[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 99 (Thursday, May 22, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 27990-27991]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-13510]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD09-97-014]
RIN 2115-AE47


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Manistee River, MI

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to revise the regulations governing 
the operations of the Maple Street bridge, mile 1.1, and the U.S. Route 
31 bridge, mile 1.4, both over the Manistee River in Manistee, MI. This 
proposal would change the times that the bridges are required to open 
on signal between May 1 and October 31. The current hours of 6 a.m. to 
10 p.m. would be revised to 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. This revision was 
requested for the convenience of recreational vessels using the 
facilities above the bridges.

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

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed or delivered to Commander (obr), 
Ninth Coast Guard District, 1240 E. Ninth St., Room 2019, Cleveland, OH 
44199-2060, between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. The telephone number is (216) 902-6084.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Scot M. Striffler, Project Manager, at (216) 902-6084.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Drafting Information

    The principal persons involved in drafting this document are Mr. 
Scot Striffler, Project Manager, and Lieutenant Commander Kent Booher, 
Project Counsel, Ninth Coast Guard District.

Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to submit written 
data, or arguments for or against this rule. Persons submitting 
comments should include their name, address, identify this rulemaking 
(CGD09-97-014), the specific section of this rule to which each comment 
applies, and the reasons(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

    The City of Manistee, MI, on behalf of the marina owners in 
Manistee, requested the Coast Guard approve a change to the operating 
regulations pertaining to the Maple Street bridge and U.S. Route 31 
bridge over the Manistee River. The City of Manistee owns and operates 
the Maple Street bridge. The Michigan Department of Transportation 
(MDOT) owns the U.S. Route 31 bridge and contracts the City of Manistee 
to operate the bridge. The marina owners and operators on Manistee Lake 
requested the hours during which the bridges open on signal be revised 
to allow longer evening sailing times for the vessels using the marinas 
above the bridges.
    The City of Manistee conducted meetings with marina owners, along 
with a written survey of boat owners using these facilities, in 
January-

[[Page 27991]]

 February 1997 to ascertain the most desirable time of operation for 
the bridges. The meetings and survey concluded that the idea hours of 
operation would be from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., between May 1 and October 31 
each year.
    The City of Manistee and MDOT have stated no objections to this 
change since the total number of operational hours remain the same and 
there are no additional costs involved for the owners/operators of the 
bridges. Coast Guard operations on Manistee Lake will not be affected 
by this revision. The three commercial shipping companies who transit 
the bridges have stated no objections to this change.
    Commander, Ninth Coast Guard District, approved a temporary 
deviation from the regulations for the bridges from May 31, 1997 to 
August 31, 1997. The temporary deviation, published elsewhere in 
today's Federal Register, was authorized to test the proposed schedule 
before making a permanent change to the regulations.
    Under the proposed schedule, from May 1 to October 31, the bridges 
would only be required to open on signal between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. 
Between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., the bridges would open if at least a 2-hour 
advance notice is provided by vessels intending to transit the draws. 
The operations of the bridges between November 1 and April 30 would 
remain the same.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This proposed rule is not a significant regulatory action under 
section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866 and does not require an 
assessment of potential costs 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 proposed rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory 
Evaluation under paragraph 10e of the regulatory policies and 
procedures of DOT is unnecessary. This action was initiated by the City 
of Manistee, on behalf of the marina operators on Manistee Lake, to 
increase access to recreational facilities located above the bridge and 
to enhance the economic potential of commerce in the area.

Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the 
Coast Guard must consider the economic impact on small entities of a 
rule for which a general notice of proposed rulemaking is required. 
``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.
    Because this rulemaking was initiated on behalf of the marina 
operators on Manistee Lake in order to increase use of recreational 
facilities, thereby enhancing potential economic commerce, no adverse 
economic impact is anticipated on a substantial number of small 
businesses. Any comments submitted in response to this finding will be 
evaluated under the criteria described earlier in the preamble for 
comments.

Collection of Information

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

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 have sufficient federalism implications to warrant 
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

Environment

    The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this 
proposed rule and concluded that, under paragraph 2.B.2 of Commandant 
Instruction M16475.1B, (as revised by 59 FR 38654, July 29, 1994), this 
rule 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 reasons set out in the preamble, 33 CFR part 117 is revised 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(g); section 
117.255 also issued under the authority of Pub. L. 102-587, 106 
Stat. 5039.

    2. Section 117.637 is amended by revising paragraph (a)(1) to read 
as follows:


Sec. 117.637  Manistee River.

    (a) * * *
    (1) From May 1 through October 31 from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., the 
bridges shall open on signal. From 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., the bridges need 
not open unless notice is given at least two hours in advance of a 
vessel's time of intended passage through the draws.
* * * * *
    Dated: May 7, 1997.
G.F. Woolever,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Commander, Ninth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 97-13510 Filed 5-21-97; 8:45 am]
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