[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 61 (Wednesday, March 30, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-7551]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 30, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
33 CFR Part 117

[CGD08-93-024]
RIN 2115-AE47

 

Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Lower Grand River, LA

agency: Coast Guard, DOT.

action: Final rule.

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summary: At the request of the Iberville Parish School Board, the Coast 
Guard is changing the regulation governing the operation of the swing 
span bridge on LA 77 across the Lower Grand River (Intracoastal 
Waterway, Morgan City to Port Allen, Alternate Route), mile 47.0 at 
Grosse Tete, Iberville Parish, Louisiana. The new regulation allows the 
draw to remain closed to navigation from 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. and from 
2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays only, except holidays, and only during 
the months when local schools are in session. The primary purpose of 
the revised regulation is to provide school bus traffic undelayed use 
of the bridge to serve a new school location during the school year. 
Presently, the draw opens on signal at all times, except that the draw 
remains closed for passage of school buses from 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. and 
from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays only, except holidays, and only 
during the months when local schools are in session.

effective date: This regulation becomes effective on April 29, 1994.

for further information contact: Mr. John Wachter, Bridge 
Administration Branch, Eighth Coast Guard District, telephone (504) 
589-2965.

supplementary information: On December 20, 1993, the Coast Guard 
published a proposed rule (58 FR 66323) concerning this amendment. The 
Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, also published the proposal as 
a Public Notice dated January 24, 1994. Interested parties were given 
until February 24, 1994, to submit comments.

Drafting Information

    The drafters of this regulation are Mr. John Wachter, project 
officer, and CDR D. Dickman, project attorney.

Discussion of Comments

    Two letters were received in response to Public Notice No. CGD8-02-
94, issued on January 24, 1994. The National Marine Fisheries Service 
and the Federal Emergency Management Agency offered no objection to the 
proposed regulation.

Federalism

    This action has been analyzed in accordance with the principles and 
criteria contained in Executive Order 12612, and it has been determined 
that the final rulemaking does not have sufficient federalism 
implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

Economic Assessment and Certification

    This final rule 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 11034, 
February 26, 1979).
    The economic impact of this action has been found to be so minimal 
that a full regulatory evaluation is unnecessary. The basis for this 
conclusion is that, during the regulated periods, there will be very 
little inconvenience to vessels using the waterway. In addition, 
mariners requiring the bridge openings are repeat users of the waterway 
and scheduling their arrivals to avoid the regulated periods should 
involve little or no additional expense to them. Since the economic 
impact of this action is expected to be minimal, the Coast Guard 
certifies that it will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities.

Environment

    This final rulemaking has been thoroughly reviewed by the Coast 
Guard and it has been determined to be categorically excluded from 
further environmental documentation in accordance with section 
2.B.2.g.5 of Commandant Instruction M16475.1B. A Categorical Exclusion 
Determination statement has been prepared and placed in the rulemaking 
docket.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117

    Bridges.

Regulations

    In consideration of the foregoing, part 117 of title 33, Code of 
Federal Regulations, is amended as follows:

PART 117--DRAWBRIDGE OPERATION REGULATIONS

    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. 117.478 paragraph (b) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 117.478  Lower Grand River.

* * * * *
    (b) The draw of the LA 77 bridge, mile 47.0 (Alternate Route) at 
Grosse Tete, shall open on signal; except that, from about August 15 to 
about June 5 (the school year), the draw need not be opened from 6 a.m. 
to 7:30 a.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday except 
holidays. The draw shall open on signal at any time for an emergency 
aboard a vessel.
* * * * *
    Dated: March 17, 1994.
J.C. Card,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 94-7551 Filed 3-29-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M