[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 122 (Monday, June 26, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 36297-36298]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-10048]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD05-06-002]


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Chincoteague Channel, 
Chincoteague, VA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments, and notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: On March 31, 2006, the Coast Guard published a notice of 
proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register (71 FR 19150). That 
document contains a detailed history of the Coast Guard's previous 
regulatory efforts regarding the SR 175 Bridge. The Coast Guard is 
reopening the period for public comment concerning the drawbridge 
operation regulations that govern the SR 175 Bridge, mile 3.5, across 
Chincoteague Channel at Chincoteague, Virginia, because an Accomack 
County official communicated to the Coast Guard those residents of 
Chincoteague have additional comments concerning the operating 
regulations of the drawbridge.

DATES: Comments must be received by on or before July 21, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Comments and material received from the public as well as 
documents indicated in this preamble as being available in the docket, 
are part of docket [CGD05-06-002]. To make sure they do not enter the 
docket more than once, please submit them by only one of the following 
means:
    (1) By mail to Commander (dpb), Fifth Coast Guard District, 431 
Crawford Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704.
    (2) By hand delivery to Commander (dpb), Fifth Coast Guard 
District, 431 Crawford Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704, between 8 a.m. and 
4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone 
number is (757) 398-6629.
    (3) By fax to the Bridge Administration office at (757) 398-6334.
    Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District (dpb) maintains the public 
docket for this rulemaking. Comments and material received from the 
public, as well as documents indicated in this preamble, will become 
part of this docket and will be available for inspection or copying at 
the address listed above between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions on this notice, contact 
Gary S. Heyer, Commander (dpb) Fifth Coast Guard District, by telephone 
at (757) 398-6629, or by e-mail at [email protected]. For questions 
on viewing or submitting material to the docket, also contact Mr. Gary 
S. Heyer.

Request for Comments

    We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting 
your comments to Commander (dpb), Fifth Coast Guard District as 
specified in ADDRESSES. We will consider comments received during this 
additional comment period and may change the rule in response to the 
comments.

Public Meeting and Procedure

    The Coast Guard will also hold a public meeting to provide a forum 
for citizens to provide oral comments relating to the drawbridge 
operation regulations for the SR 175 Bridge, mile 3.5, across 
Chincoteague Channel at Chincoteague, Virginia. The meeting will be 
open to the public and it will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on 
July 18, 2006, at the Chincoteague Community Center, 6155 Community 
Drive, Chincoteague, VA 23336. The meeting may close early if all 
business is finished. Written material and advance notice requests to 
make oral comments should reach the Coast Guard on or before July 17, 
2006.
    Members of the public are invited to make comments and those who 
wish to provide oral comment will be recognized by the meeting 
moderator. Each person will be limited to no more than 5 minutes of 
oral comments. The moderator will first call off names of individuals 
who have notified the meeting moderator in advance that they

[[Page 36298]]

are planning to comment. After that, individuals who arrived prior to 
the start of the meeting on July 18, 2006, and received numbers in the 
lobby will be called. After all of these individuals have been called, 
the moderator will then ask for members of the audience who have not 
provided advance notification or who did not arrive prior to the 
meeting to come forward, sign-in with the recorder, and then be able to 
approach the podium to deliver comments.
    Send written material and requests to make oral comments to 
Commander (dpb), Fifth Coast Guard District, Federal Building, 1st 
Floor, 431 Crawford Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704-5004 or via fax at 
(757) 398-6334 or by e-mail at [email protected].
    The agenda of the public meeting will include the following:
    (1) Introduction of panel members.
    (2) Overview of meeting format.
    (3) Background on the proposed rulemaking.
    (4) Statements from citizens. Statements may be delivered in 
written form at the public meeting and made part of the docket or 
delivered orally not to exceed 5 minutes.

Questions

    We need assistance from the public in ensuring the Coast Guard 
fully understands the impact of potential rulemaking on all users of 
the bridge, both road and waterway usage. We believe that the impacts 
can be better understood by articulating answers to questions such as 
those posed below. In responding to the questions listed below, please 
explain your reasons for each answer as specifically as possible so 
that we can weigh the impacts and consequences of future actions that 
we may take. The following are the types of pertinent questions that 
may be used:
    (1) If the SR 175 Bridge opened every two hours, would this have a 
positive or a negative impact on your business interests? And, what 
would be the approximate monetary value of this impact per day?
    (2) If the SR 175 Bridge opened every two hours, would this 
increase or decrease the time you spend per day as a motor vehicle 
commuter? And, approximately how much would your commuting time 
increase or decrease?
    (3) If the SR 175 Bridge opened every two hours and this opening 
schedule had a negative impact on your business interests, what actions 
could you take, if any, to minimize the negative impact?
    (4) If the SR 175 Bridge continued to open once per hour, would 
this have a negative or positive financial impact on your life or 
business? And, what would be the approximate amount of the negative or 
positive financial impact per day?
    (5) Is there a traffic management plan in place that directs how to 
manage a vehicle back-up at the SR 175 Bridge? And if there is a plan, 
what procedures are in place to increase public safety and reduce 
traffic delays at the Bridge? Any additional information provided on 
these topics is welcome.

Information on Services for Individuals With Disabilities

    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact 
Mr. Gary S. Heyer as listed in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT as soon 
as possible.

    Dated: June 13, 2006.
Larry L. Hereth,
Rear Admiral, U. S. Coast Guard, Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. E6-10048 Filed 6-23-06; 8:45 am]
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