[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 230 (Wednesday, December 1, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67169-67170]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-31128]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD01-99-187]


Drawbridge Operation Regulations: Acushnet River, Annisquam 
River, Fore River, and Taunton River, MA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

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

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SUMMARY: The Commander, First Coast Guard District has issued a 
temporary deviation from the existing drawbridge regulations governing 
the Route 6 Bridge, mile 0.0, across the Acushnet River between New 
Bedford and Fairhaven; the Route 127 Bridge, mile 0.0, across the 
Annisquam River in Gloucester; the SR3A Bridge, mile 3.5, across the 
Fore River between Quincy and Weymouth, and the Route 6 Bridge, mile 
1.8, across the Taunton River between Fall River and Somerset, all 
located in Massachusetts. This deviation from the operating regulations 
is necessary to test an alternate drawbridge operation schedule for the 
Christmas and New Year holidays. It is expected

[[Page 67170]]

that this alternate schedule will relieve the bridge owner of the 
requirement to crew the bridge on the holidays and still meet the 
reasonable needs of navigation.

DATES: This deviation is effective from December 24, 1999 to January 1, 
2000. Comments must reach the Coast Guard on or before January 31, 
2000.

ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to Commander (obr), First Coast Guard 
District, 408 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02110-3350, or deliver them 
at the same address between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The telephone number is (617) 223-8364. The 
First Coast Guard District, Bridge Branch, maintains the public docket 
for this rulemaking. Comments and documents as indicated in this 
preamble will become part of this docket and will be available for 
inspection or copying at the above address, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except, Federal holidays.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to submit comments, 
written data, views, or arguments, concerning this deviation from the 
drawbridge operation regulations. Persons submitting comments should 
include their names and addresses, identify this notice (CGD01-99-187) 
and give reasons for each comment. The Coast Guard requests that all 
comments and attachments be no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, 
suitable for copying and electronic filing. Persons wanting 
acknowledgment of receipt of comments should enclose a stamped, self-
addressed postcard or envelope. Persons may submit comments by writing 
to, Commander (obr), First Coast Guard District, 408 Atlantic Avenue, 
Boston, Massachusetts 02110-3350.

Background

    The Route 6 Bridge (Acushnet River) has a vertical clearance of 8 
feet at mean high water (MHW) and 12 feet at mean low water (MLW). The 
Route 127 Bridge has a vertical clearance of 7 feet at MHW and 16 feet 
at MLW. The Quincy-Weymouth SR3A Bridge has a vertical clearance of 33 
feet at MHW and 43 feet at MLW. The Route 6 Bridge (Taunton River) has 
a vertical clearance of 27 feet at MHW and 31 feet at MLW.
    The existing regulations for the Route 6 Bridge (Acushnet River) 
listed at 33 CFR 117.585 require the bridge to open on signal on the 
hour between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., open at a quarter past the hour from 
11:15 a.m. to 6:15 p.m., and at all other times on signal. The Route 
127 Bridge is governed by 33 CFR 117.5 and is required to open on 
signal at all times. The existing regulations for the Quincy Weymouth 
SR3A Bridge listed at 33 CFR 117.621 require it to open on signal; 
except that, from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except holidays, the draw will not open for 
vessel traffic. The draw opens at all times for self-propelled vessels 
greater than 10,000 gross tons. The existing regulations for the Route 
6 Bridge (Taunton River) listed at 117.5 require it to open on signal 
at all times.
    The bridge owner, Massachusetts Highway Department (MHD), asked the 
Coast Guard to change the operating regulations for the above bridges 
to require a two-hour advance notice from 6 p.m. on December 24, 1999, 
to midnight on December 25, 1999, and from 6 p.m. on December 31, 1999, 
to midnight on January 1, 2000. There have been no requests to open 
these bridges on the above dates in past years.
    The purpose of this temporary deviation is to test an alternate 
operating schedule for holiday hours at the above bridges. Under this 
temporary deviation from the regulations the Route 6 Bridge, mile 0.0, 
across the Acushnet River, between New Bedford and Fairhaven, the Route 
127 Bridge, mile 0.0, across the Annisquam River in Gloucester, the 
SR3A Bridge, mile 3.5, across the Fore River between Quincy and 
Weymouth, and the Route 6 Bridge, mile 1.8, across the Taunton River 
between Fall River and Somerset, all located in Massachusetts, shall 
operate as follows: The draws shall open on signal if at least a two-
hour advance notice for bridge openings is given from 6 p.m. on 
December 24, 1999, to midnight December 25, 1999, and from 6 p.m. on 
December 31, 1999, to midnight on January 1, 2000. Requests for 
openings may be made by calling the Massachusetts Highway Department at 
1-(800) 227-0608.
    Vessels that can pass under the bridges without openings may do so 
at all times. This deviation is authorized under 33 CFR 117.43.

    Dated: November 22, 1999.
R.M. Larrabee,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Commander, First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 99-31128 Filed 11-30-99 8:45 am]
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