Drawbridge Operating Regulations; Berwick Bay, (Atchafalaya River) Morgan City, LA, 14418 [E7-5612]

Download as PDF 14418 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 59 / Wednesday, March 28, 2007 / Rules and Regulations DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Coast Guard 33 CFR Part 117 [CGD08–07–006] Drawbridge Operating Regulations; Berwick Bay, (Atchafalaya River) Morgan City, LA Coast Guard, DHS. Notice of temporary deviation from regulations. AGENCY: pwalker on PROD1PC71 with RULES ACTION: SUMMARY: The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the BNSF Railway Company Vertical Lift Span Bridge across Berwick Bay, mile 0.4, (Atchafalaya River, mile 17.5) at Morgan City, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. This deviation provides for the bridge to remain closed to navigation for 12 consecutive hours to conduct scheduled maintenance to the drawbridge. DATES: This deviation is effective from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 14, 2007. ADDRESSES: Materials referred to in this document are available for inspection or copying at the office of the Eighth Coast Guard District, Bridge Administration Branch, Hale Boggs Federal Building, Room 1313, 500 Poydras Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130–3310 between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is (504) 671–2128. The Bridge Administration Branch maintains the public docket for this temporary deviation. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Frank, Bridge Administration Branch, telephone (504) 671–2128. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BNSF Railway Company has requested a temporary deviation in order to replace the railroad signal circuits of the BNSF Railway Railroad Vertical Lift Span Bridge across Berwick Bay, mile 0.4 (Atchafalaya River, mile 17.5) at Morgan City, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. Replacement of the signal circuits is necessary to turn the lining of signals across the bridge into a fully automatic operation so that the bridge will be in full compliance with requirements of the Federal Railroad Administration. This temporary deviation will allow the bridge to remain in the closed-tonavigation position from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 14, 2007. The proposed work was previously scheduled for Wednesday, December 13, 2006 and Wednesday, February 7, 2007, VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:03 Mar 27, 2007 Jkt 211001 but had to be postponed. The bridge owner is now prepared to complete the work and has coordinated the closure with all departments within the railroad. There may be times, during the closure period, when the draw will not be able to open for emergencies. The bridge provides 4 feet of vertical clearance in the closed-to-navigation position. Thus, most vessels will not be able to transit through the bridge site when the bridge is closed. Navigation on the waterway consists of tugs with tows, fishing vessels and recreational craft including sailboats and powerboats. Due to prior experience, as well as coordination with waterway users, it has been determined that this closure will not have a significant effect on these vessels. 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: March 20, 2007. Marcus Redford, Bridge Administrator. [FR Doc. E7–5612 Filed 3–27–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–15–P DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Coast Guard 33 CFR Part 117 [CGD09–07–004] RIN 1625–AA09 Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Detroit River (Trenton Channel), Grosse Ile, MI Coast Guard, DHS. Temporary final rule. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is temporarily revising the operating regulations for the Grosse Ile Toll Bridge at Mile 8.80 over the Trenton Channel during the planned seven-month duration of time that the Grosse Ile County (Free) Bridge at Mile 5.60 will be rehabilitated and not available for vehicular traffic. Grosse Ile is connected to the mainland by these two bridges only. The temporary regulations will revise the number of required bridge openings of the Grosse Ile Toll Bridge to provide less interruptions of vehicular traffic while simultaneously providing for reasonable needs of marine navigation. PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 This temporary rule is effective from 6 a.m. on April 18, 2007 until 6:30 p.m. on December 15, 2007. ADDRESSES: Documents indicated in this preamble as being available in the docket are part of docket CGD09–07– 004 and are available for inspection or copying at Commander (dpb), Ninth Coast Guard District, 1240 E. Ninth Street, Room 2025, Cleveland, Ohio 44199–2060 between 7 a.m.. and 3 a.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Kurt Carlson, U.S. Ninth Coast Guard Bridge Branch, (216) 902–6086. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We did not publish a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for this regulation. Under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Coast Guard finds that good cause exists for not publishing an NPRM. This temporary rule is designed to insure that marine navigation of the Trenton Channel is maintained throughout the entire period of Grosse Ile (Free) Bridge rehabilitation (seven months). Dates for the rehabilitation project were just submitted by the bridge owner. Providing notice and comment would mean that this temporary final rule would not be issued in advance of the project beginning, which is contrary to the public interest. Under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), and for the same reason cited above, the Coast Guard finds that good cause exists for making this rule effective in less than 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. DATES: Background and Purpose Grosse Ile, an island in the Detroit River, is a suburb of the City of Detroit, Michigan. Most residents are employed off-island and must traverse one of the two bridges that connect the island to the mainland. ‘‘Rush hour’’ traffic is extremely heavy. The U.S. Coast Guard, at the request of the Manager of Grosse Ile Township and Congressional and State Representatives, is modifying the operation of the Grosse Ile Toll (swing) Bridge during the period of time that the Grosse Ile ‘‘Free’’ Bridge will be out of service due to scheduled rehabilitation. The modified operations will limit the number of bridge openings for the Grosse Ile Toll Bridge resulting in fewer interruptions for vehicular traffic particularly during the morning and afternoon ‘‘rush hours’’. Bridge logs reveal that the Toll Bridge is required to open (on average) 150 times per month for recreational vehicles and an additional 11 times per month for commercial vessels. The current regulations for Grosse Ile Toll Bridge at E:\FR\FM\28MRR1.SGM 28MRR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 59 (Wednesday, March 28, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 14418]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-5612]



[[Page 14418]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD08-07-006]


Drawbridge Operating Regulations; Berwick Bay, (Atchafalaya 
River) Morgan City, LA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations.

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SUMMARY: The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, has issued a 
temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the 
BNSF Railway Company Vertical Lift Span Bridge across Berwick Bay, mile 
0.4, (Atchafalaya River, mile 17.5) at Morgan City, St. Mary Parish, 
Louisiana. This deviation provides for the bridge to remain closed to 
navigation for 12 consecutive hours to conduct scheduled maintenance to 
the drawbridge.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on 
Thursday, June 14, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Materials referred to in this document are available for 
inspection or copying at the office of the Eighth Coast Guard District, 
Bridge Administration Branch, Hale Boggs Federal Building, Room 1313, 
500 Poydras Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130-3310 between 7 a.m. 
and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The 
telephone number is (504) 671-2128. The Bridge Administration Branch 
maintains the public docket for this temporary deviation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Frank, Bridge Administration 
Branch, telephone (504) 671-2128.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BNSF Railway Company has requested a 
temporary deviation in order to replace the railroad signal circuits of 
the BNSF Railway Railroad Vertical Lift Span Bridge across Berwick Bay, 
mile 0.4 (Atchafalaya River, mile 17.5) at Morgan City, St. Mary 
Parish, Louisiana. Replacement of the signal circuits is necessary to 
turn the lining of signals across the bridge into a fully automatic 
operation so that the bridge will be in full compliance with 
requirements of the Federal Railroad Administration. This temporary 
deviation will allow the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation 
position from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 14, 2007. The 
proposed work was previously scheduled for Wednesday, December 13, 2006 
and Wednesday, February 7, 2007, but had to be postponed. The bridge 
owner is now prepared to complete the work and has coordinated the 
closure with all departments within the railroad. There may be times, 
during the closure period, when the draw will not be able to open for 
emergencies.
    The bridge provides 4 feet of vertical clearance in the closed-to-
navigation position. Thus, most vessels will not be able to transit 
through the bridge site when the bridge is closed. Navigation on the 
waterway consists of tugs with tows, fishing vessels and recreational 
craft including sailboats and powerboats. Due to prior experience, as 
well as coordination with waterway users, it has been determined that 
this closure will not have a significant effect on these vessels.
    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: March 20, 2007.
Marcus Redford,
Bridge Administrator.
[FR Doc. E7-5612 Filed 3-27-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P
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