[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 91 (Wednesday, May 10, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 29954]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-11704]



[[Page 29954]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD08-00-005]


Drawbridge Operating Regulation; Chef Menteur Pass, LA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

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

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SUMMARY: The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, has issued a 
temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the 
U.S. Highway 90 bridge across Chef Menteur Pass, mile 2.8, at Lake 
Catherine, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. This deviation will test a 
proposed change to the drawbridge operation schedule. This deviation 
will change the current morning bridge closure period from 5:30 a.m. to 
7:30 a.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, so that the 
draw will open on the hour and half-hour during this period. The test 
deviation will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of a proposed 
change to the draw operation schedule.

DATES: This deviation is effective from Thursday, June 1, 2000 through 
Friday, June 30, 2000. Comments must be submitted by July 31, 2000.

ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to Commander (ob), Eighth Coast Guard 
District, 501 Magazine Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130-3396, or 
deliver them to room 1313 at the same address between 7 a.m. and 3 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Commander, 
Eighth Coast Guard District, Bridge Administration Branch maintains the 
public docket for this rulemaking. Comments and material received from 
the public, as well as documents indicated in this preamble as being 
available in the docket, will become part of this docket and will be 
available for inspection or copying at the Bridge Administration 
Branch, Eighth Coast Guard District between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Phil Johnson, Bridge Administration 
Branch, telephone (504) 589-2965.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 23, 1999 the operating 
regulation for the Chef Menteur Pass Bridge was changed to allow the 
bridge to remain closed to navigation from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. (CGD8-96-053, 64 FR 
8720 dated February 23, 1999). The Coast Guard received numerous 
complaints from operators of commercial fishing vessels, stating that 
the special operating regulation does not meet the needs of navigation 
for local commercial fishermen because they are required to haul in 
their shrimp nets two hours earlier than necessary to be able pass 
through the bridge before the closure time. This cuts down trawling 
time resulting in loss of revenue. Based on complaints from local 
commercial fishermen, the Coast Guard has determined that the special 
drawbridge operating regulation may not meet the reasonable needs of 
navigation.
    The Coast Guard is proposing a change to the regulation governing 
the operation of the bridge and has issued a Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (NPRM) published elsewhere in today's Federal Register. The 
NPRM requests comments on the Coast Guard's proposal to modify the 33 
CFR 117.436 to require the bridge to open only on the hour and on the 
half-hour from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. The draw shall open on signal at all other times or 
at any time for a vessel in distress. The deviation to the current 
regulations allows the Coast Guard to test the proposed schedule and 
evaluate its effectiveness before making a permanent change to the 
drawbridge opening regulation. Comments will be accepted through July 
31, 2000.
    Under the temporary deviation, the draw of the U. S. Highway 90 
bridge across Chef Menteur Pass, mile 2.8 at Lake Catherine, Orleans 
Parish, Louisiana will open to navigation only on the hour and on the 
half-hour between the hours of 5:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. from June 1, 
2000 through June 30, 2000. The draw shall open on signal at all other 
times or at any time for a vessel in distress.

    Dated: May 1, 2000.
K.J. Eldridge,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, 8th Coast Guard Dist., Acting.
[FR Doc. 00-11704 Filed 5-9-00; 8:45 am]
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