[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 96 (Thursday, May 18, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 26709-26710]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-12284]



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[[Page 26710]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117
[CGD09-95-004]


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Chicago River, IL

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of establishment of negotiated rulemaking committee and 
first meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard establishes a negotiated rulemaking committee 
to develop regulations governing the operation of Chicago owned 
drawbridges over the Chicago River in Chicago, Illinois and the passage 
of recreational vessels under those bridges. The committee is 
established in accordance with the Negotiated Rulemaking Act of 1990 
and the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

DATES: The first meeting of the negotiated rulemaking committee will be 
held on June 5, 1995 between 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. Additional 
meetings will be held on June 14, 1995, June 20, 1995, June 28, 1995 
and July 12, 1995, at the same times and place, unless otherwise 
scheduled by the committee.

ADDRESSES: The committee meetings will be held in room 326, Ralph H. 
Metcalfe Federal Building, 77 West Jackson Street, Chicago, Illinois, 
60604.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Carolyn Malone, Ninth District Bridge Branch, Ninth Coast Guard 
District, 1240 East Ninth Street, room 2083, Cleveland, Ohio, (216) 
522-3993 between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. Should the dates, 
times or location of any subsequent committee meeting change, recorded 
information will be provided at the above telephone number outside of 
those hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Coast Guard published a notice of intent 
(notice) to form a negotiated rulemaking committee on April 10, 1995 
(60 FR 18061). The notice discussed the Coast Guard's intention to 
proceed in accordance with the Negotiated Rulemaking Act of 1990 (Pub. 
L. 101-648) and establish the Chicago Drawbridge Negotiated Rulemaking 
Committee (committee) to develop regulations that provide a permanent 
and acceptable resolution to the issues involved in drawbridge openings 
for recreational vessels on the Chicago River. Regulations governing 
the operation of the drawbridges are located at 33 CFR 117.391 and are 
issued under the authority of 33 U.S.C. 499. The notice also identified 
interests that would be affected by amendments to the current 
regulations. The Coast Guard solicited comments on the issues raised in 
the notice and nominations for membership on the committee. The closing 
date for comments and nominations was May 8, 1995.
    No comments were received on the issues to be considered by the 
committee. Several nominations for membership were received. Separate 
discussions were held by the neutral facilitator engaged by the Coast 
Guard with each of the interests identified in the notice and with 
others identified during the comment period. As a result, the Coast 
Guard is establishing the committee and beginning the negotiation 
process. As required by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
App.) (FACA), the committee charter has been approved by the Secretary 
of Transportation and submitted to the General Services Administration. 
The following interests are represented on the committee: the City of 
Chicago, boatyard owners, boaters, commercial interests in Chicago, and 
the Coast Guard.
    The first meeting of the committee will be held in Chicago on June 
5, 1995 at the time and location indicated at the beginning of this 
notice. The purpose of the first meeting is to: (1) Discuss the 
charter, goals, and mission of the committee; (2) present the issues to 
be considered by the committee; and (3) approve the organizational 
protocols by which the committee will operate. At the first session, 
there will be discussion of the negotiation and rulemaking process and 
an explanation of the statutory basis for the Coast Guard's drawbridge 
regulations.
    The schedule of additional meetings provided earlier in this notice 
will be considered by the committee at its first meeting. In order for 
new regulations to be effective for the Fall 1995 close of the boating 
season, committee meetings must be concluded by 12 July 1995. 
Therefore, this schedule may be changed and additional meetings may be 
held on short notice. Announcements of these meetings will be published 
in the Federal Register if time for meaningful advance notice is 
available. Information on all meetings of the committee will be 
available by calling (216) 522-3993 or from the contact person 
indicated at the beginning of this notice.
    Attendance at committee meetings is open to the public, subject to 
space availability. Persons wishing to present oral statements at a 
meeting should notify the contact person no later than the day before 
the meeting. Any member of the public may submit written statements to 
the committee at any time, also through the contact person.

    Dated: May 11, 1995.
Paul J. Pluta,
Captain, United States Coast Guard, Commander, Ninth Coast Guard 
District, Acting.
[FR Doc. 95-12284 Filed 5-17-95; 8:45 am]
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