[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 76 (Monday, April 21, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19222-19223]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10148]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD05-97-001]


Temporary Deviation; Miles River, Easton, MD

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: At the request of the Maryland Department of Transportation 
(MDOT), the Coast Guard has approved a temporary deviation from the 
regulations that govern the operation of the Maryland Route 370 
drawbridge across the Miles River, Mile 10.0, at Easton, Maryland. This 
temporary deviation will test the effects of requiring a six hour 
advance notice for drawbridge openings between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. It 
also will designate the hours during which the bridge must open on 
signal as the period between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Currently the draw of

[[Page 19223]]

the Route 370 bridge is required to open on signal from sunrise to 
sunset. Vessels wishing to pass through the draw between sunset and 
sunrise must notify the bridge tender of the time they wish to pass, 
and the draw opens as close to that time as practicable. This test is 
intended to help the Coast Guard determine if a permanent change to the 
regulations would relieve the bridge owner of the burden of having a 
bridge tender constantly available at times when there are few or no 
requests for openings while still providing for the reasonable needs of 
navigation.

DATES: This deviation is effective from April 1 through June 30, 1997. 
Comments must be received on or before July 31, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to Commander (Aowb), USCG Atlantic 
Area, Federal Building, 4th Floor, 431 Crawford Street, Portsmouth, 
Virginia 23704-5004, or may be hand delivered to the same address 
between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The telephone number is (757) 398-6222. Comments will become 
a part of this docket and will be available for inspection and copying 
at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann B. Deaton, Bridge Administrator, 
USCG Atlantic Area, at (757) 398-6222.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to comment on this 
temporary deviation by submitting written data, views, or arguments. 
Persons submitting comments should include their names and addresses, 
identify this notice of temporary deviation (CGD05-97-001) and the 
specific section of this deviation to which each comment applies, and 
give the reason for each comment. The Coast Guard requests that all 
comments and attachments be submitted in an unbound format suitable for 
copying and electronic filing. If not practical, a second copy of any 
bound material is requested. Persons wanting acknowledgement of receipt 
of comments should enclose a stamped self-addressed postcard or 
envelope.
    The Coast Guard will consider all comments received during the 
comment period when determining whether to propose a permanent change 
to the requlation.
    The Coast Guard plans no public hearing. Persons may request a 
public hearing by writing to the Commander (AOWB), USCG Atlantic Area, 
at the address under ADDRESSES. The request should include reasons why 
a hearing would be beneficial. If it determines that the opportunity 
for oral presentations will aid any future proposed rulemaking, the 
Coast Guard will hold a public hearing at a time and place announced by 
a later notice in the Federal Register.

Background and Purpose

    The Coast Guard is conducting a temporary deviation from the 
requirements of 33 CFR 117.565 to test the effects of requiring a six 
hour advance notice for openings from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. for the Maryland 
Route 370 bridge, and changing the requirement for opening on demand 
from the currently designated period from sunrise to sunset to the 
period from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. This change was requested by the Maryland 
Department of Transportation (MDOT) due to the minimal number of bridge 
openings during the period between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. and to better 
clarify the times during which the bridge must open on signal. This 
test is based on a review of drawlog records from 1992 and 1993 
provided by MDOT. These records show that during the hours between 6 
p.m. and 6 a.m., a total of 4 bridge openings were recorded for the 
entire two year period. Due to the minimal number of openings, this 
test will be conducted to determine if a permanent change to the 
regulations would still provide any needed drawbridge openings to 
accommodate vessel traffic while helping to relieve the bridge owner of 
the burden of having a bridgetender constantly available.
    Based on the above information, Commander, Fifth Coast Guard 
District has approved a temporary deviation from the requirements of 33 
CFR 117.565 from April 1 through June 30, 1997. This temporary 
deviation will require the drawbridge to open on signal from 6 a.m. to 
6 p.m., and from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. a six hour advance notice to the 
Maryland Department of Transportation would be required. The provisions 
of 33 CFR 117.31 which provide for the passage on signal for Federal, 
State and local Government vessels used for public safety; vessels in 
distress where delay would endanger life and property; commercial 
vessels engaged in rescue or emergency salvage operations; and vessels 
seeking shelter from severe weather will remain unchanged.
    The terms of the temporary deviation are as follows: the draw of 
the S370 bridge, mile 10, located in Easton, Maryland, shall operate as 
follows from April 1 through June 30, 1997: from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. shall 
open on signal; and from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. to draw shall open if at 
least six hours advance notice is given to the Maryland Department of 
Transportation. Signs will be posted on the bridge providing the 
necessary information and phone numbers. Vessel operators may contact 
the Maryland Department of Transportation, state-wide operations center 
at phone number 1-800-543-2515.

    Dated: March 28, 1997.
Kent H. Williams,
Vice Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 97-10148 Filed 4-18-97; 8:45 am]
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