[Federal Register: June 28, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 123)]
[Notices]
[Page 36094]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28jn04-73]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
[CGD08-04-023]
Notice of Public Hearing on Simmesport Railroad Bridge Across the
Atchafalaya River, Mile 4.4 at Simmesport, LA
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of public hearing; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard will hold a public hearing to receive comments
concerning the alteration of the Simmesport Railroad Bridge at
Simmesport, Louisiana. The hearing will allow interested persons to
present comments and information about the bridge being an unreasonable
obstruction.
DATES: The hearing will be held on July 20, 2004, commencing at 1 p.m.
Comments must be received by July 12, 2004. Requests to speak must be
received in the Office of Bridge Administration at the address given
under ADDRESSES by July 12, 2004.
ADDRESSES: The hearing will be held in the Council Chambers, Government
Building, 222 St. Louis Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802.
Written comments may be submitted to, and will be available for
examination between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays at the office of the Commander Eighth Coast Guard
District (obr), Bridge Administration Branch, 1222 Spruce Street, St.
Louis, MO 63103-2832.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Roger K. Wiebusch, Bridge
Administrator, telephone (314) 539-3900, extension 2378.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Complaints have been received alleging that the bridge is
unreasonably obstructive to navigation. Information available to the
Coast Guard indicates numerous bridge allusions have occurred between
1991 and 2003. The navigation opening of the bridge is 131 feet and
causes significant delays to commercial water traffic during periods of
high water mariners avoid transiting the Simmesport Railroad Bridge and
take the Port Allen Route to Morgan City, Louisiana, thereby adding 137
miles or one day to their trip. Based on the comments received at the
public hearing, the bridge may be found to be unreasonably obstructive
to navigation. Such a finding may require relocating and increasing the
horizontal clearance of the railroad bridge to meet the needs of
navigation.
Procedural
Please submit all comments in an unbound format, no larger than 8 x
11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. Persons wanting
acknowledgement of receipt of comments should enclose a stamped, self-
addressed postcard or envelope.
Any person, who wishes, may appear and be heard at this public
hearing. Individuals and representatives of organizations that wish to
present testimony at the hearing may submit a request to this office at
the address listed under ADDRESSES clearly indicating name and
organization represented. Requests to speak should be received no later
than July 12, 2004, in order to ensure proper scheduling for the
hearing. Depending on the number of scheduled statements, it may be
necessary to limit the amount of time allocated to each person. Any
limitation of time allocated will be announced at the beginning of the
hearing. Written statements and other exhibits may be submitted in lieu
of, or in addition to, oral statements made at the hearing, and may be
submitted to this office at the address listed under ADDRESSES unit
July 12, 2004, for inclusion in the public hearing transcript.
Transcripts of the hearing will be made available for purchase upon
request.
Information on Services for Individuals With Disabilities
For information about facilities or services for individuals with
disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact
Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District (obr). Please request these
services by contacting this office at the phone number under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or in writing at the address listed under
ADDRESSES. Any requests for an oral or sign language interpreter must
be received by July 12, 2004.
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 513; Department of Homeland Security
Delegation No. 0170.1
Dated: June 14, 2004.
R.F. Duncan,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 04-14626 Filed 6-23-04; 3:18 pm]
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