[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 163 (Tuesday, August 23, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52566-52567]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-21458]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2011-0591]


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Anacostia River, Washington, DC

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 regulation governing the operation of the 
CSX Railroad Vertical Lift Bridge across the Anacostia River, mile 3.4, 
at Washington, DC. This deviation will test a change to the drawbridge 
operation schedule to determine whether a permanent change to the 
schedule is necessary. This deviation will change the current eight 
hour advance notice requirement for a bridge opening to a 48 hour 
advance notice requirement for a bridge opening.

DATES: This deviation is effective from August 23, 2011 through 
February 21, 2012.
    Comments and related material must be received by the Coast Guard 
on December 21, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2011-0591 using any one of the following methods:
    (1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
    (2) Fax: 202-493-2251.
    (3) Mail: Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. Department of 
Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    (4) Hand delivery: Same as mail address above, between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone 
number is 202-366-9329.
    To avoid duplication, please use only one of these four methods. 
See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion of 
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for instructions on 
submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this proposed 
rule, call or e-mail Lindsey Middleton, Coast Guard; telephone 757-398-
6629, e-mail [email protected]. If you have questions on 
viewing or submitting material to the docket, call Renee V. Wright, 
Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting 
comments and related materials. All comments received will be posted, 
without change, to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided.

Submitting Comments

    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
rulemaking (USCG-2011-0591), indicate the specific section of this 
document to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for each 
suggestion or recommendation. You may submit your comments and material 
online (http://www.regulations.gov), or by fax, mail or hand delivery, 
but please use only one of these means. If you submit a comment online 
via http://www.regulations.gov, it will be considered received by the 
Coast Guard when you successfully transmit the comment. If you fax, 
hand deliver, or mail your comment, it will be considered as having 
been received by the Coast Guard when it is received at the Docket 
Management Facility. We recommend that you include your name and a 
mailing address, an e-mail address, or a phone number in the body of 
your document so that we can contact you if we have questions regarding 
your submission.
    To submit your comment online, go to http://www.regulations.gov, 
click on the ``submit a comment'' box, which will then become 
highlighted in blue. In the ``Keyword'' box insert ``USCG-2011-0591,'' 
click ``Search,'' and then click on the balloon shape in the 
``Actions'' column. If you submit your comments by mail or hand 
delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 
inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. If you submit them 
by mail and would like to know that they reached the Facility, please 
enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will 
consider all comments and material received during the comment period 
and may change the rule based on your comments.

Viewing Comments and Documents

    To view comments, as well as documents mentioned in this preamble 
as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, 
click on the ``read comments'' box, which will then become highlighted 
in blue. In the ``Keyword'' box insert ``USCG-2011-0591'' and click 
``Search.'' Click the ``Open Docket Folder'' in the ``Actions'' column. 
You may also visit the Docket Management Facility in Room W12-140 on 
the ground floor of the Department of Transportation West Building, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. We have an 
agreement with the Department of Transportation to use the Docket 
Management Facility.

Privacy Act

    Anyone can search the electronic form of comments received into any 
of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or 
signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, 
business, labor union, etc.). You may review a Privacy

[[Page 52567]]

Act notice regarding our public dockets in the January 17, 2008, issue 
of the Federal Register (73 FR 3316).

Public Meeting

    We do not now plan to hold a public meeting. But you may submit a 
request for one using one of the four methods specified under 
ADDRESSES. Please explain why one would be beneficial. If we determine 
that one would aid this rulemaking, we will hold one at a time and 
place announced by a later notice in the Federal Register.

Basis and Purpose

    The CSX Railroad Company has requested a change in the operation 
regulations for the CSX Railroad Vertical Lift Bridge, across the 
Anacostia River, mile 3.4, at Washington, DC. The change will replace 
the current eight hour advance notice requirement for a bridge opening 
to a 48 hour advance notice requirement for a bridge opening. The 
bridge is part of a rail line that is used for regular passenger 
service therefore, it is necessary that ample time is given to maintain 
an accurate schedule for trains and vessels for safe and efficient 
travel across and through the bridge.
    The current operating schedule for the bridge is set out in 33 CFR 
117.253(b). The regulation was established in August 2004 and allows 
the bridge to be operated from a remote location, the Benning Yard 
office. The draw of the bridge shall open on signal at all times for 
public vessels of the United States, state and local government 
vessels, commercial vessels and any vessels in an emergency involving 
danger to life or property. The draw shall open on signal between 9 
a.m. and 12 p.m., and between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. from May 15 through 
September 30; and between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. from May 15 through 
September 30 if notice is given to the controller no later than 6 p.m. 
on the day for which the opening is requested. At all other times the 
bridge will open if at least 8 hours notice is given.
    The vertical clearance of the bridge is 5 feet at Mean High Water 
in the closed position and 29 feet at Mean High Water in the open 
position. We are testing the potential operating regulation adjustment 
to discover any impacts to train traffic and water navigation as a 
result of the bridge opening request time adjustment. During the test 
deviation period a bridge opening count has been requested from the CSX 
Railroad Company. There are 21 train transits across this bridge every 
day. A review of the bridge operating logs shows two bridge openings 
have been requested in the past two years for vessels taller than five 
feet. The test period will go into effect immediately and will end 180 
days from the effective date. The test deviation will be in effect 
simultaneously with a notice of proposed rulemaking which is also part 
of docket no. USCG-2011-0591, for the same operating regulation change.
    Vessels that are able to pass under the bridge in the closed 
position may do so at any time. There are no alternate routes for 
vessels that cannot pass under the bridge in the closed position. The 
Coast Guard will inform waterway users through the Local and Broadcast 
Notices to Mariners. The bridge will be able to open for emergencies.
    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: July 22, 2011.
William D. Lee,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2011-21458 Filed 8-22-11; 8:45 am]
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