[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 76 (Tuesday, April 20, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 21061-21062]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-8865]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD05-04-071]
RIN 1625-AA09


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Manasquan River, NJ

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

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

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SUMMARY: The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has issued a 
temporary deviation from the drawbridge operation regulations to test 
an alternate drawbridge operation regulation for the Route 70 Bridge 
across Manasquan River, mile 3.4, at Riviera Beach, New Jersey. Under 
this temporary 90-day deviation, the draw of the bridge will open on 
signal on the hour, except that from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through 
Friday and from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. every day the draw need not be 
opened. The purpose of this temporary deviation is to test an alternate 
drawbridge operation schedule for 90 days and solicit comments from the 
public.

DATES: This deviation is effective from May 1, 2004, through July 29, 
2004. Comments must reach the Coast Guard on or before August 31, 2004.

ADDRESSES: You may mail comments and related material to Commander 
(obr), Fifth Coast Guard District, Federal Building, 4th Floor, 431 
Crawford Street, Portsmouth, Virginia 23704-5004, or they may be hand 
delivered to the same address between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal Holidays. The Commander (obr), Fifth Coast Guard 
District 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 
above address.

Request for Comments

    We encourage you to participate in evaluating this test schedule by 
submitting comments and related material. If you do so, please include 
your name and address, identify the docket number for this deviation 
CGD05-04-071, 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 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: Waverly W. Gregory Jr., Bridge 
Administrator, Fifth Coast Guard District, at (757) 398-6222.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Effective on July 11, 2003, the bridge 
owner, the New Jersey Department of Transportation, was officially 
permitted to operate the Route 70 Bridge across Manasquan River with 
new regulations. The new operating regulations listed at 33 CFR 117.727 
allows the draw of the bridge to open on signal on the hour, except 
that from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 11 p.m. to 7 
a.m., every day the draw need not be open.
    Based on comments received on the new operating regulations of the 
bridge and in an effort to facilitate vessel and vehicular traffic 
while providing for the reasonable needs of navigation, the District 
Commander has offered a test period to reexamine the rush hour closure 
periods during the forthcoming recreational boating season. The new 
proposal will test a new rush hour period from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays, as opposed to the current 4 
p.m. to 7 p.m. regulatory hours. Therefore, the last drawbridge opening 
for vessels before the rush hour will occur at 4 p.m. and first opening 
following the rush hour will be at 7 p.m.

[[Page 21062]]

    Under this 90-day temporary deviation, effective from May 1, 2004 
through July 29, 2004, the Route 70 Bridge across Manasquan shall open 
on signal on the hour, except that from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday 
through Friday and from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., every day the draw need not 
be opened.
    This deviation from the operating regulations is authorized under 
33 CFR 117.43.

    Dated: April 12, 2004.
Waverly W. Gregory, Jr.,
Chief, Bridge Branch, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 04-8865 Filed 4-19-04; 8:45 am]
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