[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 145 (Friday, July 27, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44143-44144]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-18345]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2012-0611]


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway 
(NJICW); Atlantic City, NJ

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 
Route 30/Absecon Boulevard Bridge across Beach Thorofare, NJICW mile 
67.2 and the US40-322 (Albany Avenue) across Inside Thorofare, NJICW 
mile 70.0, both at Atlantic City, NJ. The deviation is necessary to 
ensure the safety of the heavy volumes of vehicular traffic that would 
be transiting over the bridges for the annual Air Show at Bader Field 
located within the city limits. This deviation allows the drawbridges 
to remain closed to navigation to accommodate the free movement of 
vehicles for the 2012 Air Show.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. on 
Friday August 17, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in 
the docket are part of docket USCG-2012-0611 and are available online 
by going to http://www.regulations.gov, inserting USCG-2012-0611 in the 
``Keyword'' box and then clicking ``Search''. This material is also 
available for inspection or copying at 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this rule, 
call or email Terrance Knowles, Environmental Protection Specialist, 
Fifth Coast Guard District; telephone 757-398-6587, email 
[email protected]. If you have questions on viewing the 
docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, 
telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The New Jersey Department of Transportation 
requested a temporary deviation from the current operating regulations 
of the Route 30/Absecon Boulevard Bridge across Beach Thorofare, NJICW 
mile 67.2 and the US40-322 (Albany Avenue) across Inside Thorofare, 
NJICW mile 70.0, both at Atlantic City, NJ. The temporary deviation has 
been requested to ensure the safety of the heavy volumes of vehicular 
traffic that would be transiting over the bridges for the annual Air 
Show at Bader Field located within the city limits. The specific 
operating requirements for these drawbridges are normally planned for 
the third or fourth Wednesday of August, of every year. However, to 
celebrate the tenth anniversary of the 2012 Air Show and to accommodate 
for a larger crowd, Atlantic City--the host city, requested to 
reschedule the event to Friday, August 17, 2012. Under this temporary 
deviation, on Friday, August 17, 2012, the draws for both bridges will 
open every two hours on the hour from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.; and need 
not open from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Route 30/Absecon Boulevard Bridge

    The current operating regulation for the Route 30/Absecon Boulevard 
Bridge across Beach Thorofare is outlined at 33 CFR 117.733(e) which 
requires that the bridge shall open on signal if at least four hours of 
notice is given; except that from April 1 through October 31, from 7 
a.m. to 11 p.m., the draw need only open on the hour; on July 4, the 
draw need not open from 9:40 p.m. until 11:15 p.m. to accommodate the 
annual July 4th fireworks show. Should inclement weather prevent the 
fireworks event from taking place as planned, the draw need not open 
from 9:40 p.m. until 11:15 p.m. on July 5th to accommodate the annual 
July 4th fireworks show; on the third or fourth Wednesday of August the 
draw will open every two hours on the hour from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. 
and need not open from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. to accommodate the annual 
Air Show. In the closed position to vessels, the vertical clearance for 
this bascule-type bridge is 20 feet above mean high water.

US40-322 (Albany Avenue) Bridge

    The current operating regulation for the US40-322 (Albany Avenue) 
Bridge across Inside Thorofare is outlined at 33 CFR 117.733(f) 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; on July 4, the draw need not open from 9:40 
p.m. until 11:15 p.m., to accommodate the annual

[[Page 44144]]

July 4th fireworks show. Should inclement weather prevent the fireworks 
event from taking place as planned, the draw need not open from 9:40 
p.m. until 11:15 p.m. on July 5th to accommodate the annual July 4th 
fireworks show; and on the third or fourth Wednesday of August, the 
draw will open every two hours on the hour from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. 
and need not open from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. to accommodate the annual 
Air Show. In the closed position to vessels, the vertical clearance for 
this bascule-type bridge is 10 feet above mean high water.
    The majority of the vessels that transit the bridges this time of 
the year are recreational boats. Vessels able to pass through the 
bridges in the closed positions may do so at anytime. Both bridges will 
be able to open for emergencies. The Atlantic Ocean is an alternate 
route for vessels unable to pass through the bridges in closed 
positions. The Coast Guard will also inform the users of the waterways 
through our Local and Broadcast Notices to Mariners of the closure 
periods 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 drawbridges must return to 
their regular operating schedules immediately at the end of the 
designated time period. This deviation from the operating regulations 
is authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.

    Dated: July 18, 2012.
Waverly W. Gregory, Jr.,
Bridge Program Manager, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2012-18345 Filed 7-26-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P