[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 220 (Thursday, November 15, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 64152]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-22364]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD08-07-032]


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Liberty Bayou, Slidell, LA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations; request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, has issued a 
temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the 
State Route 433 (S433) bridge across Liberty Bayou, mile 2.0, at 
Slidell, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. This deviation will test a 
change to the drawbridge operation schedule to determine whether a 
permanent change to the schedule is needed.

DATES: This deviation is effective from November 15, 2007 until May 13, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: You may mail comments and related material to Commander 
(dpb), Eighth Coast Guard District, 500 Poydras Street, New Orleans, 
Louisiana 70130-3310. The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, 
Bridge Administration Branch maintains the public docket for this 
rulemaking. 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 Bridge Administration office between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Phil Johnson, Bridge Administration 
Branch, telephone (504) 671-2128.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Request for Comments

    We encourage you to participate in evaluating 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 deviation 
CGD08-07-032, 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[frac1s2] 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. Comments must be received by 
January 14, 2008.

Background and Purpose

    The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has 
requested that the operating regulation of the S433 pontoon span 
bridge, located on Liberty Bayou at mile 2.0 in Slidell, St. Tammany 
Parish, Louisiana, be changed in order to make more efficient use of 
operating resources. Currently, the draw of the S433 Bridge opens on 
signal, except that from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. the draw opens on signal if 
at least 12 hours notice is given, as required by 33 CFR 117.469. The 
Coast Guard previously published a notice of proposed rulemaking 
[CGD08-06-10] on May 4, 2006 (86 FR 26290). The proposed rule would 
have changed the regulation governing the operation of the (S433) 
pontoon span bridge across Liberty Bayou, mile 2.0, at Slidell, St. 
Tammany Parish, Louisiana. The rule, as previously proposed, would have 
changed the notice required for an opening from 12 hours to 4 hours. A 
final rule for that proposed change was not published. Subsequently, 
the bridge owner has requested that the notice for an opening be 
changed so that the bridge will open on signal, except that from 7 p.m. 
to 7 a.m., the bridge will open on signal if at least 2 hours notice is 
given.
    A Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking [CGD08-06-010], is 
being issued in conjunction with this Temporary Deviation to obtain 
public comments. The Coast Guard will evaluate public comments from 
this Test Deviation and the above referenced Supplemental Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking to determine if a permanent special drawbridge 
operating regulation is warranted.
    In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(e), the drawbridge must return to 
its regular operating schedule immediately at the end of the designated 
time period. This deviation from the operating regulations is 
authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.

    Dated: November 6, 2007.
David M. Frank,
Bridge Administrator.
 [FR Doc. E7-22364 Filed 11-14-07; 8:45 am]
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