[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 62 (Monday, March 31, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16761-16762]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-6475]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[USCG-2008-0184]
RIN 1625-AA09


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Intracoastal Waterway (ICW); 
Atlantic City, NJ, Air Show Event

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations.

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SUMMARY: The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has issued a 
temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the 
US40-322 (Albany

[[Page 16762]]

Avenue) Bridge, at ICW mile 70.0, across Inside Thorofare at Atlantic 
City, NJ. This deviation is necessary to facilitate traffic control 
during the Atlantic City Air Show. This deviation will cause the bridge 
to be maintained in the closed-to-navigation position.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on August 20, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: Documents indicated in this preamble as being available in 
the docket are part of docket USCG-2008-0184 and are available online 
at http://www.regulations.gov. They are also available for inspection 
or copying at two locations: the Docket Management Facility (M-30), 
U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, and 
the Fifth Coast Guard District, Federal Building, 1st Floor, 431 
Crawford Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704-5004 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. Sandra S. Elliott, Bridge 
Management Specialist, Fifth Coast Guard District, at (757) 398-6557.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To facilitate traffic control for the 
Atlantic City Air Show, the US40-322 (Albany Avenue) Bridge will be 
maintained in the closed-to-navigation position from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
on August 20, 2008.
    The Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the 
bridge owner, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), has 
requested a temporary deviation for the current operating regulation 
set out in 33 CFR 117.733 (f) to close the US40-322 (Albany Avenue) 
Bridge to navigation for the sole purpose of traffic control before, 
during and after the Atlantic City Air Show display, scheduled for 
Wednesday, August 20, 2008, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    The US40-322 (Albany Avenue Bridge) at ICW mile 70.0, across Inside 
Thorofare at Atlantic City, NJ, a lift drawbridge, has a vertical 
clearance in the closed position to vessels of 10 feet, above mean high 
water. The current operating regulation set out in 33 CFR 117.733 (f) 
requires the draw shall open on signal except that: Year-round from 11 
p.m. to 7 a.m. and from November 1 through March 31 from 3 p.m. to 11 
p.m., the draw need only open if at least four hours notice is given; 
From June 1 through September 30: from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. 
to 9 p.m., the draw need only open on the hour and half hour; and from 
4 p.m. to 6 p.m., the draw need not open.
    During the event, vessel operators with mast height lower than 10 
feet will continue to be able to transit through the drawbridge. The 
Atlantic Ocean is an alternate route for vessels with a mast height 
greater than 10 feet.
    The Coast Guard reviewed the bridge logs provided by NJDOT for 
August 2007 which revealed that vessel traffic is primarily 
recreational and the number of bridge openings on weekdays averages 
about three openings per day. In addition, qualified personnel will be 
on-site to open the drawbridge for vessels in the event of an 
emergency.
    The Coast Guard will inform the users of the waterway via maritime 
advisories of the closure period for the bridge so that vessels can 
arrange their transits to minimize any impact caused by the temporary 
deviation.
    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: March 19, 2008.
Waverly W. Gregory, Jr.,
Chief, Bridge Administration Branch, Fifth Coast Guard District..
[FR Doc. E8-6475 Filed 3-28-08; 8:45 am]
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