Coast Guard August 16, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard has changed the drawbridge operation regulations that govern the operation of the Veterans Memorial Bridge across the Taunton River, mile 2.1, between Fall River and Somerset, Massachusetts. The bridge owner, Massachusetts Department of Transportation, submitted a request to reduce the hours the bridge is crewed based upon infrequent requests to open the draw. It is expected that this change to the regulations will provide relief to the bridge owner from crewing the bridge while continuing to meet the reasonable needs of navigation.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the draw of the Norfolk Southern 5 Railroad Bridge, across the Elizabeth River Eastern Branch, mile 1.1, at Norfolk, VA. This deviation is necessary to facilitate replacing the broken tread plates and shimming the remaining tread plates to the proper elevation on the Norfolk Southern 5 Railroad drawbridge. There are a total of 10 tread plates that need to be replaced. This temporary deviation allows the drawbridge to remain in the closed to navigation position.

The Coast Guard is updating and revising regulatory tables that list liquid hazardous materials, liquefied gases, and compressed gases that have been approved for maritime transportation in bulk, and that indicate how each substance's pollution potential has been categorized. The interim rule provides new information about approved substances and their categorizations, but would not make any changes in which substances are approved or how each substance is categorized. Updated information is of value to shippers and to the owners and operators of U.S.-flag tank and bulk cargo vessels in any waters and most foreign-flag tank and oceangoing bulk cargo vessels in U.S. waters. This interim rule promotes the Coast Guard's maritime safety and stewardship missions.