[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 225 (Wednesday, November 20, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59047-59048]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-29686]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGDO8-96-049]
RIN 2115-AE47


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Back Bay of Biloxi, MS

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: At the request of the Harrison County Board of Supervisors, 
the Coast Guard is proposing a change to the regulation governing the 
operation of the bascule span Popps Ferry Bridge across the Back Bay of 
Biloxi, mile 8.0, in Biloxi, Harrison County, Mississippi. Presently, 
the draw of the bridge is required to open on signal at all times. This 
action would relieve vehicular traffic congestion on the bridge during 
peak rush hour periods, while still providing for the reasonable needs 
of navigation.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 21, 1997.

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

Discussion of Proposed Rule

    The present regulation requires that the draw of the bridge open on 
signal at all times. The Harrison County Board of Supervisors has 
requested that the draw be permitted to remain closed to navigation 
from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 4:30 p.m. to 
6 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, because 
vehicular traffic crossing the bridge during these peak rush hour 
traffic periods has increased dramatically during recent years and 
bridge openings at these times paralyze vehicular traffic movement, 
since the City of Biloxi is bisected by the Popps Ferry Bridge. This is 
the only route available to mid-city commuters without an extremely 
long detour to cross one of the two other bridges that connect the City 
of Biloxi. The new proposed regulation would allow for free flow of 
vehicular traffic, while still serving the reasonable needs of 
navigational interests.
    The Popps Ferry bridge is a double leaf bascule span structure. 
Navigational clearances provided by the bridge are 25 feet vertical 
above mean high water in the closed to navigation position and 
unlimited in the open to navigation position. Horizontal clearance is 
180 feet. Navigation on the waterway consists of tugs with tows, 
fishing vessels and recreational craft. Data provided by the Harrison 
County Board of Supervisors show that from May 1994 through May 1995, 
the number of vessels that passed the bridge during the proposed 7:30 
to 9 a.m. closure period averaged 0.4 vessels per day, the number of 
vessels that passed the bridge during the proposed 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 
p.m. closure period averaged 0.5 vessels per day and the number of 
vessels that passed the bridge during the proposed 4:30 to 6 p.m. 
closure period averaged 0.4 vessels per day. Vehicular traffic that 
crosses the bridge during the proposed closure period of 7:30 to 9 a.m. 
averages 268 vehicles per day. From 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., 860 
vehicles cross the bridge per day and from 4:30 to 6 p.m., 540 vehicles 
cross the bridge per day. These vehicular traffic averages were taken 
over a recent period of eleven weekdays. Vessel traffic through this 
bridge remains relatively constant, while vehicular traffic is 
increasing slowly but steadily as development in the area occurs.

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 10(e) 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 or 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)

[[Page 59048]]

governmental jurisdictions with populations of less than 50,000.
    The proposed rule considers the needs of local commercial fishing 
vessels, as the study of vessels passing the bridge included such 
commercial vessels. These local commercial fishing vessels will 
continue to be able to pass the bridge in the early morning, early 
afternoon and evening hours. Thus, 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.

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.(g)(5) 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); section 
117.255 also issued under the authority of Pub. L. 102.587, 106 
Stat. 5039.

    2. Section 117.675 is amended by adding a new paragraph (c) to read 
as follows:


Sec. 117.675  Back Bay of Biloxi.

* * * * *
    (c) The draw of the Popps Ferry Road bridge, mile 8.0, at Biloxi, 
shall open on signal except that, from 7:30 to 9 a.m., from 11:30 a.m. 
to 1:30 p.m. and from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday except 
Federal holidays, the draw need not be opened for passage of vessels. 
The draw shall open at any time for a vessel in distress.

    Dated: October 25, 1996.
T.W. Josiah,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 96-29686 Filed 11-19-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M