[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 166 (Monday, August 27, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51700-51701]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-20978]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2012-0774]


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Wando River, Cainhoy, SC

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations; request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: The Commander, Seventh Coast Guard District, has issued a 
temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the S41 
Swingbridge across the Wando River mile 10.0, at Cainhoy, Berkeley 
County, South Carolina. This deviation will test a change to the 
drawbridge operation schedule to determine whether a permanent change 
to the schedule is needed. This deviation will allow the S41 
Swingbridge to open on the hour and half-hour which is anticipated to 
improve vessel traffic flow.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 8 p.m. on September 1, 2012 
through 5 p.m. on December 31, 2012.
    Comments and related material must be received by the Coast Guard 
on or before February 28, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2012-0774 using any one of the following methods:
    (1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
    (2) Fax: 202-493-2251.
    (3) Mail or Delivery: 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 the 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 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 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-2012-0774), 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 email address, or a phone number in the body of 
your

[[Page 51701]]

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-2012-0774,'' 
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-2012-0774'' 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 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 S41 Swingbridge across Wando River mile 10.0, Cainhoy, Berkeley 
County, South Carolina has a vertical clearance of 6 feet in the closed 
position. The operating schedule as published in 33 CFR 117.939 states 
the draw of the S41 bridge shall open on signal if at least 12 hours 
notice is given. This regulation has been in effect since 1965.
    Local mariners have asked the Coast Guard to evaluate the operating 
schedule to determine if more frequent openings would improve the 
accessibility of the waterway to maritime navigation. An estimated 400 
recreational boats use the waterway in the local area. However, boaters 
upriver from the bridge have stated that the bridge's low vertical 
clearance and requirement for 12-hours notice prevents boaters from 
accessing waterways, like Charleston harbor and the ocean, on the 
downriver side of the bridge. The South Carolina Department of 
Transportation has advised that approximately 1000 to 3000 vehicles per 
day cross this bridge. The Coast Guard anticipates daily bridge 
openings during this test a positive impact on navigation with the 
increased use of the waterway by vessel traffic.
    This deviation is effective from 8 p.m. on September 1, 2012 
through 5 p.m. on December 31, 2012. The S41 Swingbridge shall open on 
the hour and the half hour, 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week.
    Following the test deviation period, the Coast Guard will review 
the bridge logs from the bridge owner to evaluate the impact of this 
test on local marine traffic. The Coast Guard will also consider all 
comments and related materials submitted in response to this test 
deviation. The Coast Guard will then evaluate whether a permanent 
change to the operating schedule of the S41 Swingbridge is necessary, 
and under what conditions the bridge should open.
    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: August 10, 2012.
B.L. Dragon,
Bridge Program Director, Seventh Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2012-20978 Filed 8-24-12; 8:45 am]
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