[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 156 (Friday, August 13, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44129-44131]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-20955]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD01-99-010]
RIN 2115-AE47


Drawbridge Operation Regulations: Shrewsbury River, NJ

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Final Rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is changing the drawbridge operation 
regulations governing the Route 36 Bridge, mile 1.8, across the 
Shrewsbury River at Highlands, New Jersey. This final rule requires the 
drawbridge need open only at a quarter before and a quarter after the 
hour, May 15 through October 15, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. This change is 
necessary to help alleviate vehicular traffic congestion caused by 
frequent bridge openings. This final rule is expected to relieve 
traffic congestion, synchronize the opening times of the two moveable 
bridges on the waterway, and still meet the reasonable needs of 
navigation.

DATES: This final rule is effective September 13, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Documents as indicated in this preamble are available for 
inspection or copying at the First Coast Guard District Office, 408 
Atlantic Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is (617) 
223-8364.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John W. McDonald, Project Officer, 
First Coast Guard District, (617) 223-8364.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory History

    On May 25, 1999, the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed 
rulemaking entitled Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Shrewsbury River, 
New Jersey, in the Federal Register (64 FR 28126). The Coast Guard 
received one letter commenting on the notice of proposed rulemaking. No 
public hearing was requested and none was held.

Background

    The Route 36 Bridge, at mile 1.8, at Highlands, new Jersey, across 
the Shrewsbury River, has a vertical clearance of 35 feet at mean high 
water and 39 feet at mean low water.
    The existing operating regulations for the Rt-36 Bridge, listed at 
33 CFR 117.755(a), require the bridge to open on signal; except that, 
from Memorial Day through Labor Day on Saturdays, Sundays, and 
holidays, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., the draw need be opened only on the 
hour and half hour.
    The bridge owner, the New Jersey Department of Transportation 
(NJDOT) asked the Coast Guard to change the operating regulations for 
the Route 36 Bridge to help alleviate vehicular traffic caused by 
bridge openings during the summer months. The Coast Guard published a 
notice of proposed rulemaking on May 25, 1999, which proposed that the 
Route 36 Bridge open on signal, except that, from May 15 through 
October 15, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., the draw need open only on the hour and 
half hour.
    The Coast Guard received one comment letter in response to the 
notice of proposed rulemaking suggesting that the Coast Guard 
synchronize the opening times for the Route 36 Bridge and the Monmouth 
County highway

[[Page 44130]]

bridge at mile 4.0, at Sea Bright, New Jersey, both across the 
Shrewsbury River. The synchronizing of the opening schedules at the 
bridges will allow vessels to transit through the bridges with minimum 
delay.
    The bridge opening log data for the years 1995-1997 published by 
the Coast Guard in the notice of proposed rulemaking was incorrect. The 
correct opening log data is included in this final rule along with the 
addition of 1998 opening log data. The correct opening log data also 
supports the need to change the operating regulations for the Route 36 
Bridge during the time period the bridge owner has requested.
    The Route 36 Bridge opening data, May through October, for 1995, 
1996, 1997, 1998, indicates the following number of openings: May, 186, 
151, 149 and 146; June, 239, 384, 247 and 211; July, 398, 323, 302 and 
327; August, 342, 488, 311 and 241; September, 280, 280, 199 and 228; 
October, 190, 298, 158 and 140, respectively.
    The bridge owner originally requested that the Route 36 Bridge open 
on signal on the hour and half hour, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., May 15 through 
October 15. The traffic counts indicated the hours 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. 
were the hours each day that most vehicles passed over the bridge. The 
vehicular traffic counts did not support the need to limit bridge 
openings during the 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. time period.

Discussion of Comments and Changes

    The Coast Guard received one letter in response to the notice of 
proposed rulemaking. The Coast Guard has changed this final rule as a 
result of the comment letter received. The opening schedule published 
in the notice of proposed rulemaking required the Route 36 Bridge to 
need open only on the hour and half-hour. The Coast Guard, as a result 
of the comment received, has changed the opening schedule to require 
the Route 36 Bridge need open only at a quarter before the hour and a 
quarter after the hour. This change will synchronize the opening 
schedules for the two moveable bridges on the Shrewsbury River and will 
allow vessels to transit through the bridges with minimum delay.
    The existing regulations refer to the Route 36 Bridge as the S36 
Bridge. The reference to S36 Bridge in the regulations will be changed 
in this final rule to the Route 36 Bridge because it is a more 
recognizable description. The language requiring clearance gages for 
the Monmouth County Bridge listed at Sec. 117.755(b) will be changed in 
this final rule to reference specifications listed under Sec. 118.160 
of this chapter. The notice of proposed rulemaking proposed to change 
the clearance gage requirements for the Route 36 Bridge only. This 
final rule will change the clearance gage requirements for both 
bridges.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This final 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 final rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory 
Evaluation under paragraph 10e of the regulatory policies and 
procedures of DOT is unnecessary. This conclusion is based on the fact 
that the bridge will open for vessel traffic two times an hour and the 
mariners will still be able to transit the waterway provided they 
schedule their transits in accordance with the operating schedule of 
the bridge.

Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the 
Coast Guard considered whether this final rule will have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. ``Small 
entities'' include small businesses, not-for-profit organizations that 
are independently owned and operated and are not dominant in their 
fields, and governmental jurisdictions with populations less than 
50,000. Therefore, for reasons discussed in the Regulatory Evaluation 
section above, the Coast Guard certifies under section 605(b) of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) that this final rule 
will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities.

Collection of Information

    This final rule does not provide for a collection of information 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Federalism

    The Coast Guard has analyzed this final rule in accordance with the 
principles and criteria contained in Executive Order 12612 and has 
determined that this final 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 final 
rule and concluded that, under Section 2.B.2., Figure 2-1, paragraph 
(32)(e), of Commandant Instruction M16475.1C, this final rule is 
categorically excluded from further environmental documentation because 
promulgation of changes to drawbridge regulations have been found to 
not have a significant effect on the environment. A written 
``Categorical Exclusion Determination'' is not required for this final 
rule.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117

    Bridges.

Regulations

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33 
CFR part 117 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 117.755 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 117.755   Shrewsbury River.

    (a) The Route 36 Bridge, mile 1.8, at Highlands, New Jersey, shall 
open on signal, except that, from May 15 through October 15, 7 a.m. to 
8 p.m., the draw need open only at a quarter before the hour and a 
quarter after the hour. The owners of the bridge shall provide and keep 
in good legible condition, two clearance gauges, with figures not less 
than eight inches high, designed, installed and maintained according to 
the provisions of Sec. 118.160 of this chapter.
    (b) The draw of the Monmouth County highway bridge, mile 4.0, at 
Sea Bright, shall open on signal; except that, from May 15 through 
September 30, on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, from 9 a.m. to 7 
p.m., the draw need open only on the hour and half hour. The draw need 
not be opened at any time for a sailboat, unless it is under auxiliary 
power or is towed by a powered vessel. The owners of the bridge shall 
keep in good legible condition two clearance gages, with figures not 
less than eight inches high, designed, installed and maintained 
according to the provisions of Sec. 118.160 of this chapter.


[[Page 44131]]


    Dated: August 2, 1999.
R. M. Larrabee,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Commander, First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 99-20955 Filed 8-12-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-M