[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 90 (Friday, May 9, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 25514]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-12253]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD09-97-008]
RIN-2115-AE47


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Grand River, MI

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations; request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: The District Commander has authorized a temporary 90-day 
deviation from the current bridge operating regulations for the U.S. 
Route 31 highway bridge at mile 2.9 over the Grand River in Grand 
Haven, MI. The deviation will test a proposed operating schedule that 
would be in effect between March 16 and December 14 each year. The 
schedule would reduce the number of bridge openings for recreational 
vessels to relieve vehicular traffic congestion during these months.

DATES: The deviation will be in effect on May 15, 1997 and will end on 
August 15, 1997. Comments must be received on or before July 15, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed or delivered to: Commander (obr), 
Ninth Coast Guard District, 1240 East Ninth Street, Room 2019, 
Cleveland, OH 44199-2060 between 6:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Robert Bloom, Chief, Bridge Branch at (216) 902-6084.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to submit comments on 
the operating schedule during the temporary deviation. Persons 
submitting comments should include their name, address, identify this 
notice (CGD09-97-008), and the reason(s) for each comment. The Coast 
Guard requests that all comments and attachments be submitted in an 
8\1/2\''  x  11'' unbound format suitable for copying and electronic 
filing. If that is not practical, a second copy of any bound material 
is requested. Persons wanting acknowledgement of receipt of comments 
should enclose a stamped self-addressed post card or envelope. Persons 
may submit comment by writing to the Commander (obr), Ninth Coast Guard 
District, listed under ADDRESSES.

Background and Purpose

    In July, 1996, the city of Grand Haven, MI, requested the Coast 
Guard approve a temporary deviation to the regulations which govern the 
U.S. Route 31 highway bridge at mile 2.9 over the Grand River in Grand 
Haven, MI. The city sought to reduce bridge openings to relieve 
vehicular traffic congestion and still provide for the needs of 
navigation, particularly during rush-hour times. A trial schedule was 
devised and the temporary deviation was published in September, 1996. 
Under this schedule, the bridge was required to open on signal for 
recreational vessels from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., once an hour from 3 minutes 
before to 3 minutes after the half-hour; except the bridge was not 
required to open for the passage of recreational traffic at 7:30 a.m., 
12:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., or 5:30 p.m.
    The Coast Guard received five letters with comments from the public 
in response. All comments were from recreational vessel operators, or 
their representatives, who opposed the revised schedule. The primary 
exception to the revised schedule involved the ``blackout'' periods 
during afternoon rush-hour when the bridge was not required to open for 
vessel traffic. Specifically, the 5:30 p.m. blackout time on Wednesday 
interfered with the scheduled activities of vessel operators.
    The City of Grand Haven City Council conducted meetings on November 
18, 1996, January 6, 1997, January 27, 1997, and February 10, 1997 to 
collect input from concerned parties and discuss alternatives to the 
temporary schedule used in 1996. Additionally, the cities of Ferrysburg 
and Spring Lake conducted similar public meetings to discuss the issue. 
As a result of these joint meetings, the three municipalities submitted 
a request to the Coast Guard on February 11, 1997 for a permanent 
change to the regulations and a new operating schedule.
    The combined efforts of the three municipalities served on Grand 
River has resulted in a proposed bridge operating schedule that 
satisfies the needs and desires of recreational vessel operators on 
Grand River, relieves vehicular traffic congestion, and provides for 
the anticipated increase of commercial vessel traffic in the area. The 
Coast Guard published this operating schedule in a notice of proposed 
rulemaking on April 18, 1997 (62 FR 19082).
    The District Commander also authorized the bridge owner to 
temporarily deviate from the operating regulations in 33 CFR 117.633(c) 
from May 15, 1997 to August 15, 1997, to test the part of the proposed 
schedule that would be in effect from March through December each year. 
The deviation will allow the proposed bridge schedule to be tested for 
part of the boating season while seeking comments from the public on 
the proposed changes.
    During the deviation period, the bridge will only be required to 
open for recreational vessel traffic once an hour, on the half-hour, 7 
days a week, from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., except the bridge need not 
open at 7:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, 
Thursdays, and Fridays. On Wednesdays, the bridge need not open at 7:30 
a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 4:30 p.m. This schedule will apply to 
recreational vessel traffic only. The bridge will open on signal for 
commercial vessel traffic.

    Dated: April 23, 1997.
G.F. Woolever,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Ninth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 97-12253 Filed 5-8-97; 8:45 am]
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