
through the bridge, the Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation
from regulations to continue the current operating schedule as laid out
above until June 30, 2013. The Coast Guard will also inform the users
of the waterways through our Local and Broadcast Notices to Mariners of
the closure periods for the bridge so that vessels can arrange their
transits to minimize any impact caused by the temporary deviation.
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: May 23, 2013.
Daryl R. Peloquin,
Bridge Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2013-13424 Filed 6-5-13; 8:45 am]
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