[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 188 (Friday, September 27, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 59625-59626]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-23525]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2013-0850]


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Lake Pontchartrain, Near 
Slidell, LA

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 Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge 
across Lake Pontchartrain, mile 4.80, near Slidell, St. Tammany Parish, 
Louisiana. The deviation is necessary to replace worn joints on the 
north draw of the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain 
closed to vessel traffic for six hours on three consecutive days.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 8 a.m. through 2 p.m. on 
October 8, 9 and 10, 2013.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2013-0850] 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 Mr. Jim Wetherington, Coast Guard; 
telephone 504-671-2128, email [email protected]. If you 
have questions on viewing the docket, call Barbara Hairston, Program 
Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Norfolk Southern Corporation, the bridge 
owner, requested three, 6-hour closures for the Norfolk Southern RR 
Bridge over Lake Pontchartrain, Mile 4.80, near Slidell, St. Tammany 
Parish, LA. The bridge has a horizontal clearance of 105 feet and a 
vertical clearance of two feet, above Mean Sea Level, in the closed-to-
navigation position and an unlimited vertical clearance in the open-to-
navigation position.
    The bridge opens on signal as per 33 CFR 117.5. The deviation 
period will be October 8, 9 and 10, 2013 from 8 a.m. through 2 p.m. 
each of those days. These closure periods will allow the replacement of 
the bridge joints as required in a normal maintenance cycle.
    This waterway is used by both commercial and recreational vessel 
traffic. No previous coordination was made with the waterway users 
though the closure times were chosen to minimize the impact to these 
users.
    Vessels able to pass through the bridge in the closed positions may 
do so at anytime. The bridge will not be able to open for emergencies 
and there is no immediate alternate route for vessels to pass. The 
Coast Guard will also inform the users of the waterways through our 
Local and Broadcast Notices to Mariners

[[Page 59626]]

of the change in operating schedule 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 effective 
period of this temporary deviation. This deviation from the operating 
regulations is authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.

    Dated: September 16, 2013.
David M. Frank,
Bridge Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-23525 Filed 9-26-13; 8:45 am]
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