[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 77 (Friday, April 19, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17248-17249]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-9655]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
33 CFR Part 117

[CGD11-96-005]
RIN 2115-AE47


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; San Leandro Bay, CA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is amending the regulation for the bridge over 
San Leandro Bay to reflect the construction of a new bicycle bridge. 
The city of Alameda has built a bascule bicycle

[[Page 17249]]

bridge adjacent to the bascule highway bridge over the entrance to San 
Leandro Bay between Bay Farm Island and Alameda, California. The new 
bridge is adjacent to the highway bridge, provides the same clearances, 
and is operated by the bridgetender at the highway bridge on the same 
schedule as the highway bridge. This amendment updates the existing 
regulation to include reference to the new bicycle bridge.

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 19, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jerry P. Olmes, Bridge Section, Eleventh Coast Guard District, at (510) 
437-3514.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(3)(B), the Coast Guard has for good cause determined that it is 
unnecessary to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking for this 
revision. There is no substantive change to the existing rule. The new 
bridge will be operated by the drawtender at the Bay Farm Island 
highway bridge, and will have the same hours of operation. There is no 
change to the navigational clearances. When the Coast Guard advertised 
the proposed issuance of a permit for the bridge, they described the 
intended method of operation, and received no comment about the method 
of operation.
    Since there is no substantive change, there is no reason to delay 
the effective date beyond the date of publication in the Federal 
Register.

Drafting Information

    The principal persons involved in drafting this document are Jerry 
P. Olmes, Project Manager, and Lieutenant Anita Abbott, Project 
Attorney.

Background and Purpose

    The City of Alameda has built a bascule bicycle bridge adjacent to 
the California Department of Transportation bascule highway bridge 
between Bay Farm Island and Alameda, California. Construction is 
nearing completion. The bicycle bridge provides the same clearances as 
the highway bridge, and will be operated by the bridgetender at the 
highway bridge on the same schedule as the highway bridge. The 
amendment makes editorial changes to the regulation to reflect 
construction of the new bicycle bridge.

Federalism

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

Environment

    The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this rule 
and concluded that, under section 2.B.2.g.(5) of Commandant Instruction 
M16475.1B, promulgation of operating requirements or procedures for 
drawbridges is categorically excluded from further environmental 
documentation. A Categorical Exclusion Determination is available in 
the docket.
Regulatory Evaluation
    This rule is not a significant regulatory action under section 3(f) 
of Executive Order 12866 and does not require an assessment of costs 
under section 6(a)(3) of that order. It has not been reviewed by the 
Office of Management and Budget under that order. It 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 rule to be so minimal that a Regulatory 
Evaluation is unnecessary.
Collection of Information
    This rule contains no collection of information requirements under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117
    Bridges.
Regulation
    For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard is 
amending 33 CFR Part 117 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); section 
117.255 also issued under the authority of Pub. L. 102-587, 106 
Stat. 5039.

    2. Section 117.193 is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 117.193  San Leandro Bay.

    The draws of the California Department of Transportation highway 
bridge, mile 0.0 (kilometer 0.0) and the City of Alameda bicycle 
bridge, mile 0.1 (kilometer 0.2) between Alameda and Bay Farm Island, 
shall open on signal; except that, from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 
9 p.m., the draws shall open on signal if at least 12 hours notice is 
given. Notice shall be given to the drawtender of the Bay Farm Island 
bridges from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and to the drawtender of the Park Street 
bridge at Alameda at all other times. The draws need not be opened for 
the passage of vessels from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

    Dated: April 2, 1996.
R. A. Appelaum,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 96-9655 Filed 4-18-96; 8:45 am]
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