[Federal Register: June 2, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 104)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 26296-26297]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02jn09-11]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[Docket No. USCG-2009-0315]
Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, St.
Petersburg Beach and South Pasadena, FL
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations; request for
comments.
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SUMMARY: The Commander, Seventh Coast Guard District, has issued a
temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the
Pinellas Bayway Structure ``C'' and Corey Causeway (SR 693) Bridges
across the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, miles 114 and 117.7, at St.
Petersburg Beach, and South Pasadena, FL. This deviation will test a
change to the drawbridge operation schedules to determine whether a
permanent change to the schedule is needed. This deviation will allow
both drawbridges to operate on a twice an hour schedule during the day.
This deviation may be terminated/cancelled at any time via a Broadcast
Notice to Mariners.
DATES: This deviation is effective from May 14, 2009, through 7 p.m. on
May 31, 2009. Comments should be submitted by June 10, 2009.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Coast Guard docket
number USCG-2009-0315 using any one of the following methods:
1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
2. Fax: 202-493-2251.
3. Mail: Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. Department of
Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
4. Hand delivery: Same as mail address above, between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone
number is 202-366-9329.
To avoid duplication, please use only one of these methods. See the
``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for instructions on submitting
comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this test
deviation, call Michael Lieberum, Bridge Branch at 305-415-6744. If you
have questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, call
Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-
9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Participation and Request for Comments
We encourage you to participate in this action by submitting
comments and related materials. All comments received will be posted,
without change, to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any
personal information you have provided.
Submitting Comments
If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this
rulemaking (USCG-2008-1225), indicate the specific section of this
document to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for each
suggestion or recommendation. You may submit your comments and material
online (http://www.regulations.gov), or by fax, mail or hand delivery,
but please use only one of these means. If you submit a comment online
via http://www.regulations.gov, it will be considered received by the
Coast Guard when you successfully transmit the comment. If you fax,
hand deliver, or mail your comment, it will be considered as having
been received by the Coast Guard when it is received at the Docket
Management Facility. We recommend that you include your name and a
mailing address, an e-mail address, or a phone number in the body of
your document so that we can contact you if we have questions regarding
your submission.
To submit your comment online, go to http://www.regulations.gov,
select the Advanced Docket Search option on the right side of the
screen, insert ``USCG-2009-0315'' in the Docket ID box, press Enter,
and then click on the balloon shape in the Actions column. If you
submit submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an
unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for
copying and electronic filing. If you submit them by mail and would
like to know that they reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped,
self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and
material received during the comment period and may change the rule
based on your comments.
Viewing Comments and Documents
To view comments, as well as documents mentioned in this preamble
as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov,
select the Advanced Docket Search option on the right side of the
screen, insert USCG-2009-0315 in the Docket ID box, press Enter, and
then click on the item in the Docket ID column. You may visit the
Docket Management Facility in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the
Department of Transportation West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue,
SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays. We have an agreement with the
Department of Transportation to use the Docket Management Facility.
Privacy Act
Anyone can search the electronic form of comments received into any
of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or
signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association,
business, labor union, etc.). You may review a Privacy Act, system of
records notice regarding our public dockets in the January 17, 2008
issue of the Federal Register (73 FR 3316).
Background and Purpose
The Pinellas Bayway Structure ``C'' bridge has a vertical clearance
of 25 feet in the closed position and the Corey Causeway bridge has a
vertical clearance of 23 feet in the closed position.
Under the current operating regulations at 33 CFR 117.287(e), the
draw of the Pinellas Bayway Structure ``C'' bridge, mile 114, at St.
Petersburg Beach shall open on signal; except that from 7 a.m. to 7
p.m., the draw need open only on the hour, twenty minutes past the
hour, and forty minutes past the hour. Per 33 CFR 117.287(f), the draw
of the Corey Causeway (SR 693) bridge, mile 117.7 at South Pasadena,
shall open on signal; except that, from 8 a.m.
[[Page 26297]]
to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and
Sundays and Federal holidays, the draw need to open only on the hour,
twenty minutes after the hour, and forty minutes after the hour.
The local mayor has requested that the Coast Guard evaluate a twice
an hour schedule. The Florida Department of Transportation, the bridge
owner, has a concern related to the length of time during bridge
openings on the weekends due to the accumulation of vessels between
openings which may directly impact vehicle traffic. For this reason,
FDOT will be monitoring the traffic flow through the area during this
test and may recommend that the test be terminated at any point that
vehicle traffic patterns show a detriment rather than an improvement in
traffic flow. This test may have a minor impact on vessel traffic as
there will be two openings an hour rather than three during these same
time periods.
This deviation will start on the date signed and will continue
until 7 p.m. on May 31, 2009, unless otherwise terminated/cancelled due
to heavier than normal traffic patterns. The Pinellas Bayway Structure
``C'' will open on demand except that from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. the bridge
will open on the hour and half-hour and Corey Causeway bridges will
open on demand except that from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. the bridge will open
on the quarter and three-quarter hour, seven days a week. Vessels that
may pass under the bridges without an opening may do so at any time.
Public vessels of the United States and tugs with tows must be passed
at any time.
In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(e), the drawbridge must return to
its regular operating schedule immediately at the end of the designated
time period. This deviation from the operating regulations is
authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.
Dated: 14 May 2009.
R.S. Branham,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Commander, Seventh Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. E9-12822 Filed 6-1-09; 8:45 am]
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