[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 176 (Tuesday, September 12, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47317-47318]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-22527]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD11-95-003]
RIN 2115-AE47


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Oakland Inner Harbor Tidal 
Canal, CA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of reopening of comment period; notice of public 
hearing.

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SUMMARY: In response to several requests for a public hearing, the 
Coast Guard is reopening the comment period 

[[Page 47318]]
and announcing a public hearing to be held October 5, 1995, on the 
proposed change to the drawbridge operating regulations for four 
drawbridges over the Oakland Inner Harbor Tidal Canal (Oakland 
Estuary).

DATES: The public hearing will be held on October 5, 1995, commencing 
at 7 p.m. Written comments must be received not later than October 31, 
1995.

ADDRESSES: The hearing will be held at the Gresham Conference Center, 
Building 4, Coast Guard Island, Alameda, CA. Written comments should be 
mailed to Commander (oan-br), Eleventh Coast Guard District, Building 
10, Room 214, Coast Guard Island, Alameda, CA 94501-5100, or may be 
delivered to Room 214 at the same address between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jerry Olmes, Bridge Administrator, Eleventh Coast Guard District; 
telephone (510) 437-3514.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory Background

    On May 9, 1995 (60 FR 24599), the Coast Guard published a Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), (CGD11-95-003), which proposed amending the 
regulation for the draws of the Alameda County vehicular bridges 
crossing the Oakland Inner Harbor Tidal Canal at the following 
locations: Park Street, mile 7.3; Fruitvale Avenue, mile 7.7; High 
Street, mile 8.1; and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers railroad bridge, 
mile 7.7 at Fruitvale Avenue. Under the existing regulation, the draws 
are attended 24 hours per day, and open upon signal except during 
designated morning and afternoon commute periods. The proposed 
amendment requires attended service 16 hours per day with a four hour 
advance notice requirement for bridge openings during nighttime hours 
when an operator is not in constant attendance. The proposed amendment 
preserves the existing commute hour closures. This proposed amendment 
will allow the bridge owner to reduce operating expenses and should 
still provide for the reasonable needs of navigation. In addition, the 
identifying waterway mileage designating the location of, and the call 
sign for, each bridge would be revised to conform with the currently 
utilized standard of measurement.

Discussion of Proposed Action

    The Coast Guard received 18 letters in response to the NPRM, six of 
which requested a public hearing. The Coast Guard has decided to reopen 
the comment period and to hold a public hearing in order to provide all 
interested parties with additional opportunity to present relevant 
comments.
    The hearing will be informal. Representatives of the Coast Guard 
will preside, make brief opening statements and announce the procedures 
to be followed at the hearing. Each person who wishes to make an oral 
statement should contact Mr. Jerry Olmes at (510) 437-3514 before the 
hearing date. Such notification should include the approximate time 
needed to make the presentation. Comments previously submitted on this 
rulemaking are a matter of record and need not be resubmitted at the 
hearing. Speakers are encouraged to provide written copies of their 
oral statement to the hearing officers at the hearing.
    Interested persons who are unable to attend the hearing may also 
participate in the consideration of the proposed amendment by 
submitting their written comments to the Commander (oan-br), Eleventh 
Coast Guard District at the address under ADDRESSES.
    All written comments must be received no later than October 31, 
1995. Each written comment should identify the proposed amendment and 
clearly state the reason for any objections, comments or proposed 
changes, and include the name and address of the person or organization 
submitting the comment. Copies of all written communications will be 
available for review by interested persons after the hearing at the 
office of the Commander (oan-br), Eleventh Coast Guard District, 
between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
holidays. All comments received, whether in writing or presented orally 
at the public hearing, will be fully considered before final agency 
action is taken on the proposed amendment. The proposed amendment may 
be changed in light of comments received.
    The hearing will be recorded and a written summary will be 
available for public review after October 16, 1995. All comments will 
be made a part of the rulemaking docket.

    Dated: August 30, 1995.
D.D. Polk,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard District, 
Acting.
[FR Doc. 95-22527 Filed 9-11-95; 8:45 am]
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