[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 220 (Tuesday, November 16, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 62113-62114]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-29833]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD01-99-076]
RIN 2115-AE47


Drawbridge Operation Regulations: Hackensack River, Passaic 
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 Harold J. Dillard (Court Street) Bridge, at 
mile 16.2, at Hackensack, across the Hackensack River, the Avondale 
Bridge, at mile 10.7, at Lyndhurst, across the Passaic River, and the 
Douglas O. Mead (Union Avenue) Bridge, at mile 13.2, at Rutherford, 
across the Passaic River, in New Jersey. The bridge owner asked the 
Coast Guard to change the regulations for these bridges to require a 
four-hour advance notice for openings at all times because there have 
been few requests to open these bridges since 1994. This final rule is 
expected to relieve the bridge owner of the burden of crewing the 
bridges at all times and still meet the needs of navigation.

DATES: This final rule is effective December 16, 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 August 13, 1999, the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed 
rulemaking entitled Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Hackensack River 
and Passaic River, New Jersey, in the Federal Register (64 FR 44148). 
The Coast Guard received no comments in response to the notice of 
proposed rulemaking. No public hearing was requested and none was held.

Background

    The Harold J. Dillard (Court Street) Bridge, mile 16.2, across the 
Hackensack River in Hackensack, New Jersey, has a vertical clearance of 
3 feet at mean high water and 8 feet at mean low water, the Douglas O. 
Mead (Union Avenue) Bridge, mile 13.2, across the Passaic River, in 
Rutherford, New Jersey, has a vertical clearance of 13 feet at mean 
high water and 18 feet at mean low water, the Avondale Bridge, mile 
10.7, across the Passaic River in Lyndhurst, New Jersey, has a vertical 
clearance of 7 feet at mean high water and 12 feet at mean low water.
    The existing operating regulations for the Harold J. Dillard (Court 
Street) Bridge listed at Sec. 117.723(g) require the bridge to open on 
signal from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. From 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., and at all times 
on weekends and Federal holidays, the draw shall open on signal if at 
least eight hours notice is given. The existing operating regulations 
for the Douglas O. Mead (Union Avenue) Bridge listed at Sec. 117.739(o) 
require the bridge to open on signal; except that, from 4 p.m. to 8 
a.m., the draw shall open if at least eight hours notice is given. The 
existing operating regulations for the Avondale Bridge listed at 
117.739(l) require the bridge to open on signal; except that, notice 
must be given before 2:30 a.m. for openings between 3 a.m. and 8:30 
a.m. and before 2:30 p.m. for openings between 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
    The bridge owner, the County of Bergen, has asked the Coast Guard 
to change the regulations for these bridges to require a four-hour 
advance notice for openings at all times.
    The bridge log data indicates that the Harold J. Dillard (Court 
Street) Bridge and Douglas O. Mead (Union Avenue) Bridge have not 
received a request to open since 1994. The Avondale Bridge had 8 
openings in 1996, 4 openings in 1997, 2 openings in 1998, and no 
openings thus far in 1999.

Discussion of Comments and Changes

    The Coast Guard received no comments in response to the notice of 
proposed rulemaking and no changes have been made to this final rule.

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

[[Page 62114]]

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 these bridges have had few 
requests to open since 1994. Mariners will still be able transit the 
waterway provided they give a four-hour notice.

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 13132 and has 
determined that this final rule does not have federalism implications 
under that Order.

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 117.723(g) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 117.723  Hackensack River.

* * * * *
    (g) The draw of the Harold J. Dillard Memorial (Court Street) 
Bridge, mile 16.2, at Hackensack, shall open on signal if at least four 
hours notice is given.
* * * * *
    3. Section 117.39 (l) and (o) are revised to read as follows:


Sec. 117.739  Passaic River.

* * * * *
    (l) The draw of the Avondale Bridge, mile 10.7, at Lyndhurst, shall 
open on signal if at least four hours notice is given.
* * * * *
    (o) The draw of the Douglas O. Mead (Union Avenue) Bridge, mile 
13.2, shall open on signal if at least four hours notice is given.
* * * * *
    Dated: October 28, 1999.
Robert F. Duncan,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Commander, First Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 99-29833 Filed 11-15-99; 8:45 am]
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