[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 134 (Monday, July 14, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 40638-40639]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16330]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2014-0483]


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Elizabeth River, Eastern 
Branch, VA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

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

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the 
regulation governing the operation of the SR 175 Bridge across Lewis 
Channel and Black Narrows, mile 3.5, at Chincoteague, VA. This 
deviation will be a test to change the drawbridge operation schedule to 
determine whether a permanent change to the schedule is needed. This 
deviation will require the bridge to open on demand at all times.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 6 a.m. on August 4, 2014 
through midnight on November 3, 2014.
    Comments and related material must be received by the Coast Guard 
on or before October 2, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2014-0483 using any one of the following methods:
    (1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
    (2) Fax: 202-493-2251.
    (3) Mail: 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this test 
deviation, call or email Kashanda Booker, Bridge Specialist, Fifth 
Coast Guard District, telephone (757) 398-6227, email 
[email protected]. If you have questions on viewing or 
submitting material to 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 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.

1. Submitting Comments

    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
rulemaking (USCG-2014-0483), 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

[[Page 40639]]

when you successfully transmit the comment. If you fax, hand delivery, 
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 the 
Coast Guard can contact you if we have questions regarding your 
submission.
    To submit your comment online, go to type the docket number [USCG-
2014-0483], in the ``SEARCH'' box and click ``SEARCH.'' Click on 
``Submit a Comment'' on the line associated with this rulemaking. 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.

2. 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, 
type the docket number (USCG-2014-0483) in the ``SEARCH'' box and click 
SEARCH. Click on Open Docket Folder on the line associated with this 
rulemaking. 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

    We do not now plan to hold a public meeting. You may submit a 
request for one on or before October 2, 2014, using one of the four 
methods specified under ADDRESSES. Please explain why one would be 
beneficial. If the Coast Guard determines that a public meeting would 
aid this rulemaking, they will hold one at a time and place announced 
by a later notice in the Federal Register.
Basis and Purpose
    Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), who owns and operates 
SR 175 Bridge across Lewis Channel and Black Narrows, mile 3.5, at 
Chincoteague, VA requested a temporary change to the existing bridge 
regulations, set out at 33 CFR 117.1005, to test a new schedule. In 
2011, the new single-leaf bascule bridge was constructed on a new 
alignment replacing the former swing-type bridge that was located 
downstream from the Chincoteague maritime community. The new bridge 
alignment resulted in boaters having an improved channel access and the 
number of necessary bridge openings reduced.
    In the closed position to vessels, the single-span bascule bridge 
has vertical clearance of 15 feet above mean high water.
    The current operating schedule allows the draw to open on demand 
from midnight to 6 a.m., and every one and a half hours from 6 a.m. to 
midnight (at 6 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 
3 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 9 p.m., 10:30 p.m., and 
midnight); except from 7 a.m., to 5 p.m. on the last consecutive 
Wednesday and Thursday in July, the draw need not be opened. This has 
been the regular operating schedule since November, 16, 2006.
    The SR 175 Bridge is the only vehicular connection between the 
mainland and Eastern Shore of Virginia and Chincoteague Island. Tourism 
is a dominant industry of Chincoteague Island with activities taking 
place in the Town of Chincoteague, Chincoteague Island and Assateague 
Island.
    Based on the decrease amount of vessel openings, the Chincoteague 
maritime community and the Accomack County Board of Supervisors favored 
a less restrictive opening schedule by proposing a test deviation from 
scheduled openings to an ``on demand'' schedule while still balancing 
the needs of marine and vehicular traffic. The monthly vessel openings 
at the SR 175 Bridge submitted by VDOT are as follows:


                                                                  Bridge Opening Counts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 APR 2013    MAY 2013    JUNE 2013   JUL 2013    AUG 2013    SEPT 2013   OCT 2013    NOV 2013    DEC 2013    JAN 2014    FEB 2014    MAR 2014   APR 2014
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       1           4           7           7           7           6           7           3           2           0           0           0          3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The bridge logs revealed that from April 2013 to April 2014, the SR 
175 Bridge had experienced only 47 total vessel openings. The vessels 
consist of commercial fishing, motorboats, sailboats, trawlers and 
yachts.

The Test Schedule

    From August 4, 2014, to November 3, 2014, the draw of the SR 175 
Bridge, mile 3.5, at Chincoteague, shall open on signal in accordance 
with the general operating regulations set out at 33 CFR 117.5.
    During this test deviation, VDOT will gather data on vessel 
openings in hopes of eliminating the current operating schedule for 
vessel passage.

Additional Information

    This deviation has been coordinated with the waterway users 
transiting in this area and there is no expectation of any significant 
impacts on navigation. Vessels with mast heights of less than 15 feet, 
above mean high water, can continue to pass underneath the bridge in 
the closed position.
    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: June 30, 2014.
Waverly W. Gregory, Jr.,
Bridge Program Manager, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2014-16330 Filed 7-11-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P