[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 77 (Tuesday, April 22, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 22395-22396]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-09065]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[Docket No. USCG-2014-0257]
Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Merrimack River, Groveland and
Haverhill, MA
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 Groveland Drawbridge across the
Merrimack River at mile 16.5 between Groveland and Haverhill,
Massachusetts. The deviation is necessary to facilitate completion of a
bridge replacement project. This temporary deviation authorizes the
bridge to require a twenty-four hour advance notice for bridge openings
for three months.
DATES: This deviation is effective from June 21, 2014 through September
20, 2014.
ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, USCG-2014-0257, 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
[[Page 22396]]
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 Mr. John McDonald, Project Officer,
First Coast Guard District, telephone (617) 223-8364, email
[email protected]. If you have questions on viewing the docket,
call Cheryl Collins, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-
366-9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The new Groveland Drawbridge across the
Merrimack River at mile 16.5, between Groveland and Haverhill, has 15.9
feet of vertical clearance at mean high water and 21.61 feet of
vertical clearance at mean low water. The existing drawbridge operation
regulations are listed at 33 CFR 117.605(c). The waterway users are and
seasonal recreational vessels of various sizes.
The owner of the bridge, Massachusetts Department of Transportation
(MDOT), requested a temporary deviation from the schedule to facilitate
completion of this new bridge replacement project. Upgrades to the
electric motor drive system must be undertaken between June and
September that were not part of the original scope of work.
The bridge is presently manually operated pending upgrades to the
drive system and requires a crew of seven to open and close the draw.
During the final phase of construction the labor force will be less
than seven laborers presently necessary to operate the bridge.
Allowing the bridge owner to require a twenty-four hour advance
notice for bridge openings would provide sufficient time for the bridge
owner to get the necessary crew members at the bridge to open and close
the bridge.
The bridge rarely opens historically during the time period this
temporary deviation will be in effect.
Under this temporary deviation the Groveland Drawbridge may require
at least a twenty-four hour advance notice for bridge openings from
June 21, 2014 through September 20, 2014. Requests for bridge openings
may be made by calling the numbers posted at the bridge, (978) 465-8301
or 1-800-227-0608. There are no alternate routes for vessel traffic to
take; however, there have been few requests to open the bridge
historically.
The Coast Guard will also inform the users of the waterways through
our Local and Broadcast Notice to Mariners of the change in operating
schedule 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 effective
period of this temporary deviation. This deviation from the operating
regulations is authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.
Dated: April 11, 2014.
C.J. Bisignano,
Supervisory Bridge Management Specialist, First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2014-09065 Filed 4-21-14; 8:45 am]
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