[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 105 (Monday, June 2, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 32643]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-13698]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD01-03-047]


Drawbridge Operation Regulations: Mystic River, CT

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

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

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SUMMARY: The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a 
temporary deviation from the drawbridge operation regulations for the 
U.S. 1 Bridge, mile 2.8, across the Mystic River at Mystic, 
Connecticut. This temporary deviation will test a proposed change to 
the drawbridge operation regulations to determine if a permanent change 
to the regulations is reasonable. It is expected that this change to 
the regulations will better meet the needs of navigation and vehicular 
traffic.

DATES: Comments must reach the Coast Guard on or before November 15, 
2003. This deviation is effective from June 15, 2003 through August 31, 
2003.

ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to Commander (obr), First Coast Guard 
District, Bridge Branch, at 408 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02110-3350, 
or deliver them to the same address between 7 a.m. and 3 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 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 First Coast Guard District, 
Bridge Branch, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Schmied, Project Officer, First 
Coast Guard District, at (212) 668-7195.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

    We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting 
comments or related material. If you do so, please include your name 
and address, identify the docket number for this rulemaking (CGD01-03-
047), indicate the specific section of this document to which each 
comment applies, and give the reason for each comment. Please submit 
all comments and related material in an unbound format, no larger than 
8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for copying. If you would like to know if 
they reached us, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or 
envelope. We will consider all comments and material received during 
the comment period.

Background and Purpose

    The U.S. 1 Bridge has a vertical clearance of 4 feet at mean high 
water and 7 feet at mean low water in the closed position.
    The existing regulations, listed at 33 CFR 117.211(b), require the 
bridge to open on signal with a maximum delay of up to 20 minutes; 
except that: from May 1 through October 31, from 7:15 a.m. to 7:15 
p.m., the draw need only open once an hour, at quarter past the hour. 
From November 1 through April 30, from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., the draw shall 
open on signal after a six-hour advance notice is given.
    The Mystic Connecticut Chamber of Commerce and Marine Affairs 
Committee requested that the U.S. 1 Bridge opening schedule be changed.
    Under this temporary deviation the draw of the U.S. 1 Bridge shall 
open on signal; except that, from 7:40 a.m. to 7:40 p.m., daily, the 
draw need only open at 7:40 a.m., 8:40 a.m., 9:40 a.m., 10:40 a.m., 
11:40 a.m., 1:10 p.m., 1:40 p.m., 2:40 p.m., 3:40 p.m., 4:40 p.m., 5:40 
p.m., 6:40 p.m., and 7:40 p.m.
    This temporary deviation eliminates the provision that permits 
openings to be delayed up to 20 minutes after a request is given. Under 
this temporary deviation, the bridge must open promptly and fully upon 
request, in accordance with 33 CFR 117.5.
    This deviation from the operating regulations is authorized under 
33 CFR 117.43, and comments and information gathered during the comment 
period will assist the Coast Guard in determining if this test 
operating schedule is reasonable and should be made a permanent change 
to the drawbridge operation regulations.

    Dated: May 20, 2003.
John L. Grenier,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Commander, First Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 03-13698 Filed 5-30-03; 8:45 am]
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