[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 29 (Thursday, February 12, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7802-7803]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-02492]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2015-0053]


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Lake Washington Ship Canal, 
Seattle, WA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from drawbridge regulation.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the 
operating schedule that governs the Seattle Department of 
Transportation (SDOT) Fremont Bridge, across the Lake Washington Ship 
Canal, mile 2.6, at Seattle, WA. The Fremont Bridge is a double leaf 
bascule bridge. This deviation is necessary to allow the bridge to 
operate in single leaf mode while work crews conducting bridge painting 
are onsite. This deviation allows a double leaf opening with a five 
hour advance notice. For all other openings, one half of the bridge 
will remain in the closed position while reducing the vertical 
clearance of the non-operating span by four feet to account for the 
installation of a moveable platform underneath the bridge.

DATES: This deviation is effective without actual notice from February 
12, 2015 until May 1, 2015. For the purposes of enforcement, actual 
notice will be used from the date the rule was

[[Page 7803]]

signed, January 28, 2015, until February 12, 2015.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2015-0053] 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. Steven Fischer, Bridge 
Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard District; telephone 206-220-7282, 
email [email protected]. If you have questions on viewing the 
docket, call Cheryl Collins, Program Manager, Docket Operations, 
telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) 
has requested a temporary deviation from the operating schedule for the 
Fremont Bridge, mile 2.6, crossing the Lake Washington Ship Canal at 
Seattle, WA. The deviation is necessary to accommodate SDOT workers for 
a bridge painting project. To facilitate this event, the full draw of 
the bridge will not open for vessel traffic unless a five hour notice 
is provided to the bridge operator. For all other openings, one half of 
the bridge, or single leaf, will remain in the closed position while 
reducing the vertical clearance of the non-operating span by four feet 
to account for the installation of a moveable platform underneath the 
bridge.
    The Fremont Bridge, mile 2.6, provides a vertical clearance of 14 
feet (31 feet of vertical clearance for the center 36 horizontal feet) 
in the closed position. The clearance is referenced to the mean water 
elevation of Lake Washington. The normal operating schedule for the 
Fremont Bridge is set out in 33 CFR 117.1051 and states that the bridge 
need not open from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday 
through Friday except all Federal holidays but Columbus Day for any 
vessel of less than 1000 tons, unless the vessel has in tow a vessel of 
1000 gross tons or over. The normal operating schedule for this bridge 
also requires one hour advance notification for bridge openings between 
11 p.m. and 7 a.m. daily. Waterway usage on the Lake Washington Ship 
Canal ranges from commercial tug and barge to small pleasure craft.
    Vessels able to pass through the bridge in the closed positions may 
do so at any time. The bridge will be able to open one leaf, half of 
the draw span, for emergencies. Furthermore, 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 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 designated 
time period. This deviation from the operating regulations is 
authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.

    Dated: January 28, 2015.
Steven M. Fischer,
Bridge Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2015-02492 Filed 2-11-15; 8:45 am]
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