Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Old River, Between Victoria Island and Byron Tract, CA
| Citation | 86 FR 23278 |
| Record Number | 2021-09202 |
| Published date | 03 May 2021 |
| Section | Rules and Regulations |
| Court | Coast Guard |
Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 83 (Monday, May 3, 2021)
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 83 (Monday, May 3, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 23278-23279]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-09202]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[Docket No. USCG-2021-0181]
Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Old River, Between Victoria
Island and Byron Tract, CA
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notification of temporary deviation from regulations; request
for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the
operating schedule that governs the California Department of
Transportation Route 4 highway bridge, across Old River, mile 14.8,
between Victoria Island and Byron Tract, California. The amount of
vessel traffic transiting the bridge site does not warrant an open on
signal requirement for this drawbridge. This deviation will test a
change to the drawbridge operation schedule to determine whether a
permanent change to the schedule is needed. The Coast Guard is seeking
comments from the public regarding these proposed changes.
DATES: This deviation is effective from 6 a.m. on May 10, 2021, through
6 a.m. on August 7, 2021. Your comments and related material must reach
the Coast Guard on or before August 7, 2021.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2021-0181 using Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. 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 or email Mr. Carl Hausner, Eleventh Coast Guard
District, Bridge Section Chief; telephone (510) 437-3516, email
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Table of Abbreviations
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DHS Department of Homeland Security
U.S.C. United States Code
II. Background and Purpose
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Route 4
highway bridge has a vertical clearance of 12.7 feet above mean high
water in the closed-to-navigation position, and operates in accordance
with 33 CFR 117.183.
Caltrans has requested a permanent change in the operation schedule
of the bridge due to the increase in vehicular traffic and a decrease
in vessel traffic. Population growth and the cost of housing has
increased land traffic traveling from the central valley to the San
Francisco Bay Area for work. From 2011 to 2020 the bridge has opened
5.4 times per month from April through September and 2.9 times per
month from October through March. Throughout the year, vessels
requesting an opening are: recreational vessels, 21.5%; commercial
vessels, 14.6%; government vessels conducting research, 60.5%; and law
enforcement, 3.3%.
This test deviation will evaluate the impacts to navigation on the
waterway. From 6 a.m. on May 10, 2021 through 6 a.m. on August 7, 2021,
the drawspan of the bridge will open on signal if at least four hours
notification is given to the drawtender at the Rio Vista Bridge across
the Sacramento River, mile 12.8. Primary number, 707-374-2134;
Secondary number, 209-948-7556. Caltrans will document vessel transits
during this deviation and log any
[[Page 23279]]
comments the drawtender receives by the waterway users. Caltrans will
also document any benefits to land traffic during this period.
By requiring vessel operators to plan in advance for an opening of
the drawspan, it is anticipated the expected impacts to navigation
during this test deviation will be minimal. Vessels that can transit
the bridge, while closed, can continue to do so at any time. The Coast
Guard will notify the boating public and all other interested parties
by formal letter sent to all marinas within 25 miles of the bridge.
There is no alternative route for vessels requiring an opening of the
drawspan.
The Coast Guard will also inform the users of the waterway through
our Local and Broadcast Notices to Mariners of the change in operating
schedule for the bridge so that vessel operators can arrange their
transits to minimize any impact caused by the temporary deviation.
In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(e), the drawbridge must return to
its regular operating schedule immediately at the end of the effective
period of this temporary deviation. This deviation from the operating
regulations is authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.
III. Information Requested
We are seeking comments from waterway users to understand the
impacts of the contemplated change to the operating schedule of
Caltrans Route 4 highway bridge, across Old River, mile 14.8, between
Victoria Island and Byron Tract, California.
IV. Public Participation and Request for Comments
We encourage you to submit comments through the Federal portal at
https://www.regulations.gov. In your submission, please include the
docket number for this notice of inquiry and provide a reason for each
suggestion or recommendation. If your material cannot be submitted
using https://www.regulations.gov, contact the person in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for alternate
instructions.
We accept anonymous comments. Comments we post to https://www.regulations.gov will include any personal information you have
provided. For more about privacy and submissions in response to this
document, see DHS's eRulemaking System of Records notice (85 FR 14226,
March 11, 2020).
Documents mentioned in this temporary deviation as being available
in this docket, and all public comments, will be in our online docket
at https://www.regulations.gov and can be viewed by following that
website's instructions. We review all comments received, but we may
choose not to post off-topic, inappropriate, or duplicate comments that
we receive. If you visit the online docket and sign up for email
alerts, you will be notified when comments are posted or if a final
rule is published.
This document is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552 (a).
Dated: April 23, 2021.
Carl T. Hausner,
District Bridge Chief, Eleventh Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2021-09202 Filed 4-30-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
