Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Thea Foss Waterway Previously Known as City Waterway, Tacoma, WA, 69562-69564 [2012-28129]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 224 / Tuesday, November 20, 2012 / Rules and Regulations
(3) If there is a crack in the upper or lower
MRH shaft flange, before further flight,
replace the MRH shaft. Replacing the MRH
shaft with an MRH shaft having a part
number listed in the applicability of this AD
does not constitute terminating action for the
requirements of this AD.
(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance
(AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Safety Management
Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this
AD. Send your proposal to: Gary Roach,
Aviation Safety Engineer, Regulations and
Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA,
2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas
76137; telephone (817) 222–5110; email
gary.b.roach@faa.gov.
(2) For operations conducted under a 14
CFR part 119 operating certificate or under
14 CFR part 91, subpart K, we suggest that
you notify your principal inspector, or
lacking a principal inspector, the manager of
the local flight standards district office or
certificate holding district office, before
operating any aircraft complying with this
AD through an AMOC.
(h) Additional Information
(1) Eurocopter Emergency Alert Service
Bulletin EC135–62A–029, Revision 2, dated
May 17, 2012, which is not incorporated by
reference, contains additional information
about the subject of this AD. For service
information identified in this AD, contact
American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 N.
Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, Texas 75052;
telephone (972) 641–0000 or (800) 232–0323;
fax (972) 641–3775; or at https://
www.eurocopter.com/techpub. You may
review this service information at the FAA,
Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest
Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort
Worth, Texas 76137.
(2) The subject of this AD is addressed in
European Aviation Safety Agency AD No.
2012–0085–E, dated May 17, 2012.
(i) Subject
Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC)
Code: 6220, Main Rotor Head.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 30,
2012.
Kim Smith,
Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012–28100 Filed 11–19–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Coast Guard
wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with
33 CFR Part 117
[Docket No. USCG–2012–0994]
Drawbridge Operation Regulation;
Barataria Bayou, Lafitte, LA
AGENCY:
Coast Guard, DHS.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
14:35 Nov 19, 2012
Jkt 229001
Notice of temporary deviation
from regulations.
ACTION:
The Coast Guard has issued a
temporary deviation from the operating
schedule that governs the LA 302
(Kerner) swing span bridge across the
Barataria Bayou, mile 35.7, at Lafitte,
Louisiana. The deviation is necessary to
allow a movie production crew to safely
film at the bridge site. This deviation
allows the bridge to remain closed to
navigation for 12 hours on two separate
nights.
DATES: This deviation is effective from
6 p.m. on November 28 through 6 a.m.
November 30, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Documents mentioned in
this preamble as being available in the
docket are part of docket USCG–2012–
0994 and are available online by going
to https://www.regulations.gov, inserting
USCG–2012–0994 in the ‘‘Keyword’’
box and then clicking ‘‘Search’’. They
are also available for inspection or
copying at the 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,
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If
you have questions on this rule, call or
email Kay Wade, Bridge Branch, Coast
Guard; telephone 504–671–2128, email
Kay.B.Wade@uscg.mil. If you have
questions on viewing the docket, call
Renee V. Wright, Program Manager,
Docket Operations, telephone 202–366–
9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Louisiana Department of Transportation
and Development has requested a
temporary deviation from the operating
schedule of the swing span bridge
across the Barataria Bayou at mile 35.7
in Lafitte, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana.
The vertical clearance of the bridge in
the closed-to-navigation position is 7.2
feet above Mean High Water, elevation
0.8 feet and unlimited in the open-tonavigation position. Vessels will not be
allowed to pass under the bridge during
the closure.
In accordance with 33 CFR 117.5, the
bridge opens on signal for the passage
of vessels. This deviation allows the
swing span of the bridge to remain
closed to navigation from 6 p.m. to 6
a.m. on the evenings of Wednesday,
November 28, 2012 and Thursday,
November 29, 2012.
The closure is necessary in order to
safely allow movie production crews to
film at the bridge site. Notices will be
published in the Eighth Coast Guard
District Local Notice to Mariners and
SUMMARY:
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will be broadcast via the Coast Guard
Broadcast Notice to Mariners System.
Navigation on the waterway consists
of commercial and recreational fishing
vessels, oil industry supply boats, crew
boats, tug boats and standard barges. No
alternate routes are available for the
passage of vessels; however, the closure
was coordinated with waterway
interests who have indicated that they
will be able to adjust their operations
around the proposed schedule.
The bridge will be able to open in the
event of an emergency.
Due to prior experience and
coordination with waterway users, it
has been determined that this closure
will not have a significant effect on
vessels that use the waterway.
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: November 2, 2012.
David M. Frank,
Bridge Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2012–28126 Filed 11–19–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110–04–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[Docket No. USCG–2012–0911]
Drawbridge Operation Regulation;
Thea Foss Waterway Previously
Known as City Waterway, Tacoma, WA
Coast Guard, DHS.
Notice of temporary deviation
from regulations; request for comments.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Coast Guard has issued a
temporary deviation from the operating
schedule that governs the Murray
Morgan Bridge, also known as the South
11th Street Bridge, across the Thea Foss
Waterway, mile 0.6, previously known
as City Waterway, at Tacoma, WA. This
deviation will test a change to the
drawbridge operating schedule to
determine whether a permanent change
to the schedule is needed. This test
deviation will modify the existing
regulation and add an advance
notification requirement for obtaining
bridge openings during designated
times. The Coast Guard has also
published a notice of proposed
rulemaking (NPRM) under docket
number USCG–2012–0911 to which
comments may be posted
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 224 / Tuesday, November 20, 2012 / Rules and Regulations
This deviation is effective from
7 a.m. on January 1, 2013 through 8 a.m.
June 15, 2013. Comments and related
material must reach the Coast Guard on
or before [Insert date 45 days after date
of publication in the Federal Register].
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
identified by docket number USCG–
2012–0911 using any one of the
following methods:
(1) Federal eRulemaking Portal:
https://www.regulations.gov.
(2) Fax: 202–493–2251.
(3) Mail or Delivery: 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 four methods.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If
you have questions on this rule, call or
email the Bridge Administrator, Coast
Guard Thirteenth District; telephone
206–220–7282 email
randall.d.overton@uscg.mil. If you have
questions on viewing the docket, call
Renee V. Wright, Program Manager,
Docket Operations, telephone 202–366–
9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
DATES:
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 https://
www.regulations.gov and will include
any personal information you have
provided.
wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with
1. Submitting Comments
If you submit a comment, please
include the docket number for this
rulemaking (USCG–2012–0911),
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 (https://
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 https://
www.regulations.gov, it will be
considered received by the Coast Guard
VerDate Mar<15>2010
14:35 Nov 19, 2012
Jkt 229001
when you successfully transmit the
comment. If you fax, hand deliver, 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 we can contact you if
we have questions regarding your
submission.
To submit your comment online, go to
https://www.regulations.gov, click on the
‘‘submit a comment’’ box, which will
then become highlighted in blue. In the
‘‘Keyword’’ box insert ‘‘USCG–2012–
0911,’’ click ‘‘Search,’’ and then click on
the balloon shape in the ‘‘Actions’’
column. If you submit your comments
by mail or hand delivery, submit them
in an unbound format, no larger than 8c
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
https://www.regulations.gov, type the
docket number ‘‘USCG–2012–0911’’ in
the ‘‘Search’’ box and click ‘‘Search.’’
Click the ‘‘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. We have an agreement with
the Department of Transportation to use
the Docket Management Facility.
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. But you may submit a request
for one using one of the four methods
specified under ADDRESSES. Please
PO 00000
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69563
explain why one would be beneficial. If
we determine that one would aid this
rulemaking, we will hold one at a time
and place announced by a later notice
in the Federal Register.
B. Basis and Purpose
The Coast Guard, at the request of the
City of Tacoma, proposes to change the
regulation which governs the operating
schedule of the Murray Morgan Bridge.
This temporary deviation will test three
separate changes requested by the City
of Tacoma.
The first change requires that for
bridge openings needed between 10
p.m. and 8 a.m., notification be made no
later than 8 p.m. prior to the desired
opening. This differs from the existing
regulation in that presently the bridge is
required to open at all times (except
during authorized closure periods)
provided two hours advance notice is
given. This deviation to the regulation
which adds the requirement of
notification by 8 p.m. for openings
between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. is being
tested because openings between 10
p.m. and 8 a.m. are extremely rare. Over
an 18 month period there were only 6
bridge openings requested between 10
p.m. and 8 a.m. which averages one
bridge opening request per three month
period. One of the unique features of the
Murray Morgan Bridge is its height
above the waterway providing 60 feet of
clearance at mean high water (MHW) in
the closed position. Because of this
vertical clearance the overwhelming
majority of vessels which transit this
waterway do not require a bridge
opening. The majority of bridge
openings are for locally moored and
operated recreational sailboats with
mast heights over 60 feet. Almost all of
these vessels are moored at marinas in
very close proximity of the bridge.
The second change being tested in
this deviation is removing the
authorized bridge closure periods in the
morning and afternoon. The current
regulation states that the draw need not
be opened from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
and 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday
through Friday, for vessels of less than
1,000 gross tons. This test deviation
requires the draw to open at all times
with proper advance notification. The
morning and afternoon authorized
closures of the bridge outlined in the
existing regulation were put into place
when the bridge was part of SR 509, a
continuous route from Northeast
Tacoma to downtown, and traffic
volumes were approximately 15,000
vehicles per day. In 1997 a new SR 509
was constructed approximately 0.7
miles south of the bridge and is now
used as the main traffic corridor. After
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wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with
69564
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 224 / Tuesday, November 20, 2012 / Rules and Regulations
completion of the new SR 509, the
Murray Morgan Bridge connection
between Northeast Tacoma and
downtown was severed due to roadway
reconfiguration, resulting in traffic
volumes dropping dramatically;
therefore, the bridge no longer conveys
high volumes of traffic during the
morning and afternoon rush hours.
The third change being tested in this
deviation is principally administrative
and changes the contact information for
emergency bridge openings. The
existing regulation states ‘‘In
emergencies, openings shall be made as
soon as possible upon notification to the
Washington State Department of
Transportation.’’ The change being
tested in this deviation requires
notification for emergency opening to be
made to the City of Tacoma. The reason
for this change is because Washington
State turned over ownership and
responsibility of the bridge to the City
of Tacoma on January 6, 1998.
Under this temporary deviation the
bridge will operate as follows. The draw
of the Murray Morgan Bridge, also
known as the South 11th Street Bridge,
across Thea Foss Waterway, previously
known as City Waterway, mile 0.6, at
Tacoma, shall open on signal if at least
two hours notice is given. However, to
obtain a bridge opening between 10 p.m.
and 8 a.m. notification must be made to
the City of Tacoma by 8 p.m. In
emergencies, openings shall be made as
soon as possible upon notification to the
City of Tacoma. The Murray Morgan
Bridge is a vertical lift bridge which
provides a vertical clearance of 60 feet
above mean high water. Vessels which
do not require a bridge opening may
continue to transit beneath the bridge at
any time.
The Coast Guard has issued a Notice
of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) under
docket number USCG–2012–0911 to
receive comments on these changes.
Comments can be submitted for this
deviation or for the NPRM by following
procedures outlined in the
SUBMITTING COMMENTS section
above.
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: October 2, 2012.
Randall D. Overton,
Bridge Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2012–28129 Filed 11–19–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110–04–P
VerDate Mar<15>2010
14:35 Nov 19, 2012
Jkt 229001
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[Docket No. USCG–2012–0979]
Drawbridge Operation Regulation;
Bayou Boeuf, Amelia, LA
Coast Guard, DHS.
Notice of temporary deviation
from regulations.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Coast Guard has issued a
temporary deviation from the operating
schedule that governs the Burlington
Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway
Company swing span bridge across
Bayou Boeuf, mile 10.2, at Amelia, St.
Mary Parish, Louisiana. The deviation is
necessary to complete scheduled repairs
necessitated by a bridge allision. This
deviation allows the bridge to remain in
the closed-to-navigation position for
sixteen consecutive hours.
DATES: This deviation is effective from
7 a.m. through 11 p.m. on Thursday,
December 6, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Documents mentioned in
this preamble as being available in the
docket are part of docket USCG–2012–
0979 and are available online by going
to https://www.regulations.gov, inserting
USCG–2012–0979 in the ‘‘Keyword’’
box and then clicking ‘‘Search’’. They
are also available for inspection or
copying at the 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,
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If
you have questions on this rule, call or
email Jim Wetherington, Bridge Branch
Office, Coast Guard; telephone 504–
671–2128, email
james.r.wetherington@uscg.mil. If you
have questions on viewing the docket,
call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager,
Docket Operations, telephone 202–366–
9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BNSF
Railway Company has requested a
temporary deviation from the operating
schedule of the swing span railroad
bridge across Bayou Boeuf, mile 10.2, at
Amelia, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. The
bridge provides no vertical clearance in
the closed-to-navigation position.
In accordance with 33 CFR 117.5, the
bridge currently opens on signal for the
passage of vessels. This deviation allows
the vertical lift span of the bridge to
remain in the closed-to-navigation
SUMMARY:
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position from 7 a.m. through 11 p.m. on
Thursday, December 6, 2012.
The closure is necessary in order to
change out a shaft and reducer gear
damaged during a bridge allision earlier
this year. Notices will be published in
the Eighth Coast Guard District Local
Notice to Mariners and will be broadcast
via the Coast Guard Broadcast Notice to
Mariners System.
Navigation at the site of the bridge
consists mainly of tows with barges and
some recreational pleasure craft. 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. An alternate route is
available by using the GIWW, Morgan
City to Port Allen Alternate Route.
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: November 6, 2012.
David M. Frank,
Bridge Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2012–28128 Filed 11–19–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110–04–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management
Agency
44 CFR Part 64
[Docket ID FEMA–2012–0003; Internal
Agency Docket No. FEMA–8257]
Suspension of Community Eligibility
Federal Emergency
Management Agency, DHS.
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
This rule identifies
communities where the sale of flood
insurance has been authorized under
the National Flood Insurance Program
(NFIP) that are scheduled for
suspension on the effective dates listed
within this rule because of
noncompliance with the floodplain
management requirements of the
program. If the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) receives
documentation that the community has
adopted the required floodplain
management measures prior to the
effective suspension date given in this
rule, the suspension will not occur and
a notice of this will be provided by
publication in the Federal Register on a
subsequent date. Also, information
identifying the current participation
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\20NOR1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 224 (Tuesday, November 20, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 69562-69564]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-28129]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[Docket No. USCG-2012-0911]
Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Thea Foss Waterway Previously
Known as City Waterway, Tacoma, WA
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations; request for
comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the
operating schedule that governs the Murray Morgan Bridge, also known as
the South 11th Street Bridge, across the Thea Foss Waterway, mile 0.6,
previously known as City Waterway, at Tacoma, WA. This deviation will
test a change to the drawbridge operating schedule to determine whether
a permanent change to the schedule is needed. This test deviation will
modify the existing regulation and add an advance notification
requirement for obtaining bridge openings during designated times. The
Coast Guard has also published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM)
under docket number USCG-2012-0911 to which comments may be posted
[[Page 69563]]
DATES: This deviation is effective from 7 a.m. on January 1, 2013
through 8 a.m. June 15, 2013. Comments and related material must reach
the Coast Guard on or before [Insert date 45 days after date of
publication in the Federal Register].
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2012-0911 using any one of the following methods:
(1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
(2) Fax: 202-493-2251.
(3) Mail or Delivery: 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
four methods.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this rule,
call or email the Bridge Administrator, Coast Guard Thirteenth
District; telephone 206-220-7282 email randall.d.overton@uscg.mil. If
you have questions on viewing the docket, call Renee V. Wright, 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 https://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-2012-0911), 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 (https://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 https://www.regulations.gov, it will be considered received by the
Coast Guard when you successfully transmit the comment. If you fax,
hand deliver, 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 we can contact you if we have questions regarding
your submission.
To submit your comment online, go to https://www.regulations.gov,
click on the ``submit a comment'' box, which will then become
highlighted in blue. In the ``Keyword'' box insert ``USCG-2012-0911,''
click ``Search,'' and then click on the balloon shape in the
``Actions'' column. If you submit your comments by mail or hand
delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 8[frac12] 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 https://www.regulations.gov,
type the docket number ``USCG-2012-0911'' in the ``Search'' box and
click ``Search.'' Click the ``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. We have an agreement with the Department of
Transportation to use the Docket Management Facility.
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. But you may submit a
request for one using one of the four methods specified under
ADDRESSES. Please explain why one would be beneficial. If we determine
that one would aid this rulemaking, we will hold one at a time and
place announced by a later notice in the Federal Register.
B. Basis and Purpose
The Coast Guard, at the request of the City of Tacoma, proposes to
change the regulation which governs the operating schedule of the
Murray Morgan Bridge. This temporary deviation will test three separate
changes requested by the City of Tacoma.
The first change requires that for bridge openings needed between
10 p.m. and 8 a.m., notification be made no later than 8 p.m. prior to
the desired opening. This differs from the existing regulation in that
presently the bridge is required to open at all times (except during
authorized closure periods) provided two hours advance notice is given.
This deviation to the regulation which adds the requirement of
notification by 8 p.m. for openings between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. is being
tested because openings between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. are extremely rare.
Over an 18 month period there were only 6 bridge openings requested
between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. which averages one bridge opening request
per three month period. One of the unique features of the Murray Morgan
Bridge is its height above the waterway providing 60 feet of clearance
at mean high water (MHW) in the closed position. Because of this
vertical clearance the overwhelming majority of vessels which transit
this waterway do not require a bridge opening. The majority of bridge
openings are for locally moored and operated recreational sailboats
with mast heights over 60 feet. Almost all of these vessels are moored
at marinas in very close proximity of the bridge.
The second change being tested in this deviation is removing the
authorized bridge closure periods in the morning and afternoon. The
current regulation states that the draw need not be opened from 6:30
a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, for
vessels of less than 1,000 gross tons. This test deviation requires the
draw to open at all times with proper advance notification. The morning
and afternoon authorized closures of the bridge outlined in the
existing regulation were put into place when the bridge was part of SR
509, a continuous route from Northeast Tacoma to downtown, and traffic
volumes were approximately 15,000 vehicles per day. In 1997 a new SR
509 was constructed approximately 0.7 miles south of the bridge and is
now used as the main traffic corridor. After
[[Page 69564]]
completion of the new SR 509, the Murray Morgan Bridge connection
between Northeast Tacoma and downtown was severed due to roadway
reconfiguration, resulting in traffic volumes dropping dramatically;
therefore, the bridge no longer conveys high volumes of traffic during
the morning and afternoon rush hours.
The third change being tested in this deviation is principally
administrative and changes the contact information for emergency bridge
openings. The existing regulation states ``In emergencies, openings
shall be made as soon as possible upon notification to the Washington
State Department of Transportation.'' The change being tested in this
deviation requires notification for emergency opening to be made to the
City of Tacoma. The reason for this change is because Washington State
turned over ownership and responsibility of the bridge to the City of
Tacoma on January 6, 1998.
Under this temporary deviation the bridge will operate as follows.
The draw of the Murray Morgan Bridge, also known as the South 11th
Street Bridge, across Thea Foss Waterway, previously known as City
Waterway, mile 0.6, at Tacoma, shall open on signal if at least two
hours notice is given. However, to obtain a bridge opening between 10
p.m. and 8 a.m. notification must be made to the City of Tacoma by 8
p.m. In emergencies, openings shall be made as soon as possible upon
notification to the City of Tacoma. The Murray Morgan Bridge is a
vertical lift bridge which provides a vertical clearance of 60 feet
above mean high water. Vessels which do not require a bridge opening
may continue to transit beneath the bridge at any time.
The Coast Guard has issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM)
under docket number USCG-2012-0911 to receive comments on these
changes. Comments can be submitted for this deviation or for the NPRM
by following procedures outlined in the SUBMITTING COMMENTS section
above.
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: October 2, 2012.
Randall D. Overton,
Bridge Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2012-28129 Filed 11-19-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
