[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 135 (Tuesday, July 15, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 41716]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-17368]


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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.

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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 replaces the temporary deviation 
published on June 2, 2003, and is necessary to test a new operating 
schedule to determine if a permanent change to the schedule is 
reasonable. The deviation published on June 2, 2003, is withdrawn.

DATES: The temporary deviation published on June 2, 2003, at 68 FR 
32643 is withdrawn July 15, 2003. This temporary deviation is effective 
from July 18, 2003 through October 15, 2003. Comments must reach the 
Coast Guard on or before November 15, 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 deviation. 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 evaluation of the test 
deviation by submitting comments or related material. If you do so, 
please include your name and address, identify the docket number for 
this deviation (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 in 33 CFR 117.211(b), require the bridge 
to open on signal with a maximum delay of up to twenty 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 and from 
November 1 through April 30, from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., the draw must open 
on signal after a six-hour advance notice is given.
    On May 13, 2003, the Mystic Connecticut Chamber of Commerce and 
Marine Affairs Committee, requested that the U.S. 1 Bridge opening 
schedule be temporarily changed to test an alternate operation 
schedule.
    At the request of the Mystic Chamber of Commerce and Marine Affairs 
Committee, the Commander, First Coast Guard District, issued a 
temporary deviation from the drawbridge operation regulations on May 
20, 2003. That temporary deviation, notice of which was published in 
the Federal Register on June 2, 2003, at 68 FR 32643, authorized an 
alternate operating schedule effective from June 15, 2003 through 
August 31, 2003. The purpose of the temporary deviation was to test an 
alternate operation schedule and collect vehicular traffic data.
    On May 30, 2003, the Coast Guard received a second letter from the 
Mystic Chamber of Commerce and Marine Affairs Committee. The Mystic 
Chamber of Commerce and Marine Affairs Committee requested that the 
effective period of the temporary deviation be changed to allow the 
bridge to operate under the alternate operation schedule from July 18, 
2003 through October 15, 2003, and that the hourly daily operating 
schedule end at 6:40 p.m. instead of 7:40 p.m.
    The District Commander issued a new test deviation as requested by 
the Mystic Chamber of Commerce and Marine Affairs Committee. This 
deviation allows the bridge to operate under the alternate operation 
schedule from July 18, 2003 through October 15, 2003, during the peak 
boating season.
    Under this temporary deviation, effective from July 18, 2003 
through October 15, 2003, the draw of the U.S. 1 Bridge shall open 
promptly and fully on signal; except that, from 7:40 a.m. to 6:40 p.m., 
daily, the draw shall 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., and 6:40 p.m.
    After October 15, 2003, the bridge will operate in accordance with 
the existing drawbridge operation regulations.
    This temporary deviation also eliminates the provision that permits 
openings to be delayed up to 20 minutes after an opening 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, to test an alternate operating schedule.

    Dated: June 6, 2003.
John L. Grenier,
Captain, Coast Guard, Acting Commander, First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 03-17368 Filed 7-14-03; 8:45 am]
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