[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 153 (Tuesday, August 10, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48394-48395]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-18204]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD05-04-146]
RIN 1625-AA09


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Manasquan River, NJ

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations; 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 schedule 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, except Federal holidays; 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 August 2, 2004, through October 
31, 2004. Comments must reach the Coast Guard on or before 5 November 
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 schedule. 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 deviation by 
submitting comments and related material. If you do so, please include 
your name and address, identify the docket number for this test 
deviation CGD05-04-146, 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 Sec.  
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, except Federal 
holidays; 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.
    Under this 90-day temporary deviation, effective from August 2, 
2004 through October 31, 2004, the Route 70 Bridge across Manasquan 
River shall open on signal on the hour, except that from 5 p.m. to 7 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays; 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.


[[Page 48395]]


    Dated: July 29, 2004.
Waverly W. Gregory, Jr.,
Chief, Bridge Administration Branch, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 04-18204 Filed 8-9-04; 8:45 am]
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