[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 165 (Friday, August 24, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51470-51471]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-20829]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2012-0746]


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, St. 
Petersburg/Tampa, FL

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of temporary deviations from regulations.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued temporary deviations from the 
operating schedules that govern seven bridges in St. Petersburg and 
Tampa, Florida. The deviations are necessary to allow for the safe 
transportation of officials and participants to the Republican National 
Convention (RNC). These deviations will result in the seven bridges 
remaining in the closed position for the time periods listed. This 
temporary deviation affects the following bridges: The Walsingham Road/
Indian Rocks Beach (CR 688) Bridge; the Park Boulevard (CR 694) Bridge; 
the Welch/Tom Stuart Causeway/150th Avenue Bridge; the Treasure Island 
Causeway Bridge; the Corey Causeway/Pasadena Avenue Bridge; the 
Pinellas Bayway Structure ``C'' (SR 679) Bridge; and Johns Pass Bridge.

DATES: These deviations are effective from 3 p.m. on August 26, 2012 
through 7 p.m. on August 30, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in 
the docket are part of docket USCG-2012-0746 and are available online 
by going to http://www.regulations.gov, inserting USCG-2012-0746 in the 
``Keyword'' box and then clicking ``Search''. They are 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 Michael Lieberum, Seventh District Bridge Branch, Coast 
Guard; telephone (305) 415-6744, 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: Coast Guard Sector St Petersburg, FL has 
requested temporary modifications to the operating schedules of seven 
bridges in St. Petersburg and Tampa, FL. Unrestricted vehicle access on 
these bridges during peak traffic periods is necessary to ensure the 
security and safety of delegates and officials at the RNC. Bridge 
openings during the listed times could disrupt or endanger the safe 
transit of officials and delegates between their hotels and the site of 
the RNC. Numerous Federal, State, and local agencies, including U.S. 
Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Customs and Border 
Protection, U.S. Coast Guard, and the Joint Terrorism Task Force have 
developed comprehensive security plans to protect participants and the 
public during the RNC. As part of the comprehensive effort, these 
bridge deviations are necessary for the security and safety of 
delegates, officials, and participants for the 2012 Republican National 
Convention.
    The seven bridges affected by this temporary deviation are: the 
Walsingham Road/Indian Rocks Beach (CR 688) Bridge; the Park Boulevard 
(CR 694) Bridge; the Welch/Tom Stuart Causeway/150th Avenue Bridge; the 
Treasure Island Causeway Bridge; the Corey Causeway/Pasadena Avenue 
Bridge; the Pinellas Bayway Structure ``C'' (SR 679) Bridge; and Johns 
Pass Bridge across Johns Pass, Madeira Beach, Florida.
    These deviations will result in these seven bridges remaining in 
the closed position at certain times during the RNC from August 26, 
2012, through August 30, 2012. The temporary deviations will close 
these bridges during the following periods: from 3:30 p.m. through 7:30 
p.m. on August 26, 2012; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. 
on August 27, 2012; 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on August 28, 2012; 3:30 
p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on August 29, 2012; and from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. 
on August 30, 2012. Tugs and tugs with tows are not exempt from this 
deviation.
    The details and regular operating schedule for each bridge are set 
forth below.
    1. Walsingham Road/Indian Rocks Beach (CR 688) Bridge, mile 128.2. 
The normal operating schedule for the Walsingham Road/Indian Rocks 
Beach (CR 688) Bridge is set forth in 33 CFR 117.5. 33 CFR 117.5 
requires the bridge to open promptly and fully for the passage of 
vessels when a request or signal to open is given in accordance with 
this subpart. This bascule bridge has a vertical clearance of 21 feet 
in the closed position. Vessels are permitted to transit under this 
bridge in the closed position.
    2. Park Boulevard (CR 694) Bridge, mile 126.0. The normal operating 
schedule for the Park Boulevard Bridge is set forth in 33 CFR 117.5. 33 
CFR 117.5 requires the bridge to open promptly and fully for the 
passage of vessels when a request or signal to open is given in 
accordance with this subpart. This bascule bridge has a vertical 
clearance of 20 feet in the closed position. Vessels are permitted to 
transit under this bridge in the closed position.
    3. Welch/Tom Stuart Causeway/150th Avenue Bridge, mile 122.8. The 
normal operating schedule for the Welch/Tom Stuart Causeway/150th 
Avenue Bridge is set forth in 33 CFR 117.287(h). 33 CFR 117.287(h) 
requires the bridge to open on signal, except that from 9:30 a.m. to 6 
p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays, the draw need be 
opened only on the hour, 20 minutes after the hour and 40 minutes after 
the hour. This bascule bridge has a vertical clearance of 25 feet in 
the closed position. Vessels are permitted to transit under this bridge 
in the closed position.
    4. Treasure Island Causeway Bridge, mile 119.0. The normal 
operating schedule for the Treasure Island Causeway Bridge is set forth 
in 33 CFR 117.5. 33 CFR 117.5 requires the bridge to open promptly and 
fully for the

[[Page 51471]]

passage of vessels when a request or signal to open is given in 
accordance with this subpart. This bascule bridge has a vertical 
clearance of 21 feet in the closed position. Vessels are permitted to 
transit under this bridge in the closed position.
    5. Corey Causeway/Pasadena Avenue Bridge, mile 117.7. The normal 
operating schedule for the Corey Causeway/Pasadena Avenue Bridge is set 
forth in 33 CFR 117.287(f). 33 CFR 117.287(f) requires the bridge to 
open on signal, except that from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday 
and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays, the 
draw need be opened only on the hour, 20 minutes after the hour and 40 
minutes after the hour. This bascule bridge has a vertical clearance of 
23 feet in the closed position. Vessels are permitted to transit under 
this bridge in the closed position.
    6. Pinellas Bayway Structure ``C'' (SR 679) Bridge, mile 114.0. The 
normal operating schedule for the Pinellas Bayway Structure ``C'' (SR 
679) Bridge is set forth in 33 CFR 117.287(e). 33 CFR 117.287(e) 
requires the bridge to open on signal, except that from 7 a.m. to 7 
p.m., the draw need open only on the hour, 20 minutes after the hour 
and 40 minutes after the hour. This bascule bridge has a vertical 
clearance of 25 feet in the closed position. Vessels are permitted to 
transit under this bridge in the closed position.
    7. Johns Pass Bridge, mile 1.0. The normal operating schedule for 
the Johns Pass Bridge is set forth in 33 CFR 117.5. 33 CFR 117.5 
requires the bridge to open promptly and fully for the passage of 
vessels when a request or signal to open is given in accordance with 
this subpart. This bascule bridge has a vertical clearance of 28 feet 
in the closed position. Vessels are permitted to transit under this 
bridge in the closed position.
    Any vessel requiring emergency opening of any of these seven 
bridges should make a request to the Captain of the Port St. Petersburg 
by telephone at (727) 824-7524.
    In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(e), these drawbridges must return 
to their regular operating schedules immediately at the end of the 
designated time period. These deviations from the operating regulations 
are authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.

    Dated: August 15, 2012.
B.L. Dragon,
Bridge Program Director, Seventh Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2012-20829 Filed 8-23-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P