Drawbridge operations: New Jersey,

[Federal Register: July 7, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 129)]

[Rules and Regulations]

[Page 36569-36570]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr07jy99-10]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD05-99-034]

Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Mullica River, New Jersey

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations; request for comments.

SUMMARY: The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District has issued a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the Green Bank drawbridge across Mullica River, Mile 18.0, at Atlantic County and Burlington County, New Jersey. Beginning at 6 a.m. August 15, 1999, and continuing until 6 p.m. November 13, 1999, the bridge will only open for the passage of recreational and commercial vessels on the hour and half hour. This temporary deviation is needed to test the effects of such a schedule on navigation and vehicular traffic transiting over and under the bridge.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 6 a.m. August 15, 1999, until 6 p.m. November 13, 1999. Comments must be received by December 13, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to Commander (Aowb), Fifth Coast Guard District, Federal Building, 4th Floor, 431 Crawford Street, Portsmouth, Virginia 23704-5004, or may be hand delivered to the same address between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Comments will become a part of this docket and will be available for inspection and copying at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann B. Deaton, Bridge Administrator, Fifth Coast Guard District, at 757-398-6222.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 36570]]

Request for Comments

The Coast Guard encourages interested parties to comment on this temporary deviation. You may submit written data, views, or arguments relating this schedule during the test period. Persons submitting comments should include their names and addresses, identify this temporary deviation (CGD05-99-034) and the particular part of this deviation to which each comment applies, and the reason for each comment. The Coast Guard requests that all comments and attachments be submitted in an unbound format suitable for copying and electronic filing. Persons wanting acknowledgment of receipt of comments should enclose a stamped self-addressed postcard or envelope.

The Coast Guard will consider all comments received during the comment period. The Coast Guard plans no public hearing. You may request a public hearing by writing to the Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, at the address under ADDRESSES. The request should include reasons why a hearing would be helpful. If the Coast Guard decides to hold a public hearing, we will announce the hearing in a separate notice in the Federal Register.

The drawbridge across Mullica River is owned and operated by Atlantic County, New Jersey. On September 3, 1998, the Coast Guard received a letter from Atlantic County requesting a temporary deviation from the normal operation of the bridge. They wanted to test a proposed change to the current regulations for the Green Bank Drawbridge by changing the opening schedule to openings on the hour and half hour for recreational and commercial vessels. The current regulation at Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations Section 117.731a(b), requires the draw to open on signal, except from April 1 through November 30, from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., and from December 1 through March 31, at all times, a four-hour notice is required.

The temporary deviation will change the periods of opening on signal to openings on the hour and half hour for a period of 90 days. The temporary deviation will not alter sections 117.731a (b) and (c), of the Code of Federal Regulations, which states that the draw need not open unless at least a four-hour notice is given from April 1, through November 30, 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. and December 1 through March 31, at all times. The draws shall open as soon as possible during periods when four-hour notice is required for vessels in distress, public vessels of the United States, and state and local vessels used for public safety purposes.

Following the temporary deviation, the Coast Guard will review drawbridge logs and vehicular traffic counts to determination how the opening schedule met the needs of navigation and vehicular traffic.

Beginning August 15, 1999, and continuing until November 13, 1999, this deviation requires the bridge to open for recreational and commercial vessels on the hour and half hour, 24 hours a day. The four hour minimum notification period for vessels seeking to transit between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. remains in effect during the deviation period.

Dated: June 24, 1999. Thomas E. Bernard, Captain, Coast Guard, Fifth Coast Guard District, Acting District Commander.

[FR Doc. 99-17188Filed7-6-99; 8:45 am]

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