[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 109 (Thursday, June 6, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 33971-33972]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-13424]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2012-0911]


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; City Waterway Also Known as Thea 
Foss Waterway, Tacoma, WA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of deviation from drawbridge regulation.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the 
operating schedule that governs the South 11th Street (``Murray 
Morgan'') Bridge across the City Waterway also known as the

[[Page 33972]]

Thea Foss Waterway, mile 0.6, at Tacoma, WA. The current test deviation 
will expire 8 a.m. June 15, 2013. This deviation is necessary to 
continue with the current operating schedule until the final rulemaking 
changes permanently go into effect.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 8 a.m. on June 15, 2013 to 8 
a.m. June 30, 2013.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2012-0911] is available 
at http://www.regulations.gov. Type the docket number in the ``SEARCH'' 
box and click ``SEARCH.'' Click on Open Docket Folder on the line 
associated with this deviation. 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this 
temporary deviation, call or email Lieutenant Commander Steven Fischer, 
Bridge Specialist, Coast Guard Thirteenth District; telephone 206-220-
7277, email [email protected]. If you have questions on 
viewing the docket, call Barbara Hairston, Program Manager, Docket 
Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 20, 2012, the Coast Guard 
published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) entitled, ``Drawbridge 
Operation Regulation; Thea Foss Waterway previously known as City 
Waterway, Tacoma, WA'' in the Federal Register (77 FR 69576). This NPRM 
proposed three changes to the operating schedule of the Murray Morgan 
Bridge, also known as the South 11th Street Bridge, across Thea Foss 
Waterway, previously known as City Waterway, mile 0.6, at Tacoma.
    The first change requires that for bridge openings needed between 
10 p.m. and 8 a.m., notification be made no later than 8 p.m. prior to 
the desired opening. This differs from the existing regulation in that 
presently the bridge is required to open at all times (except during 
authorized closure periods) provided two hours advance notice is given. 
Over an 18 month period there were only 6 bridge openings requested 
between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. which averages one bridge opening request 
per three month period. One of the unique features of the Murray Morgan 
Bridge is its height above the waterway providing 60 feet of clearance 
at mean high water (MHW) in the closed position. Because of this 
vertical clearance the overwhelming majority of vessels which transit 
this waterway do not require a bridge opening. The majority of bridge 
openings are for locally moored and operated recreational sailboats 
with mast heights over 60 feet. Almost all of these vessels are moored 
at marinas in very close proximity of the bridge.
    The second change is removing the authorized bridge closure periods 
in the morning and afternoon. The current regulation states that the 
draw need not be opened from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 
5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, for vessels of less than 1,000 gross 
tons. This change requires the draw to open at all times with proper 
advance notification. The morning and afternoon authorized closures of 
the bridge outlined in the existing regulation were put into place when 
the bridge was part of SR 509, a continuous route from Northeast Tacoma 
to downtown, and traffic volumes were approximately 15,000 vehicles per 
day. In 1997 a new SR 509 was constructed approximately 0.7 miles south 
of the bridge and is now used as the main traffic corridor. After 
completion of the new SR 509, the Murray Morgan Bridge connection 
between Northeast Tacoma and downtown was severed due to roadway 
reconfiguration, resulting in traffic volumes dropping dramatically; 
therefore, the bridge no longer conveys high volumes of traffic during 
the morning and afternoon rush hours.
    The third change is principally administrative and changes the 
contact information for emergency bridge openings. The existing 
regulation states ``In emergencies, openings shall be made as soon as 
possible upon notification to the Washington State Department of 
Transportation.'' The change requires notification for emergency 
opening to be made to the City of Tacoma. The reason for this change is 
because Washington State turned over ownership and responsibility of 
the bridge to the City of Tacoma on January 6, 1998.
    In conjunction with the NPRM published on November 20, 2012, the 
Coast Guard published a temporary deviation from regulations entitled, 
``Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Thea Foss Waterway previously known 
as City Waterway, Tacoma, WA'' in the Federal Register (77 FR 69562) to 
test the operating schedule under the proposed regulations. Under this 
temporary deviation the bridge operates as follows: The draw of the 
Murray Morgan Bridge, also known as the South 11th Street Bridge, 
across Thea Foss Waterway, previously known as City Waterway, mile 0.6, 
at Tacoma, shall open on signal if at least two hours notice is given. 
However, to obtain a bridge opening between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. 
notification must be made to the City of Tacoma by 8 p.m. In 
emergencies, openings shall be made as soon as possible upon 
notification to the City of Tacoma. The Murray Morgan Bridge is a 
vertical lift bridge which provides a vertical clearance of 60 feet 
above mean high water (MHW) while in the closed position and 135 feet 
of vertical clearance in the open position. Vessels which do not 
require a bridge opening may continue to transit beneath the bridge at 
any time.
    This test deviation is set to expire at 8 a.m. June 15, 2013. 
However, the final rule which will make these changes to the operating 
schedule permanent will not be effective by the date in which the test 
deviation expires. Therefore, to maintain safe and efficient transit 
through the bridge, the Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation 
from regulations to continue the current operating schedule as laid out 
above until June 30, 2013. 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 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: May 23, 2013.
Daryl R. Peloquin,
Bridge Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2013-13424 Filed 6-5-13; 8:45 am]
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