[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 5 (Friday, January 7, 1994)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 986-988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-271]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 7, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD02 93-003]
RIN 2115-AE47

 

Drawbridge Operation Regulations, Illinois River, IL

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes amending a drawbridge regulation to 
add a new regulation which will allow the remote operation of the 
Chicago and Northwestern Transportation Company railway bridge at 
Pekin, Illinois. This action is being proposed at the request of the 
Chicago and Northwestern Transportation Company of Chicago, Illinois. 
The change to remote operation will provide for more efficient 
operation of the railway bridge.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 22, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to Commander (ob), Second Coast Guard 
District, 1222 Spruce Street, St. Louis, MO 63103-2832, Attention: 
Docket CGD02 93-003. Comments may also be delivered to room 2.107B at 
the above address between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. For information concerning comments, the 
telephone number is (314) 539-3724.
    The Bridge Branch, Second Coast Guard District, maintains the 
public docket for this rulemaking. Comments will become part of the 
public docket and the docket will be available for inspection or 
copying in room 2.107B at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger K. Wiebusch, Bridge 
Administrator, Second Coast Guard District, (314) 539-3724.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to participate in 
this rulemaking by submitting written data, views, or arguments. 
Persons submitting comments should include their names and addresses, 
identify this rulemaking, CGD02 93-003, identify the specific section 
of this proposal to which each comment applies, and give the reason for 
each comment. Each person who wants an acknowledgment of the 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 may change the proposal in view of the 
comments.
    The Coast Guard does not plan to hold a public hearing. Persons may 
request a public hearing by writing to the Docket Clerk at the address 
under ADDRESSES. If the Coast Guard determines that the opportunity to 
make oral presentations will aid the rulemaking process, the Coast 
Guard will hold a public hearing at a time and place announced by a 
later notice in the Federal Register.

Drafting Information

    The principal persons involved in drafting this document are Wanda 
G. Renshaw, Project Officer, Bridge Branch, and Lieutenant Commander 
Arne O. Denny, Project Attorney, Second Coast Guard District Legal 
Office.

Background and Purpose

    The Chicago and Northwestern Transportation Company (C&NW) has 
requested Coast Guard approval to change the method of operating their 
railway bridge at Pekin, Illinois. The draw of the Chicago and 
Northwestern railway bridge, Mile 151.2 Illinois River, is presently 
maintained in the open-to-navigation position, and closed by an on-site 
bridge tender upon the approach of a train. On average, six to eight 
trains cross the bridge daily. Communication between the bridge tender 
and vessel operators is conducted on marine radio.
    C&NW proposes to install remote operating equipment and a control 
system, including radar, infrared boat detectors, high intensity lights 
and communications equipment, that would permit operation of the draw 
from the Chicago and Northwestern office in Chicago, Illinois. The 
equipment would indicate any malfunction in the bridge operation and 
enable the remote operator to ascertain the position of the lift span 
at any time. The marine radio system will receive and transmit on the 
VHF marine frequencies authorized by the Federal Communications 
Commission. The bridge could also be operated at the bridge site, at 
either portal, by authorized railroad personnel. Radio-telephone 
equipment would also be provided to permit direct communications with 
vessels when the bridge is operated at the bridge site. A radar antenna 
will be installed on the fixed portion of the bridge structure, and the 
received signal will be transmitted by fixed lines and a microwave link 
to the Chicago and Northwestern office in Chicago. The radar system 
will be designed to scan upstream and downstream of the bridge. 
Infrared scanners will be located on the upstream and downstream ends 
of the channel span piers to detect vessels in the channel span. If an 
obstruction is detected beneath the lift span during the closing cycle 
before the span is seated and locked, the lift span will be 
automatically stopped and immediately raised to the fully open position 
until the channel is clear.
    During the bridge closing cycle, an automatic, synthesized-voice 
announcement will be broadcast. At the appropriate times in the closing 
cycle, the broadcast will announce that the bridge will close to 
navigation, that the bridge is closed to navigation, or that the bridge 
has reopened to navigation.

Discussion of Proposed Amendments

    The proposed regulation will impose operating and equipment 
requirements on Chicago and Northwestern which will ensure the safe and 
timely operation of the railroad bridge. To do this, title 33 CFR part 
117 needs to be amended. The present text of the existing subsection 
117.393, Illinois River will be redesignated as subparagraph (a). This 
subsection regulates the Burlington Northern's railroad bridge at mile 
88.8 of the Illinois River, at Beardstown, Illinois. Except for being 
renumbered, the regulation covering the operation of the Burlington 
Northern railroad bridge will not be changed. The proposed regulation 
will be numbered as subparagraph (b).
    The proposed regulation will provide information about remote 
operation of the Chicago and Northwestern railroad bridge. The Chicago 
and Northwestern railroad bridge presently operates with an on-site 
bridge tender and is normally in the open position or opens on demand 
if it should be closed as a vessel approaches. If the Coast Guard 
approves operation from a remote site, the railroad bridge will 
continue to operate as a normally open span. However, the Coast Guard 
will require the use of additional sound, voice, and light signals to 
coincide with the various stages of the opening and closing of the 
span.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This proposal is not considered a significant regulatory action 
under Executive Order 12866 and is not significant under the Department 
of Transportation Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11040; 
February 26, 1979). The Coast Guard expects the economic impact of this 
proposal to be so minimal that a Regulatory Evaluation is unnecessary. 
A sample group of Illinois River users have expressed no objection to 
the proposal.

Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the 
Coast Guard must consider whether this proposal will have a significant 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. ``Small entities'' 
include independently owned and operated small businesses that are not 
dominant in their field and that otherwise qualify as ``small business 
concerns'' under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632).
    The proposed change to the method for opening and closing the 
Chicago and Northwestern railroad bridge is not significantly different 
from the existing method which uses an on-site bridge tender. It does 
not appear to impose any new burdens or delays on vessel operators. 
Therefore, the Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this 
proposal, if adopted, will not have a significant impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. If, however, you think that your 
business qualifies as a small entity and that this proposal will have a 
significant economic impact on your business, please submit a comment 
(see ADDRESSES) explaining why you think your business qualifies and in 
what way and to what degree this proposal will economically affect your 
business.

Collection of Information

    This proposal contains no collection of information requirements 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Federalism

    The Coast Guard has analyzed this proposal in accordance with the 
principles and criteria contained in Executive Order 12612 and has 
determined that this proposal does not have sufficient federalism 
implications to warrant preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

Environment

    The Coast Guard has reviewed the environmental impact of this 
proposal and concluded that under section 2.B.2 of the NEPA 
Implementing Procedures, COMDTINST M16475.1B this proposal is 
categorically excluded from further environmental documentation because 
promulgation of changes to drawbridge regulations have been found to 
not have a significant effect on the human environment. A Categorical 
Exclusion Determination is available in the docket for inspection or 
copying where indicated under ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117

    Bridges.

PART 117--DRAWBRIDGE OPERATION REGULATIONS

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes 
to amend part 117 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, as follows:
    1. The authority citation for part 117 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 499; 49 CFR 1.46; 33 CFR 1.05-1(g).

    2. In Sec. 117.393, paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e) are 
redesignated as (a)(1) through (a)(5), respectively, the introductory 
paragraph of Sec. 117.393 is redesignated as the introductory text of 
paragraph (a) and a new paragraph (b) is added to read as follows:


Sec. 117.393  Illinois River.

* * * * *
    (b) The draw of the Chicago and Northwestern railroad bridge, Mile 
151.2, at Pekin, Illinois, is operated by a remote operator located at 
the Chicago and Northwestern offices in Chicago, Illinois, as follows:
    (1) The draw is normally maintained in the fully open position, 
displaying green midchannel lights to indicate that the span is fully 
open.
    (2) The draw is equipped with the following:
    (i) A radiotelephone link direct to the remote operator,
    (ii) A horn for sound signals,
    (iii) Eight high intensity amber warning lights, oriented upstream 
and downstream, with two secured to the uppermost chord and two secured 
to the lowermost chord of the drawspan,
    (iv) A radar antenna on the lower portion of the drawspan capable 
of scanning one mile upstream and one mile downstream, and
    (v) Infrared scanners located on the upstream and downstream ends 
of the channel span piers, to detect vessels or other obstructions 
under the bridge.
    (3) The remote operator shall maintain a radiotelephone watch for 
mariners to establish contact as they approach the bridge to ensure 
that the draw is open or that it remains open until passage is 
complete.
    (4) When a train approaches the bridge and the draw is in the open 
position, the remote operator initiates a ten minute warning period 
before closing the bridge. During this warning period, the amber lights 
begin flashing and a signal of four short blasts sounds on a horn. The 
four-blast signal will repeat after a five second interval. A 
synthesized-voice message is broadcast over the radiotelephone as 
follows: ``The Chicago and Northwestern railroad bridge at Mile 151.2, 
Illinois River, will close to navigation in ten minutes.'' The 
announcement is repeated every two minutes, counting down the time 
remaining until closure.
    (5) At the end of the ten minute warning period, the remote bridge 
operator scans under the bridge using infrared detectors and the 
upstream and downstream approaches to the bridge using radar to 
determine whether any vessels are under or are approaching the bridge. 
If any vessels are under or are approaching the bridge within one mile 
as determined by infrared or radar scanning or by a radiotelephone 
response, the remote operator shall not close the bridge until the 
vessel or vessels have cleared the bridge.
    (6) If no vessels are under or approaching the bridge, the 
midchannel navigation lights will change from green to red, the horn 
signal of four short blasts will sound, twice, and the radiotelephone 
message will change to: ``The Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Bridge 
at Mile 151.2, Illinois River, is closed to navigation.'' The message 
will repeat every two minutes and the amber lights will continue to 
flash until the bridge is fully reopened.
    (7) If the infrared scanners detect a vessel or other obstruction 
under the bridge before the drawspan is fully lowered and locked, the 
closing sequence is stopped, automatically, and the drawspan is raised 
to its fully open position until the channel is clear. When obstruction 
has cleared the navigation span, the remote operator confirms that the 
channel is clear, and reinitiates the ten-minute warning cycle.
    (8) After the train has cleared the bridge, the remote operator 
initiates the lift span raising cycle. When the draw is raised to its 
full height and locked in place, the flashing lights stop and the 
midchannel navigation lights change from red to green. The synthesized 
voice announcement broadcasts at two minutes intervals for ten minutes 
that the bridge is reopened to navigation.

    Dated: December 27, 1993.
Paul M. Blayney,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Second Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 94-271 Filed 1-6-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M