[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 149 (Wednesday, August 4, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 46998-46999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-17688]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD08-04-030]
RIN 1625-AA09


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Berwick Bay--Atchafalaya River--
Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (Morgan City to Port Allen Alternate Route), 
LA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations.

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SUMMARY: The Commander Eighth Coast Guard District is issuing a 
temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the 
Burlington Northern & Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway Vertical Lift Span 
Railroad Bridge across Berwick Bay--Atchafalaya River, mile 17.5 and 
the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (Morgan City to Port Allen Alternate 
Route, mile 0.4), at Morgan City, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. This 
deviation will allow the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway Company 
to close the bridge to navigation from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. each

[[Page 46999]]

day from Monday, August 16, 2004, through Wednesday, August 18, 2004, 
to conduct necessary maintenance on the bridge.

DATES: This temporary deviation is effective from 8 a.m. on Monday, 
August 16, 2004, until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, August 18, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Materials referred to in this temporary deviation are 
available for inspection or copying at the office of the Eighth Coast 
Guard District, Bridge Administration Branch, Hale Boggs Federal 
Building, room 1313, 500 Poydras Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130-
3310, between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The telephone number is (504) 589-2965. The Eighth District 
Bridge Administration Branch maintains the public docket for this 
temporary deviation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Phil Johnson, Bridge Administration 
Branch, telephone (504) 589-2965.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BNSF Railway Company requested a 
temporary deviation from the normal operation of the drawbridge in 
order to replace railroad rails on the lift span of the bridge. This 
maintenance is essential for the continued safe transit of trains 
across the bridge. This temporary deviation will allow the bridge to 
remain in the closed-to-navigation position from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. 
each day from Monday, August 16, 2004, through Wednesday, August 18, 
2004. In the event of an approaching tropical storm or hurricane, the 
work will be rescheduled and the bridge will continue to operate 
normally.
    The bridge has a vertical clearance of 4 feet above high water in 
the closed-to-navigation position and 73 feet above high water in the 
open-to-navigation position. Navigation on the waterway consists of 
tugs with tows, oil industry related work boats and crew boats, 
commercial fishing vessels and some recreational craft. Since the lift 
span of the bridge will only be closed for six hours per day for three 
days, ample time will be allowed for commercial and recreational 
vessels to schedule transits. For this reason, as well as considering 
prior experience with similar closures of this bridge, it has been 
determined that this closure will not have a significant effect on 
these vessels. The Intracoastal Waterway--Morgan City to Port Allen 
Route and the Landside Route, including Bayou Boeuf is an alternate 
route for vessels not requiring greater than a 12-foot draft. The 
bridge will not be able to open for emergencies during the 6-hour per 
day closure periods.
    In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(c), this work will be performed 
with all due speed in order to return the bridge to normal operation as 
soon as possible. This deviation from the operating regulations is 
authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.

    Dated: July 22, 2004.
Marcus Redford,
Bridge Administrator.
[FR Doc. 04-17688 Filed 8-3-04; 8:45 am]
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