[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 144 (Friday, July 26, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 45056]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-18029]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2013-0620]


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Lake Washington Ship Canal, 
Seattle, 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 Montlake Bridge across the Lake 
Washington Ship Canal, mile 5.2, at Seattle, WA. The deviation is 
necessary to accommodate vehicular traffic attending football games at 
Husky Stadium at the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. 
This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed position two 
hours before and two hours after each game. Please note that the game 
times for five of the seven games scheduled for Husky Stadium have not 
yet been determined due to NCAA television scheduling.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 
11:59 p.m. on August 31, 2013; 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on September 
21, 2013; 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on September 28, 2013; 12:01 a.m. to 
11:59 p.m. on October 12, 2013; 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on October 26, 
2013; 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on November 9, 2013; 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 
p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on November 29, 2013.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2013-0620] 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 Steven M. Fischer, Lieutenant 
Commander, Bridge Specialist, Thirteenth District, Coast Guard; 
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: The Washington State Department of 
Transportation, on behalf of the University of Washington Police 
Department, has requested that the Montlake Bridge bascule span remain 
closed and need not open to vessel traffic to facilitate timely 
movement of pre-game and post game football traffic. The Montlake 
Bridge crosses the Lake Washington Ship Canal at mile 5.2 and while in 
the closed position provides 30 feet of vertical clearance throughout 
the navigation channel and 46 feet of vertical clearance throughout the 
center 60-feet of the bridge. These vertical clearance measurements are 
made in reference to the Mean Water Level of Lake Washington. Vessels 
which do not require a bridge opening may continue to transit beneath 
the bridges during this closure period. Under normal conditions this 
bridge opens on signal, subject to the list of exceptions provided in 
33 CFR 117.1051(e).
    This deviation period will cover the dates August 31, 2013 to 
November 29, 2013 as follows. From 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and from 
10:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. on August 31, 2013; from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 
p.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on November 29, 2013. The times 
for the closures on September 21, 2013, September 28, 2013, October 12, 
2013, October 26, 2013, and November 09, 2013 will be determined and 
announced in the Coast Guard's Local Notice to Mariners and Broadcast 
Notice to Mariners as they become available. Due to NCAA television 
scheduling, the times for the games are not currently available.
    The deviation allows the bascule span of the Montlake Bridge to 
remain in the closed position and need not open for maritime traffic 
from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. on August 31, 
2013, and from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on 
November 29, 2013, for times to be determined on September 21, 2013, 
September 28, 2013, October 12, 2013, October 26, 2013, and November 
09, 2013. The bridge shall operate in accordance with 33 CFR 
117.1051(e) at all other times. Waterway usage on the Lake Washington 
Ship Canal ranges from commercial tug and barge to small pleasure 
craft. Mariners will be notified and kept informed of the bridge's 
operational status via the Coast Guard Notice to Mariners publication 
and Broadcast Notice to Mariners as appropriate. The draw span will be 
required to open, if needed, for vessels engaged in emergency response 
operations during this closure period.
    In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(e), the drawbridges 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: July 16, 2013.
Daryl R. Peloquin,
Acting Bridge Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2013-18029 Filed 7-25-13; 8:45 am]
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