[Federal Register: June 26, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 122)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 36297-36298]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26jn06-28]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[CGD05-06-002]
Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Chincoteague Channel,
Chincoteague, VA
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments, and notice of public meeting.
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SUMMARY: On March 31, 2006, the Coast Guard published a notice of
proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register (71 FR 19150). That
document contains a detailed history of the Coast Guard's previous
regulatory efforts regarding the SR 175 Bridge. The Coast Guard is
reopening the period for public comment concerning the drawbridge
operation regulations that govern the SR 175 Bridge, mile 3.5, across
Chincoteague Channel at Chincoteague, Virginia, because an Accomack
County official communicated to the Coast Guard those residents of
Chincoteague have additional comments concerning the operating
regulations of the drawbridge.
DATES: Comments must be received by on or before July 21, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Comments and material received from the public as well as
documents indicated in this preamble as being available in the docket,
are part of docket [CGD05-06-002]. To make sure they do not enter the
docket more than once, please submit them by only one of the following
means:
(1) By mail to Commander (dpb), Fifth Coast Guard District, 431
Crawford Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704.
(2) By hand delivery to Commander (dpb), Fifth Coast Guard
District, 431 Crawford Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704, between 8 a.m. and
4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone
number is (757) 398-6629.
(3) By fax to the Bridge Administration office at (757) 398-6334.
Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District (dpb) maintains the public
docket for this rulemaking. Comments and material received from the
public, as well as documents indicated in this preamble, will become
part of this docket and will be available for inspection or copying at
the address listed above between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions on this notice, contact
Gary S. Heyer, Commander (dpb) Fifth Coast Guard District, by telephone
at (757) 398-6629, or by e-mail at gary.s.heyer@uscg.mil. For questions
on viewing or submitting material to the docket, also contact Mr. Gary
S. Heyer.
Request for Comments
We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting
your comments to Commander (dpb), Fifth Coast Guard District as
specified in ADDRESSES. We will consider comments received during this
additional comment period and may change the rule in response to the
comments.
Public Meeting and Procedure
The Coast Guard will also hold a public meeting to provide a forum
for citizens to provide oral comments relating to the drawbridge
operation regulations for the SR 175 Bridge, mile 3.5, across
Chincoteague Channel at Chincoteague, Virginia. The meeting will be
open to the public and it will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on
July 18, 2006, at the Chincoteague Community Center, 6155 Community
Drive, Chincoteague, VA 23336. The meeting may close early if all
business is finished. Written material and advance notice requests to
make oral comments should reach the Coast Guard on or before July 17,
2006.
Members of the public are invited to make comments and those who
wish to provide oral comment will be recognized by the meeting
moderator. Each person will be limited to no more than 5 minutes of
oral comments. The moderator will first call off names of individuals
who have notified the meeting moderator in advance that they
[[Page 36298]]
are planning to comment. After that, individuals who arrived prior to
the start of the meeting on July 18, 2006, and received numbers in the
lobby will be called. After all of these individuals have been called,
the moderator will then ask for members of the audience who have not
provided advance notification or who did not arrive prior to the
meeting to come forward, sign-in with the recorder, and then be able to
approach the podium to deliver comments.
Send written material and requests to make oral comments to
Commander (dpb), Fifth Coast Guard District, Federal Building, 1st
Floor, 431 Crawford Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704-5004 or via fax at
(757) 398-6334 or by e-mail at gary.s.heyer@uscg.mil.
The agenda of the public meeting will include the following:
(1) Introduction of panel members.
(2) Overview of meeting format.
(3) Background on the proposed rulemaking.
(4) Statements from citizens. Statements may be delivered in
written form at the public meeting and made part of the docket or
delivered orally not to exceed 5 minutes.
Questions
We need assistance from the public in ensuring the Coast Guard
fully understands the impact of potential rulemaking on all users of
the bridge, both road and waterway usage. We believe that the impacts
can be better understood by articulating answers to questions such as
those posed below. In responding to the questions listed below, please
explain your reasons for each answer as specifically as possible so
that we can weigh the impacts and consequences of future actions that
we may take. The following are the types of pertinent questions that
may be used:
(1) If the SR 175 Bridge opened every two hours, would this have a
positive or a negative impact on your business interests? And, what
would be the approximate monetary value of this impact per day?
(2) If the SR 175 Bridge opened every two hours, would this
increase or decrease the time you spend per day as a motor vehicle
commuter? And, approximately how much would your commuting time
increase or decrease?
(3) If the SR 175 Bridge opened every two hours and this opening
schedule had a negative impact on your business interests, what actions
could you take, if any, to minimize the negative impact?
(4) If the SR 175 Bridge continued to open once per hour, would
this have a negative or positive financial impact on your life or
business? And, what would be the approximate amount of the negative or
positive financial impact per day?
(5) Is there a traffic management plan in place that directs how to
manage a vehicle back-up at the SR 175 Bridge? And if there is a plan,
what procedures are in place to increase public safety and reduce
traffic delays at the Bridge? Any additional information provided on
these topics is welcome.
Information on Services for Individuals With Disabilities
For information on facilities or services for individuals with
disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact
Mr. Gary S. Heyer as listed in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT as soon
as possible.
Dated: June 13, 2006.
Larry L. Hereth,
Rear Admiral, U. S. Coast Guard, Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. E6-10048 Filed 6-23-06; 8:45 am]
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