[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 109 (Tuesday, June 8, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 30390-30391]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14510]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD07-98-048]
RIN 2115-AE47


Drawbridge Regulations; Grand Canal, Florida

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is changing the regulations governing the 
operation of the Tortoise Island drawbridge across the Grand Canal at 
Brevard County, Florida. The current regulations require the bridge to 
open on signal on Friday and Saturday evenings and on evenings 
immediately preceding Federal holidays. However, the bridge owner has 
documented a very low volume of traffic on these evenings. This rule 
will change the opening requirement for the bridge on these evenings 
from on signal to giving 30 minutes notice. This change in opening 
requirements will reasonably meet the needs of vessel traffic.

DATES: This rule becomes effective July 8, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Miss Evelyn Smart, Project Manager, 
Bridge Section, (305) 536-6546.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory History

    On August 28, 1998, the Coast Guard published a Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking entitled Drawbridge Operation Regulations, Grand Canal, 
Florida, in the Federal Register (63 FR 45978). On February 9, 1999, 
the Coast Guard published a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
entitled Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Grand Canal, Florida, in the 
Federal Register (64 FR 6290). The Coast Guard received two letters 
commenting on the supplemental proposal. No public hearing was 
requested, and none was held.

Background and Purpose

    The Coast Guard completed an analysis of drawbridge openings after 
reviewing bridge logs provided by the Tortoise Island Homeowners 
Association in July, 1998. The analysis indicated that a low volume of 
boat traffic was experienced over an extended period of time. From 
January 1977 through December 1997, only 7 boats required an opening on 
weekends and on evenings preceding Federal holidays between the hours 
of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
    The Coast Guard originally proposed changing the opening 
requirements for weekend evenings and evenings preceding Federal 
holidays to require 2 hour notice prior to opening. The Coast Guard 
continues to believe that low vessel traffic during the evening hours 
on weekends justifies a change in opening requirements for this bridge. 
However, to minimize the impact on navigation, the Coast Guard 
decreased its original proposed 2 hour notice requirement to 30 minutes 
advance notice for a bridge opening on Friday

[[Page 30391]]

and Saturday nights and evenings preceding Federal holidays.

Discussion of Comments and Changes

    Two letters were received in response to the public notice. The 
State of Florida, Department of Community Affairs stated in their 
letter that the proposal is consistent with the Florida Coastal 
Management Program. The National Marine Fisheries Service concluded in 
their letter that any adverse affects that might occur to living marine 
resources would be minimal and offered no objection. No objections were 
received from the marine public regarding the revised weekend evening 
restriction.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This 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 been exempted from review 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 
rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph 
10e of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is unnecessary. We 
concluded this because of a lack of demand for openings between 10 p.m. 
and 6 a.m. on weekends and on evenings preceding Federal holidays.

Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the 
Coast Guard must consider whether this rule will have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. ``Small 
entities'' include small businesses and not-for-profit organizations 
that are independently owned and operated and are not dominant in their 
field, and governmental jurisdictions with populations of less than 
50,000.
    Because it expects the impact of this rule to be minimal, the Coast 
Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
because of the exemption for tugs with tows.

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.

Environmental Assessment

    The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this rule 
and has determined pursuant to Figure 2-1, paragraph 32(e) of 
Commandant Instruction M16475.1C, that this action is categorically 
excluded from further environmental documentation. A categorical 
exclusion determination for this rulemaking is available in the public 
docket for inspection and copying.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117

    Bridges.

Final Regulations

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Coast Guard amends 33 CFR 
part 117, as follows:

PART 117--[AMENDED]

    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. Revise Sec. 117.285(b) to read as follows:


Sec. 117.285  Grand Canal.

* * * * *
    (b) The draw of the Tortoise Island bridge, mile 2.6, shall open on 
signal; except that from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. from Sunday evening through 
Friday morning, the draw shall open on signal if at least 2 hours 
advance notice is given. From 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Friday and Saturday 
and on evenings immediately preceding Federal holidays, the draw shall 
open on signal if at least 30 minutes advance notice is given.

    Dated: May 20, 1999.
N.T. Saunders,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Seventh Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 99-14510 Filed 6-1-99; 8:45 am]
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