[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 121 (Thursday, June 24, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 35244-35245]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-14370]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD01-04-063]


Drawbridge Operation Regulations: Taunton River, MA

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 90-day deviation from the drawbridge operation regulations to 
test an alternate drawbridge operation regulation for the Brightman 
Street Bridge, at mile 1.8, across the Taunton River between Fall River 
and Somerset, Massachusetts. Under this temporary 90-day deviation the 
draw need not open for pleasure craft traffic from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. 
and from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, July 1, 2004 
through September 28, 2004. The draw shall open for vessels engaged in 
commercial service on signal at all times. 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 July 1, 2004 through September 
28, 2004. Comments must reach the Coast Guard on or before October 15, 
2004.

ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to Commander (obr), First Coast Guard 
District Bridge Branch, 408 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, 
02110, 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.

Request for Comments

    We encourage you to participate in this test deviation by 
submitting comments or related material. If you do so, please include 
your name and address, identify the docket number for this rulemaking 
(CGD01-04-063), indicate the specific section of this

[[Page 35245]]

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 in deciding whether to 
propose a permanent schedule change.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John McDonald, Project Officer, First 
Coast Guard District, at (617) 223-8364.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Brightman Street Bridge has a vertical 
clearance in the closed position of 27 feet at mean high water and 31 
feet at mean low water. The existing drawbridge operation regulations 
are listed at 33 CFR 117.619(b).
    The Town of Somerset, Massachusetts, and the Massachusetts State 
Police asked the Coast Guard and the bridge owner Massachusetts Highway 
Department for assistance with vehicular traffic delays resulting form 
unregulated bridge openings at the Brightman Street Bridge.
    The Coast Guard in response to the above request is temporarily 
changing the drawbridge operation regulations for 90-days to test an 
alternate drawbridge operation schedule.
    Under this temporary 90-day deviation the bridge need not open for 
pleasure craft traffic from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6:30 
p.m., Monday through Friday, July 1, 2004 through September 28, 2004. 
Commercial vessel traffic shall be passed on signal at all times.
    This action is expected to provide relief to the vehicular traffic 
delays while still meeting the reasonable needs of navigation.
    This deviation from the operating regulations is authorized under 
33 CFR 117.43.

    Dated: June 10, 2004.
John L. Grenier,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Commander, First Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 04-14370 Filed 6-23-04; 8:45 am]
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