[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 82 (Friday, April 26, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 18532-18533]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-10083]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD08-96-003]
RIN 2115-AE47


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Lower Grand River, LA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: At the request of the Iberville Parish School Board, the Coast 
Guard is considering a change to the regulation governing the operation 
of the pontoon drawbridge on LA State Road 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 proposed regulation would require that the bridge open on 
signal; except that from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 
p.m., Monday through Friday, other than Federal holidays, and only 
during the months when local schools are in session, the bridge would 
be permitted to remain closed to navigation for the uninterrupted 
crossing of school bus and other vehicular traffic.
    Presently, the draw of the bridge is required to open on signal, 
except that from 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, other than Federal holidays, and only during the 
months when local schools are in session, the bridge need not open for 
navigation.
    This action would extend the closure time in the morning and 
afternoon by one-half hour to accommodate school buses which must 
adhere to schedules based on new staggered starting times for the 
Iberville Parish Schools. This action would benefit school children in 
their timely arrival at school, while still providing for the 
reasonable needs of navigation.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 25, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to Commander (ob), Eighth Coast 
Guard District, 501 Magazine Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130-3396, 
or

[[Page 18533]]

may be delivered to Room 1313 at the same address between 8:00 a.m. and 
3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The 
telephone number is (504) 589-2965.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Phil Johnson, Bridge 
Administration Branch, at the address given above, telephone (504) 589-
2965.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Request for Comments

    Interested parties are invited to participate in the proposed 
rulemaking by submitting written views, comments, or arguments. Persons 
submitting comments should include their names and addresses, identify 
the bridge and give reasons for concurrence with or any recommended 
change in this proposal. Persons desiring acknowledgment that their 
comments have been received should enclose a stamped, self-addressed 
postcard or envelope.
    The Coast Guard plans no public hearing. Persons may request a 
public hearing by writing to the Eighth Coast Guard District at the 
address under ADDRESSES. The request should include reasons why a 
hearing would be beneficial. If it is determined 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.
    The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, will evaluate all 
communications received and determine a course of final action on this 
proposal. The proposed regulation may be changed in the light of 
comments received.

Background and Purpose

    The Iberville Parish School Board has requested the regulation 
because a new, staggered starting time has been implemented for the 
schools in the Parish. The extension of the morning and afternoon 
closure for the LA 77 bridge will assist school buses in transporting 
the students to and from their classes in a timely manner. The new 
proposed regulation would allow for the free flow of vehicular traffic, 
while still serving the reasonable needs of navigational interests.

Discussion of Proposed Rules

    The LA 77 bridge is a pontoon bridge. Navigational clearances 
provided by the bridge are 2.0 feet vertical above mean high water in 
the closed to navigation position and unlimited vertical clearance in 
the open to navigation position. Horizontal clearance is 125.0 feet. 
Navigation on the waterway consists of tugs with tows, commercial 
fishing vessels, occasional small oil field work boats and recreational 
craft. Data obtained from the Louisiana Department of Transportation 
and Development show that, during a six month period ending late in 
August 1995, the number of vessels that passed the bridge during the 
proposed extended half-hour closure (7:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m., Monday 
through Friday) totaled 242. This breaks down to about 1.3 vessels per 
day during this half-hour period. Since this count includes vessels 
that were waiting because of the already in effect one and one-half 
hour closure, 1.3 vessels are a very minimal amount of traffic being 
detained. The Coast Guard feels that this request for a one-half hour 
extension is reasonable.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This proposal is not a significant regulatory action under section 
3(f) of Executive Order 12866 and does not require an assessment of 
potential cost and benefits 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 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'' may include (1) small businesses and not-
for-profit organizations that are independently owned and operated and 
are not dominant in their fields and (2) governmental jurisdictions 
with populations of less than 50,000.
    Since the proposed rule also considers the needs of local 
commercial fishing vessels, the economic impact is expected to be 
minimal. Therefore, 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. If, however, you 
think that your business or organization qualifies as a small entity 
and that this rule will have a significant economic impact on your 
business or organization, please submit a comment (see ADDRESSES) 
explaining why you think it qualifies and in what way and to what 
degree this rule will economically effect it.

Collection of Information

    This proposal contains no collection-of-information requirements 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Federalism Implications

    This action has been analyzed in accordance with the principles and 
criteria contained in Executive Order 12612, and it has been determined 
that the proposed rulemaking does 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 paragraph 2.B.2. of Commandant 
Instruction M16475.1B, this proposal is categorically excluded from 
further environmental documentation. A ``Categorical Exclusion 
Determination'' is available in the docket for inspection or copying 
where indicated under addresses.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117

    Bridges.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes 
to amend Part 117 of Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, 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 section 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 8 a.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday except 
Federal holidays. The draw shall open on signal at any time for an 
emergency aboard a vessel.
* * * * *
    Dated: February 14, 1996.
R.C. North,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 96-10083 Filed 4-25-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M