[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 13, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10785-10786]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04966]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[Docket No. USCG-2018-0067]
Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Duwamish Waterway, Seattle, WA
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
operating schedule that governs the South Park highway bridge, across
the Duwamish Waterway mile 3.8, at Seattle, WA. This deviation will
test a change to the drawbridge operation schedule, to determine
whether a permanent change to the schedule is appropriate. This
deviation will allow the bridge to open during nighttime hours after
receiving a 12 hour advance notice.
DATES: This deviation is effective from 6 a.m. on March 22, 2018 to 6
a.m. on September 17, 2018.
Comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on or
before August 30, 2018.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2018-0067 using Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov.
See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion
of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for instructions on
submitting comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this
temporary deviation, call or email Mr. Steven Fischer, Bridge Chief
Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard District; telephone 206-220-7282,
email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background, Purpose and Legal Basis
Due to infrequent drawbridge opening requests between 11 p.m. to 7
a.m., King County (the bridge owner), has requested to open the South
Park highway bridge with 12 hours advances notice between the hours of
11p.m. and 7 a.m. In addition, King County requested between the hours
of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. vessels engaged in sea-trials or waterway
dredging activities may request a standby drawtender, to open the
bridge on demand during sea-trials and/or dredging operations, if at
least a 24 hour notice is given to the drawtender. The 2017 drawbridge
log book reflects the infrequent requests for drawbridge opening of the
South Park highway bridge. Of the 524 openings in 2017 only 24 occurred
between the hours of 11.00 p.m. and 7 a.m., this is approximately 4.5
percent. Opening from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. for 2014, 2015, 2016 ranged
from 5% to 10% of all openings. The South Park highway bridge operates
per 33 CFR 117.1041(a)(2).
Vessels operating on the Duwamish Waterway range from small
recreational, sailboats, tribal fishing boats, mega yachts and
commercial tug and tow vessels. No navigational impacts are expected
due to few vessels operating on this waterway at the stated hours. King
County has discussed this test deviation and coordinating with all
known waterway users. Vessels able to pass through the subject bridge
with the span in the closed-to-navigation position may do so at any
time.
The Coast Guard will also inform the users of the waterway through
our Local and Broadcast Notices to Mariners of the change in operating
schedule for the subject bridge so that vessel operators can arrange
their transits to minimize any impact caused by the temporary
deviation. Duwamish Waterway does not have an immediate alternate route
for vessels to pass. Therefore, in the event of an emergency requiring
a bridge opening any day between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., the standby bridge
operator at the Fremont Bridge will respond to an opening request and
have the South Park Bridge open within 45 minutes from initial
notification.
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
[[Page 10786]]
from the operating regulations is authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.
II. Public Participation and Request for Comments
We view public participation as essential to effective rulemaking,
and will consider all comments and material received during the comment
period. Your comment can help shape the outcome of this rulemaking. If
you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this
rulemaking, indicate the specific section of this document to which
each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or
recommendation.
We encourage you to submit comments through the Federal eRulemaking
Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. If your material cannot be
submitted using http://www.regulations.gov, contact the person in the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for alternate
instructions.
We accept anonymous comments. All comments received will be posted
without change to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any
personal information you have provided. For more about privacy and the
docket, visit http://www.regulations.gov/privacynotice.
Documents mentioned in this notice as being available in the docket
and all public comments, will be in our online docket at http://www.regulations.gov, and can be viewed by following that website's
instructions. Additionally, if you go to the online docket and sign up
for email alerts, you will be notified when comments are posted or a
final rule is published.
Dated: March 7, 2018.
Steven M. Fischer,
Bridge Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2018-04966 Filed 3-12-18; 8:45 am]
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