[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 71 (Monday, April 14, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 20784-20785]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08263]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2014-0035]


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; St. Croix River, Stillwater, MN

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of deviation from drawbridge regulation; request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the 
operating schedule that governs the Stillwater Highway Drawbridge 
across the St. Croix River, mile 23.4, at Stillwater, Minnesota. The 
deviation was requested by the City of Stillwater to perform a 
functional review of drawspan operation needs during the navigation 
season due to growing traffic congestion. This deviation will test an 
altered opening schedule operated Monday through Friday (Except Federal 
Holidays) for approximately 5 months.

DATES: This deviation is effective from May 15, 2014 through October 
15, 2014. Comments and related material must be received by the Coast 
Guard on or before July 15, 2014. A public meeting will be held April 
16, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2014-0035 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. Deliveries 
accepted between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329.
    See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion 
of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for instructions on 
submitting comments. To avoid duplication, please use only one of these 
methods. The public meeting will be held at the City of Stillwater 
Council Chambers Meeting Room, 216 North Forth Street, Stillwater, 
Minnesota.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this 
temporary deviation, call or email Eric A. Washburn, Bridge 
Administrator, Western Rivers, Coast Guard; telephone

[[Page 20785]]

(314) 269-2378, email [email protected]. If you have questions on 
viewing the docket, call Cheryl Collins, Program Manager, Docket 
Operations, telephone (202) 366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We encourage you to provide input and feedback during this 
temporary deviation 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.

1. Submitting Comments

    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
deviation (USCG-2014-0035), 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 document so that we can contact you if we have questions regarding 
your submission.
    To submit your comment online, type the docket number (USCG-2014-
0035) in the ``SEARCH'' box and click ``SEARCH.'' Click on ``Submit a 
Comment'' on the line associated with this deviation. 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 or cancel 
this deviation based on your comments.

2. Viewing Comments and Document

    To view comments, as well as document mentioned in this preamble as 
being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, type 
the docket number (USCG-2014-0035) 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.

3. 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).

4. Public Meeting

    A public meeting explaining the details and altered schedule for 
this deviation will be held April 16, 2014, at 6 p.m. in the City of 
Stillwater Council Chambers Meeting Room, 216 North Forth Street, 
Stillwater, Minnesota. This public meeting has also been noticed to the 
public through local avenues. We plan to record this meeting via audio 
and will upload a transcript for the meeting to the docket, which is 
accessible as explained under ADDRESSES. For information on facilities 
or services for individuals with disabilities or to request special 
assistance at the public meeting, contact the person listed above under 
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice.
    The City of Stillwater, Minnesota, requested a temporary deviation 
for the Stillwater Highway Drawbridge, across the St. Croix River, mile 
23.4, at Stillwater, Minnesota. The existing operating schedule for 
this bridge was established approximately 20 years ago. This deviation 
is intended to test the operational needs of this drawbridge due to 
changes and growing congestion in the area. This deviation is temporary 
for the 2014 navigation season only. A new bridge in the area is 
planned to be completed in 2016 and the Stillwater Highway Bridge would 
then be altered to a pedestrian only bridge. Comments received in 
response to and the effects of this deviation will be taken into 
consideration both during the 2015 navigation season and in preparation 
for changes that may be necessary in 2016.
    The temporary deviation will occur from May 15 through October 15, 
2014, and the bridge will open on signal Monday through Friday, except 
Federal Holidays from:
    (i) 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., every hour on the hour;
    (ii) 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., every half hour;
    (iii) 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.;
    (iv) 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., every half hour; and
    (v) 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., upon at least two hours notice.
    The Stillwater Highway Drawbridge currently operates in accordance 
with 33 CFR 117.667(b), which states specific seasonal and commuter 
hours operating requirements.
    There are no alternate routes for vessels transiting this section 
of the St. Croix River.
    The Stillwater Highway Drawbridge, in the closed-to-navigation 
position, provides a vertical clearance of 10.9 feet above normal pool. 
Navigation on the waterway primarily consists of commercial 
sightseeing/dinner cruise boats and recreational watercraft. This 
temporary deviation has been coordinated with waterway users. One 
objection to this deviation was received and will be available in the 
docket as indicated under ADDRESSES. This objection will also be 
presented at the public meeting on April 16. This deviation action will 
be monitored throughout its implementation, and if at any time it is 
determined a condition of unreasonable impediment to navigation exists, 
the deviation may be revised or cancelled.
    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: April 1, 2014.
Eric A. Washburn,
Bridge Administrator, Western Rivers.
[FR Doc. 2014-08263 Filed 4-11-14; 8:45 am]
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