[Federal Register: June 24, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 121)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 35244-35245]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24jn04-7]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[CGD01-04-063]
Drawbridge Operation Regulations: Taunton River, MA
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations and request for
comment.
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SUMMARY: The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a
temporary 90-day deviation from the drawbridge operation regulations to
test an alternate drawbridge operation regulation for the Brightman
Street Bridge, at mile 1.8, across the Taunton River between Fall River
and Somerset, Massachusetts. Under this temporary 90-day deviation the
draw need not open for pleasure craft traffic from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
and from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, July 1, 2004
through September 28, 2004. The draw shall open for vessels engaged in
commercial service on signal at all times. The purpose of this
temporary deviation is to test an alternate drawbridge operation
schedule for 90-days and solicit comment from the public.
DATES: This deviation is effective from July 1, 2004 through September
28, 2004. Comments must reach the Coast Guard on or before October 15,
2004.
ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to Commander (obr), First Coast Guard
District Bridge Branch, 408 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts,
02110, 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 rulemaking. 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.
Request for Comments
We encourage you to participate in this test deviation by
submitting comments or related material. If you do so, please include
your name and address, identify the docket number for this rulemaking
(CGD01-04-063), indicate the specific section of this
[[Page 35245]]
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 in deciding whether to
propose a permanent schedule change.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John McDonald, Project Officer, First
Coast Guard District, at (617) 223-8364.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Brightman Street Bridge has a vertical
clearance in the closed position of 27 feet at mean high water and 31
feet at mean low water. The existing drawbridge operation regulations
are listed at 33 CFR 117.619(b).
The Town of Somerset, Massachusetts, and the Massachusetts State
Police asked the Coast Guard and the bridge owner Massachusetts Highway
Department for assistance with vehicular traffic delays resulting form
unregulated bridge openings at the Brightman Street Bridge.
The Coast Guard in response to the above request is temporarily
changing the drawbridge operation regulations for 90-days to test an
alternate drawbridge operation schedule.
Under this temporary 90-day deviation the bridge need not open for
pleasure craft traffic from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6:30
p.m., Monday through Friday, July 1, 2004 through September 28, 2004.
Commercial vessel traffic shall be passed on signal at all times.
This action is expected to provide relief to the vehicular traffic
delays while still meeting the reasonable needs of navigation.
This deviation from the operating regulations is authorized under
33 CFR 117.43.
Dated: June 10, 2004.
John L. Grenier,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Commander, First Coast Guard
District.
[FR Doc. 04-14370 Filed 6-23-04; 8:45 am]
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