[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 38 (Thursday, February 26, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 8817]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-4280]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD01-04-012]


Drawbridge Operation Regulations: Hackensack River, NJ

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

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

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SUMMARY: The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a 
temporary deviation from the drawbridge operation regulations to test 
an alternate drawbridge operation regulation for the AMTRAK Portal 
Bridge, mile 5.0, across the Hackensack River at Little Snake Hill, New 
Jersey. Under this temporary 90-day deviation the two time periods in 
the morning and afternoon, Monday through Friday, when the bridge may 
remain closed to vessel traffic, will be expanded. Additional bridge 
openings will be provided for commercial vessels after at least a one-
hour advance notice is given. The purpose of this temporary deviation 
is to test an alternate drawbridge operation schedule for 90 days and 
solicit comment from the public.

DATES: This deviation is effective from March 1, 2004 through May 29, 
2004. Comments must reach the Coast Guard on or before 30 June 2004.

ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to Commander (obr), First Coast Guard 
District Bridge Branch, One South Street, Battery Park Building, New 
York, New York, 10004, 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 (212) 668-7165. 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.

Request for Comments

    We encourage you to participate in this schedule test by submitting 
comments or related material. If you do so, please include your name 
and address, identify the docket number for this rulemaking (CGD01-04-
012), 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Kassof, Project Officer, First 
Coast Guard District, at (212) 668-7165.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The AMTRAK Portal Bridge has a vertical 
clearance in the closed position of 23 feet at mean high water and 28 
feet at mean low water. The existing drawbridge operation regulations 
are listed at 33 CFR 117.723(c).
    The bridge owner, National Railroad Passenger Corporation (AMTRAK) 
requested a temporary deviation from the drawbridge operation 
regulations to test for a period of 90 days, an alternate drawbridge 
operation schedule. This temporary 90-day deviation will expand the two 
time periods in the morning and afternoon Monday through Friday when 
the bridge may remain closed to vessel traffic. Rail traffic during the 
morning and afternoon commuter periods have increased. Bridge openings 
during the two commuter time periods have caused delays to rail traffic 
prompting the bridge owner to request the expansion of the bridge 
closure periods week days, Monday through Friday.
    The existing drawbridge operation regulations allow the bridge to 
remain closed to vessel traffic, Monday through Friday, from 7:20 a.m. 
to 9:20 a.m. and from 4:30 p.m. to 6:50 p.m., daily.
    Under this 90-day temporary deviation, effective from March 1, 2004 
through May 29, 2004, the AMTRAK Portal Bridge need not open for vessel 
traffic, Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 4 p.m. 
to 8 p.m., daily.
    Additional bridge openings will be provided for commercial vessels 
from 6 a.m. to 7:20 a.m., from 9:20 a.m. to 10 a.m., from 4 p.m. to 
4:30 p.m. and from 6:50 p.m. to 8 p.m., if at least a one-hour advance 
notice is given by calling the number posted at the bridge.
    This deviation from the operating regulations is authorized under 
33 CFR Sec.  117.43.

    Dated: February 13, 2004.
John L. Grenier,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Commander, First Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 04-4280 Filed 2-25-04; 8:45 am]
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