Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Elizabeth River, Eastern Branch, VA, 40638-40639 [2014-16330]
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40638
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 134 / Monday, July 14, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
navigation position to permit the free
movement of vehicles during two
separate Beach Country concerts.
DATES: This deviation is effective from
8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday July 31,
2014 and from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on
Sunday August 3, 2014.
ADDRESSES: The docket for this
deviation, USCG 2014–0530, is available
at https://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. 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If
you have questions on this temporary
deviation, call or e-mail Mrs. Jessica
Shea, Bridge Management Specialist,
Fifth Coast Guard District, telephone
(757) 398–6422, email jessica.c.shea2@
uscg.mil. If you have questions on
viewing the docket, call Cheryl Collins,
Program Manager, Docket Operations,
telephone 202–366–9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The New
Jersey Department of Transportation
requested a temporary deviation from
the current operating regulations of the
US Route 30 (Absecon Boulevard)
Bridge across Beach Thorofare, NJICW
mile 67.2 and the US40–322 (Albany
Avenue) across Inside Thorofare, NJICW
mile 70.0, both at Atlantic City, NJ. The
temporary deviation has been requested
to ensure the safety of the heavy
numbers of pedestrians and vehicular
traffic that would be transiting over the
bridges for the two concerts at Bader
Field located within the city limits.
bridge is 10 feet, above mean high
water.
Under this temporary deviation both
bridges will be closed, from 8 p.m. to 10
p.m. on Thursday July 31, 2014 and
from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday
August 3, 2014. Between the dates of the
two closure periods the bridges shall
return to their regular operating
schedules.
The majority of the vessels that transit
the bridges this time of the year are
recreational boats. Vessels able to pass
through the bridges in the closed
positions may do so at anytime. Both
bridges will be able to open for
emergencies. The Atlantic Ocean is an
alternate route for vessels unable to pass
through the bridges in closed positions.
The Coast Guard will also inform the
users of the waterways through our
Local and Broadcast Notices to Mariners
of the closure periods for the bridge so
that vessels can arrange their transits to
minimize any impact caused by the
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
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. 2014–16329 Filed 7–11–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110–04–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
Route 30/Absecon Boulevard Bridge
The current operating regulation for
this bridge is outlined fully in 33 CFR
117.733(e). During the requested closure
period for the event, the draw would be
required to open on the hour. In the
closed position to vessels, the vertical
clearance for this bascule-type bridge is
20 feet, above mean high water.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES
The current operating regulation for
this bridge is outlined fully in 33 CFR
117.733(f). During the requested closure
period for the event, the draw would be
required to open on the hour and half
hour from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and open on
demand from between 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.
In the closed position to vessels, the
vertical clearance for this bascule-type
15:56 Jul 11, 2014
Jkt 232001
Drawbridge Operation Regulations;
Elizabeth River, Eastern Branch, VA
Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation
from regulations; request for comments.
AGENCY:
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.
SUMMARY:
US40–322 (Albany Avenue) Bridge
VerDate Mar<15>2010
[Docket No. USCG–2014–0483]
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
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:
https://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 Kashanda.L.Booker@
uscg.mil. 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:
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.
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 (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
E:\FR\FM\14JYR1.SGM
14JYR1
40639
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 134 / Monday, July 14, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
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 81⁄2 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
https://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 swingtype 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
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
1
4
7
7
7
6
7
3
2
0
0
0
3
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.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES
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
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:56 Jul 11, 2014
Jkt 232001
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
PO 00000
Frm 00021
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 9990
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
E:\FR\FM\14JYR1.SGM
14JYR1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 134 (Monday, July 14, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 40638-40639]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16330]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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: https://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
Kashanda.L.Booker@uscg.mil. 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 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-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 (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
[[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 https://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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 4 7 7 7 6 7 3 2 0 0 0 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
