Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Willamette River, Portland, OR

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 78 (Thursday, April 23, 2015)

Federal Register Volume 80, Number 78 (Thursday, April 23, 2015)

Rules and Regulations

Pages 22645-22646

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov

FR Doc No: 2015-09481

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

Docket No. USCG-2015-0298

Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Willamette River, Portland, OR

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the upper deck of the Steel Bridge across the Willamette River, mile 12.1, at Portland, OR. The deviation is necessary to accommodate the annual Rock `n' Roll 10K event. This deviation allows the upper deck of the Steel Bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position and need not open for marine traffic.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 8:20 a.m. on May 17, 2015 until 10:35 a.m. on May 17, 2015.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, USCG-2015-0298 is available at http://www.regulations.gov. Type the docket number in the ``SEARCH'' box and click ``SEARCH.'' Click on Open Docket Folder on the line associated with this deviation. You may also 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this temporary deviation, call or email Mr. Steven Fischer, Bridge Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard District; telephone 206-220-7282, email d13-pf-d13bridges@uscg.mil. If you have questions on viewing the docket, call Cheryl Collins, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The City of Portland Bureau of Transportation has requested that the upper deck of the Steel Bridge remain closed-to-navigation to accommodate the annual Rock `n' Roll 10K event. The Steel Bridge crosses the Willamette River at mile 12.1 and is a double-deck lift bridge with a lower lift deck and an upper lift deck which operate independent of each other. When both decks are in the down position the bridge provides 26 feet of vertical clearance above Columbia River Datum 0.0. When the lower deck is in the up position the bridge provides 71 feet of vertical clearance above Columbia River Datum 0.0. This deviation does not affect the operating schedule of the lower deck which opens on signal. Under normal conditions the upper deck of the Steel Bridge operates in accordance with 33 CFR 117.897(c)(3)(ii) which states that from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday one hour advance notice shall be given for draw openings, and at all other times two hours advance notice shall be given to obtain an opening. This deviation period is from 8:20 a.m. on May 17, 2015 until 10:35 a.m. on May 17, 2015. The deviation allows the upper deck of the Steel Bridge across the Willamette

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River, mile 12.1, to remain in the closed-to-navigation position and need not open for maritime traffic from 8:20 a.m. on May 17, 2015 until 10:35 a.m. on May 17, 2015. Waterway usage on this part of the Willamette River includes vessels ranging from commercial tug and barge to small pleasure craft.

Vessels able to pass through the bridge in the closed positions may do so at anytime. The bridge will be able to open for emergencies and there is no immediate alternate route for vessels to pass. The Coast Guard will also inform the users of the waterways through our Local and Broadcast Notices to Mariners of the change in operating schedule for the bridge so that vessels 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 designated time period. This deviation from the operating regulations is authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.

Dated: April 17, 2015.

Steven M. Fischer,

Bridge Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard District.

FR Doc. 2015-09481 Filed 4-22-15; 8:45 am

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