[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 134 (Monday, July 14, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 40638-40639]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16330]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[Docket No. USCG-2014-0483]
Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Elizabeth River, Eastern
Branch, VA
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations; request for
comments.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the
regulation governing the operation of the SR 175 Bridge across Lewis
Channel and Black Narrows, mile 3.5, at Chincoteague, VA. This
deviation will be a test to change the drawbridge operation schedule to
determine whether a permanent change to the schedule is needed. This
deviation will require the bridge to open on demand at all times.
DATES: This deviation is effective from 6 a.m. on August 4, 2014
through midnight on November 3, 2014.
Comments and related material must be received by the Coast Guard
on or before October 2, 2014.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2014-0483 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. 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
methods.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this test
deviation, call or email Kashanda Booker, Bridge Specialist, Fifth
Coast Guard District, telephone (757) 398-6227, email
[email protected]. If you have questions on viewing or
submitting material to the docket, call Cheryl Collins, 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-2014-0483), 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
[[Page 40639]]
when you successfully transmit the comment. If you fax, hand delivery,
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 the
Coast Guard can contact you if we have questions regarding your
submission.
To submit your comment online, go to type the docket number [USCG-
2014-0483], in the ``SEARCH'' box and click ``SEARCH.'' Click on
``Submit a Comment'' on the line associated with this rulemaking. 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.
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-2014-0483) in the ``SEARCH'' box and click
SEARCH. Click on 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.
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. You may submit a
request for one on or before October 2, 2014, using one of the four
methods specified under ADDRESSES. Please explain why one would be
beneficial. If the Coast Guard determines that a public meeting would
aid this rulemaking, they will hold one at a time and place announced
by a later notice in the Federal Register.
Basis and Purpose
Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), who owns and operates
SR 175 Bridge across Lewis Channel and Black Narrows, mile 3.5, at
Chincoteague, VA requested a temporary change to the existing bridge
regulations, set out at 33 CFR 117.1005, to test a new schedule. In
2011, the new single-leaf bascule bridge was constructed on a new
alignment replacing the former swing-type bridge that was located
downstream from the Chincoteague maritime community. The new bridge
alignment resulted in boaters having an improved channel access and the
number of necessary bridge openings reduced.
In the closed position to vessels, the single-span bascule bridge
has vertical clearance of 15 feet above mean high water.
The current operating schedule allows the draw to open on demand
from midnight to 6 a.m., and every one and a half hours from 6 a.m. to
midnight (at 6 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12 p.m., 1:30 p.m.,
3 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 9 p.m., 10:30 p.m., and
midnight); except from 7 a.m., to 5 p.m. on the last consecutive
Wednesday and Thursday in July, the draw need not be opened. This has
been the regular operating schedule since November, 16, 2006.
The SR 175 Bridge is the only vehicular connection between the
mainland and Eastern Shore of Virginia and Chincoteague Island. Tourism
is a dominant industry of Chincoteague Island with activities taking
place in the Town of Chincoteague, Chincoteague Island and Assateague
Island.
Based on the decrease amount of vessel openings, the Chincoteague
maritime community and the Accomack County Board of Supervisors favored
a less restrictive opening schedule by proposing a test deviation from
scheduled openings to an ``on demand'' schedule while still balancing
the needs of marine and vehicular traffic. The monthly vessel openings
at the SR 175 Bridge submitted by VDOT are as follows:
Bridge Opening Counts
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APR 2013 MAY 2013 JUNE 2013 JUL 2013 AUG 2013 SEPT 2013 OCT 2013 NOV 2013 DEC 2013 JAN 2014 FEB 2014 MAR 2014 APR 2014
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1 4 7 7 7 6 7 3 2 0 0 0 3
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The bridge logs revealed that from April 2013 to April 2014, the SR
175 Bridge had experienced only 47 total vessel openings. The vessels
consist of commercial fishing, motorboats, sailboats, trawlers and
yachts.
The Test Schedule
From August 4, 2014, to November 3, 2014, the draw of the SR 175
Bridge, mile 3.5, at Chincoteague, shall open on signal in accordance
with the general operating regulations set out at 33 CFR 117.5.
During this test deviation, VDOT will gather data on vessel
openings in hopes of eliminating the current operating schedule for
vessel passage.
Additional Information
This deviation has been coordinated with the waterway users
transiting in this area and there is no expectation of any significant
impacts on navigation. Vessels with mast heights of less than 15 feet,
above mean high water, can continue to pass underneath the bridge in
the closed position.
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: June 30, 2014.
Waverly W. Gregory, Jr.,
Bridge Program Manager, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2014-16330 Filed 7-11-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P