[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 28 (Friday, February 10, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 7930-7931]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-3432]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
33 CFR Part 117

[CGD05-94-116]
RIN 2115-AE47


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Wicomico River, Salisbury, MD

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: At the request of the State Highway Administration, Maryland 
Department of Transportation, the Coast Guard is proposing to change 
the regulations that govern the operation of the Main Street and the US 
50 drawbridges across the North Prong of the Wicomico River, mile 22.4, 
in Salisbury, Maryland. This proposal would extend the current rush 
hour restrictions by one hour in the morning and one hour in the 
afternoon, and require a three hour advance notice for commercial 
vessels needing a bridge opening during the hours of closure due to 
emergency situations. The existing 12 noon to 1 p.m. closure period 
would remain unaffected by this proposed change.
    These changes to the drawbridge regulations are intended to reduce 
motor vehicle delays and congestion, while still providing for the 
reasonable needs of navigation.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 11, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to Commander (ob), Fifth Coast Guard 
District, 431 Crawford Street, Portsmouth, Virginia 23704-5004, or may 
be delivered to Room 109 at the same address between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is 
(804) 398-6222. Comments will become part of this docket and will be 
available for inspection at Room 109, Fifth Coast Guard District.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ann B. Deaton, Bridge Administrator, Fifth Coast Guard District, at 
(804) 398-6222.
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 (CGD05-94-116) and the specific section of 
this proposal to which each comment applies, and give 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. If not practical, a second copy of any bound 
material is requested. 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. It may change this proposal in view of the comments.
    The Coast Guard plans no public hearing. Persons may request a 
public hearing by writing to the Commander (ob) at the address under 
ADDRESSES. The request should include reasons why a hearing would be 
beneficial. If it determines that the opportunity for oral 
presentations will aid this rulemaking, 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 Linda 
L. Gilliam, Project Manager, Bridge Section, and LCDR C.A. Abel, 
Project Counsel, Fifth Coast Guard District Legal Office.
Background and Purpose
    The State Highway Administration, Maryland Department of 
Transportation (MDOT), has requested that openings of the Main Street 
and US 50 drawbridges across the North Prong of the Wicomico River, 
mile 22.4, at Salisbury, Maryland, be further restricted during the 
morning and evening rush hours. This would help to reduce highway 
traffic congestion problems and relieve public safety and welfare 
concerns associated with frequent bridge openings caused by commercial 
boat traffic. Currently, these drawbridges open on signal except from 8 
a.m. to 9 a.m., 12 noon to 1 p.m., and 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. during 
which time both remain closed to navigation. MDOT's request is to 
change the hours of bridge closures to 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. in the morning 
and to 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the afternoon. The existing 12 noon to 1 
p.m. closure would remain the same.
    A review of the bridge logs provided by MDOT revealed that the 
bridge openings during 1992-1993 from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. in the morning 
and from 4-4:30 p.m. to 5:30-6 p.m. in the evening were caused by tugs 
and tugs with tows. These openings are frequent enough to cause highway 
traffic to back up on each side of the bridge resulting in congestion 
and delays.
    This request is based on an analysis MDOT conducted on highway 
traffic and marine traffic data, along with a waterway user and 
property owner survey that was conducted in 1993. Adjacent property 
owners had no objection to the extended morning and evening rush hours. 
According to DELMARVA Water Transport Committee, Inc., only two 
commercial businesses are located upstream of the bridge and one of 
these businesses has expressed concern over extending the periods of 
closure for these bridges. Based on this concern, DELMARVA has 
requested that the Coast Guard include in the proposed rule a three 
hour advance notice requirement for commercial vessels needing passage 
through the bridge during the hours of restriction. This advance notice 
requirement would only apply to tugs and barges unable to reach the 
bridges except during the hours of closure due to severe inclement 
weather or other emergency or unforeseen circumstances.
    DELMARVA also contacted MDOT with this request and MDOT agreed that 
this provision should be added to the proposed rule, provided 
commercial vessels adhere to the ``emergency only'' requirement when 
taking advantage of the three hour advance notice exception. Based on 
DELMARVA's request and MDOT's approval of this request, the proposed 
rule will include a provision requiring commercial vessels to provide a 
three hour advance notice for a bridge opening during the hours of 
closure only if their transit is delayed by inclement weather or other 
emergency or unforeseen circumstances. Other than this, commercial 
vessels will be required to transit through these bridges during the 
open-on-demand hours.
    The Administrative Director of Wicomico County, Maryland notified 
the Coast Guard that the county supports MDOT's request because of the 
increase in highway traffic crossing these bridges as a result of 
substantial residential growth. The Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce 
also supports these changes to the operating schedule [[Page 7931]] of 
the Main Street and US 50 drawbridges.
    This proposed change to the existing regulations is intended to 
establish a schedule that will meet the reasonable needs of the 
waterway users and, at the same time, diminish delays to and improve 
the flow of motor vehicles crossing the bridge.
    Based on this information, the Coast Guard believes these proposed 
regulations will not unduly restrict recreational and commercial 
vessels passage through these bridges since they can plan their 
transits around the periods of closures.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This proposed action is not a significant regulatory action under 
section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866 and does not require an 
assessment of potential costs and benefits under section 6(a)(3) of 
that order. It has been exempted from review by the Office of 
Management and Budget under that order. It is not significant under the 
regulatory policies and procedures of the Department of Transportation 
(DOT) (44 FR 11040; February 26, 1979). The Coast Guard expects the 
economic impact of this proposal to be so minimal that a full 
regulatory Evaluation under paragraph 10e of the regulatory policies 
and procedures of DOT is unnecessary.

Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the 
Coast Guard must consider whether this proposal, if adopted, will have 
a significant economic 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). Because it expects the impact of 
this proposal to be minimal, the Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 
605(b) that this proposal, if adopted, will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

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 under the principals and 
criteria contained in Executive Order 12612, and it has determined that 
this proposal will not have sufficient federalism implications to 
warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
Environment
    The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this 
proposal and concluded that under section 2.B.2.E.(32)(e) of Commandant 
Instruction M16475.1B, this proposal is categorically excluded from 
further environmental documentation. A Categorical Exclusion 
Determination statement and checklist has been prepared and placed in 
the rulemaking docket.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117
    Bridges.
Regulations
    In consideration of the foregoing, the Coast Guard proposes to 
amend Part 117 of Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations to read 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. Section 117.579 is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 117.579  Wicomico River (North Prong).
    The draws of the Main Street and US 50 bridges, mile 22.4, at 
Salisbury, Maryland shall open on signal, except;
    (a) From 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., from 12 noon to 1 p.m., and from 4 p.m. 
to 6 p.m., the draw need not be opened for the passage of vessels, 
except
    (b) for tugs with tows, if at least three hours advance notice is 
given, and the reason for opening during a closure period described in 
paragraph (a) of this section is due to delays caused by inclement 
weather or other emergency or unforeseen circumstances.

    Dated: January 20, 1995.
M.K. Cain,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, 
Acting.
[FR Doc. 95-3432 Filed 2-9-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M