[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 123 (Monday, June 28, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 36011-36012]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-14628]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD05-04-118]
RIN 1625-AA09


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Chincoteague Channel, VA

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 175 Bridge 
across Chincoteague Channel, mile 3.5, at Chincoteague, Virginia. Under 
this temporary 90-day deviation, the draw of the bridge will open every 
two hours on the even hour from 6 a.m. to Midnight; except from 7 a.m. 
to 5 p.m., on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July, the 
draw need not be opened. At all other times, the draw need not open.
    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 July 2, 2004 through September 
29, 2004. Comments must reach the Coast Guard on or before 15 October 
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 test 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 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 test deviation CGD05-
04-118, 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: Gary S. Heyer, Bridge Management 
Specialist, Fifth Coast Guard District, at (757) 398-6629.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Effective on June 16, 2004, the bridge 
owner, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), was officially 
permitted to operate the Route 175 Bridge across Chincoteague Channel 
with new regulations. The new operating regulations listed at 33 CFR 
Sec.  117.1005 allows the draw of the bridge to remain in the closed 
position from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the last consecutive Wednesday and 
Thursday in July of every year, to facilitate public safety during the 
Annual Pony Swim.
    On behalf of the Chincoteague Town Council (the Town Council), 
residents and business owners in the area, VDOT has requested a 
temporary deviation from the drawbridge regulations to test for a 
period of 90 days an alternate drawbridge operation schedule in an 
effort to balance the needs of vessel and vehicular traffic transiting 
in and around this seaside resort area. The new

[[Page 36012]]

proposal will test new regulations that will require the bridge to open 
on two-hour intervals on the even hour from 6 a.m. to Midnight; except 
from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday 
in July, the draw need not be opened. At all other times, the draw need 
not open.
    The Town Council has recommended this test regulation to reduce 
vehicular traffic congestion, to increase public safety on this small 
island as a result of the reduced number of drawbridge openings, and to 
extend the structural and operational integrity of the movable span.
    Under this 90-day temporary deviation, effective from July 2, 2004 
through September 29, 2004, the Route 175 Bridge across Chincoteague 
Channel shall open every two hours on the even hour from 6 a.m. to 
Midnight; except from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., on the last consecutive 
Wednesday and Thursday in July, the draw need not be opened. At all 
other times, the draw need not open.
    This deviation from the operating regulations is authorized under 
33 CFR Sec.  117.43.

    Dated: June 21, 2004.
Waverly W. Gregory, Jr.,
Chief, Bridge Administration Branch, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 04-14628 Filed 6-25-04; 8:45 am]
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