[Federal Register: July 15, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 135)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 41716]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15jy03-13]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[CGD01-03-047]
Drawbridge Operation Regulations: Mystic River, CT
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations.
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SUMMARY: The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a
temporary deviation from the drawbridge operation regulations for the
U.S. 1 Bridge, mile 2.8, across the Mystic River at Mystic,
Connecticut. This temporary deviation replaces the temporary deviation
published on June 2, 2003, and is necessary to test a new operating
schedule to determine if a permanent change to the schedule is
reasonable. The deviation published on June 2, 2003, is withdrawn.
DATES: The temporary deviation published on June 2, 2003, at 68 FR
32643 is withdrawn July 15, 2003. This temporary deviation is effective
from July 18, 2003 through October 15, 2003. Comments must reach the
Coast Guard on or before November 15, 2003.
ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to Commander (obr), First Coast Guard
District, Bridge Branch, at 408 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02110-3350,
or deliver them to the same address between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is (617)
223-8364. The First Coast Guard District, Bridge Branch, maintains the
public docket for this deviation. Comments and material received from
the public, as well as documents indicated in this preamble as being
available in the docket, will become part of this docket and will be
available for inspection or copying at the First Coast Guard District,
Bridge Branch, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Schmied, Project Officer, First
Coast Guard District, at (212) 668-7195.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Request for Comments
We encourage you to participate in this evaluation of the test
deviation by submitting comments or related material. If you do so,
please include your name and address, identify the docket number for
this deviation (CGD01-03-047), indicate the specific section of this
document to which each comment applies, and give the reason for each
comment. Please submit all comments and related material in an unbound
format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for copying. If
you would like to know if they reached us, please enclose a stamped,
self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and
material received during the comment period.
Background and Purpose
The U.S. 1 Bridge has a vertical clearance of 4 feet at mean high
water and 7 feet at mean low water in the closed position.
The existing regulations in 33 CFR 117.211(b), require the bridge
to open on signal with a maximum delay of up to twenty minutes; except
that from May 1 through October 31, from 7:15 a.m. to 7:15 p.m., the
draw need only open once an hour, at quarter past the hour and from
November 1 through April 30, from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., the draw must open
on signal after a six-hour advance notice is given.
On May 13, 2003, the Mystic Connecticut Chamber of Commerce and
Marine Affairs Committee, requested that the U.S. 1 Bridge opening
schedule be temporarily changed to test an alternate operation
schedule.
At the request of the Mystic Chamber of Commerce and Marine Affairs
Committee, the Commander, First Coast Guard District, issued a
temporary deviation from the drawbridge operation regulations on May
20, 2003. That temporary deviation, notice of which was published in
the Federal Register on June 2, 2003, at 68 FR 32643, authorized an
alternate operating schedule effective from June 15, 2003 through
August 31, 2003. The purpose of the temporary deviation was to test an
alternate operation schedule and collect vehicular traffic data.
On May 30, 2003, the Coast Guard received a second letter from the
Mystic Chamber of Commerce and Marine Affairs Committee. The Mystic
Chamber of Commerce and Marine Affairs Committee requested that the
effective period of the temporary deviation be changed to allow the
bridge to operate under the alternate operation schedule from July 18,
2003 through October 15, 2003, and that the hourly daily operating
schedule end at 6:40 p.m. instead of 7:40 p.m.
The District Commander issued a new test deviation as requested by
the Mystic Chamber of Commerce and Marine Affairs Committee. This
deviation allows the bridge to operate under the alternate operation
schedule from July 18, 2003 through October 15, 2003, during the peak
boating season.
Under this temporary deviation, effective from July 18, 2003
through October 15, 2003, the draw of the U.S. 1 Bridge shall open
promptly and fully on signal; except that, from 7:40 a.m. to 6:40 p.m.,
daily, the draw shall open at 7:40 a.m., 8:40 a.m., 9:40 a.m., 10:40
a.m., 11:40 a.m., 1:10 p.m., 1:40 p.m., 2:40 p.m., 3:40 p.m., 4:40
p.m., 5:40 p.m., and 6:40 p.m.
After October 15, 2003, the bridge will operate in accordance with
the existing drawbridge operation regulations.
This temporary deviation also eliminates the provision that permits
openings to be delayed up to 20 minutes after an opening request is
given. Under this temporary deviation, the bridge must open promptly
and fully upon request, in accordance with 33 CFR 117.5.
This deviation from the operating regulations is authorized under
33 CFR 117.43, to test an alternate operating schedule.
Dated: June 6, 2003.
John L. Grenier,
Captain, Coast Guard, Acting Commander, First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 03-17368 Filed 7-14-03; 8:45 am]
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