[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 230 (Wednesday, November 30, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 73998-74000]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-30636]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2011-0959]


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Gulf Intracoastal Waterway 
(Algiers Alternate Route), Belle Chasse, 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 
SR 23 bridge across the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (Algiers Alternate 
Route), mile 3.8, at Belle Chasse, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. This 
deviation will test a change to the drawbridge operation schedule to 
determine whether a permanent change to the schedule is needed. This 
test deviation will allow the bridge to open only on the hour during 
the day from Monday through Friday, while maintaining morning and 
afternoon maritime restrictions.

[[Page 73999]]


DATES: This deviation is effective from December 15, 2011 through 
January 17, 2012.
    Comments and related material must be received by the Coast Guard 
on or before January 30, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2011-0959 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 email Donna Gagliano, Bridge Administration Branch, 
Eighth Coast Guard District, telephone (504) 671-2128, email 
[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-2011-0959), 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 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 email 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-2011-0959,'' 
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-2011-0959'' 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 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 a public meeting 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 Coast Guard, at the request of the State of Louisiana, proposes 
to change the existing operating schedule for the SR 23 vertical lift 
bridge across the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (Algiers Alternate Route), 
mile 3.8, at Belle Chasse, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. Due to an 
increase in vehicle traffic, State of Louisiana requested a change to 
the operation schedule.
    Presently, under 33 CFR 117.451(b), states: The draw of the SR 23 
Bridge, Algiers Alternate Route, mile 3.8 at Belle Chasse, shall open 
on signal; except that, from 6 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 
5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, the draw need 
not be opened for the passage of vessels.
    The test deviation would allow the bridge to open for the passage 
of vessels; except that from 6:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through 
Friday, the bridge need only open on the hour for the passage of 
vessels. The bridge need not open for the passage of vessels at 7 a.m., 
8 a.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This proposal will 
allow the bridge to remain closed from 6:30 a.m. until 9 a.m. and from 
after the 3 p.m. opening until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday to 
facilitate the movement of vehicular traffic. Then from 8 p.m. until 
6:30 a.m. Monday through Friday and at all times on weekend the bridge 
will open on signal.
    We are testing these potential operating regulations adjustments to 
discover any outcome in vehicular traffic and water navigation as a 
result of the time adjustments.
    The proposed change would allow for a set schedule of openings for 
vessels while minimally disrupting vehicular traffic during the morning 
and afternoon schedule. Also, the proposed schedule would allow 
additional time to clear vehicular traffic and minimize the delays 
caused by the openings during the heavy commute times. As a result very 
few vessels will be impacted, those vessels should be able to modify 
their transit accordingly as there is an alternate route. The vertical 
clearance of the bridge is 40 feet above mean high water in the closed-
to-navigation position, so only vessels requiring <= 40 feet may 
transit the waterway. All vessels waiting during the closure will be 
allowed to pass during scheduled openings.

[[Page 74000]]

    This deviation is effective from December 15, 2011 until January 
17, 2012.
    Coordination will be through Public Notice and Local Notice to 
Mariners upon date of publication in the Federal Register.
    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 3, 2011.
David M. Frank,
Bridge Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2011-30636 Filed 11-29-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P