[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 141 (Friday, July 23, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 43903]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-16838]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD01-04-080]


Drawbridge Operation Regulations: Jamaica Bay and Connecting 
Waterways, NY

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a 
temporary deviation from the drawbridge operation regulations for the 
Marine Parkway Bridge across Jamaica Bay, mile 3.0, between Brooklyn 
and Queens, New York. This temporary deviation will allow the bridge to 
open (50) fifty feet less than the normal opening vertical clearance 
from August 16, 2004, through October 10, 2004. This temporary 
deviation is necessary to facilitate maintenance repairs at the bridge.

DATES: This deviation is effective from August 16, 2004, through 
October 10, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Judy Leung-Yee, Project Officer, 
First Coast Guard District Bridge Branch, (212) 668-7195.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    The normal vertical clearance under the Marine Parkway Bridge in 
the full open position is 152 feet at mean high water and 156 feet at 
mean low water. The existing regulations are listed at 33 CFR 
117.795(a).
    The bridge owner, MTA Bridges and Tunnels Authority, requested a 
temporary deviation from the Drawbridge Operation Regulations to 
facilitate necessary maintenance repairs at the bridge.
    During the bridge repairs safety netting will be suspended under 
the bridge towers preventing the bridge from fully opening and 
therefore reducing the vertical clearance during bridge openings by 
(50) fifty feet.
    The normal maximum vertical clearance under the bridge in the full 
open position is 156 feet at mean low water and 152 feet at mean high 
water. A review of the bridge opening logs and opening requests 
revealed that the bridge normally does not open more than (90) ninety 
feet for the passage of vessel traffic. As a result none of the normal 
waterway users should be affected by this vertical clearance reduction.
    Under this temporary deviation the Marine Parkway Bridge, mile 3.0, 
across Jamaica Bay, shall open for vessel traffic only up to a maximum 
of 106 feet at mean low water and 102 feet at mean high water from 
August 16, 2004, through October 10, 2004.
    This deviation from the operating regulations is authorized under 
33 CFR 117.35, and will be performed with all due speed in order to 
return the bridge to normal operation as soon as possible.

    Dated: July 14, 2004.
David P. Pekoske,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 04-16838 Filed 7-22-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P