[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 126 (Monday, July 3, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 30735-30736]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13854]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[Docket No. USCG-2017-0325]
Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Quantuck Canal, Westhampton
Beach, NY
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 West Bay Bridge across the Quantuck
Canal, mile 0.1 at Westhampton Beach, New York. This action is
necessary to complete rehabilitation of the bascule leaves of the
drawbridge. The deviation will allow the bridge to open only one
bascule span in order to provide passage for vessels requiring an
opening.
DATES: This deviation is effective from 12:01 a.m. on October 2, 2017
to 11:59 p.m. on March 30, 2018.
ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, USCG-2017-0325, 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this
temporary deviation, call or email James M. Moore, Bridge Management
Specialist, First District Bridge Branch, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone
212-514-4334, email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Suffolk County Department of Public
Works, the owner of the bridge, requested a temporary deviation in
order to facilitate reconstruction of the bascule leaves.
The West Bay Bridge across the Quantuck Canal, mile 0.1, at
Westhampton Beach, New York is a double-leaf bascule bridge offering
mariners a vertical clearance of 11 feet at mean high water and 13.3
feet at mean low water in the closed position. Horizontal clearance is
50 feet. Utilization of a work barge placed underneath one of the
bascule leaves will reduce horizontal clearance to 25 feet. The
existing drawbridge operating regulations are listed at 33 CFR
117.799(d).
This temporary deviation will allow the Beach Lane Bridge to open
only one of the two bascule spans for bridge openings from 12:01 a.m.
on October 2, 2017 to 11:59 p.m. on March 30, 2018. Dual lift span
operations will be available, provided 48 hours of advance notice is
furnished to the owner of the bridge.
The majority of vessels requiring bridge openings are sailing
vessels and yachts transiting the waterway. Discussion with the
proprietor of the Modern Yachts Marina located in the vicinity of the
bridge confirms typical recreational traffic will continue to be able
to proceed through the navigation opening of the bridge during one-leaf
operations. Moreover, the bulk of recreational traffic that utilizes
the waterway is largely seasonal in nature, peaking during the late
spring, summer and early autumn months. Little to no recreational
traffic transits the Quantuck Canal throughout the winter. Small scale
tug/barge combinations occasionally transit the Quantuck Canal, but
such commercial craft are generally limited in size. Mariners concur
that the requirement to provide the bridge owner 48 hours of advance
notice for dual lift span operations will not impede overall
operations.
Vessels that can pass under the bridge without an opening may do so
at all times. The bridge will be able to open for emergencies and there
is an alternate route for vessels unable to pass through the bridge
when in the closed position.
The Coast Guard will also inform the users of the waterways through
our Local and Broadcast Notices to Mariners of the change in operating
schedule for the bridge so vessel operators can arrange their transits
to minimize any impact caused by this 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
[[Page 30736]]
temporary deviation. This deviation from the operating regulations is
authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.
Dated: June 15, 2017.
C.J. Bisignano,
Supervisory Bridge Management Specialist, First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2017-13854 Filed 6-30-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P