[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 162 (Friday, August 21, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50768-50769]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20670]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2015-0351]


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Lewis and Clark River, Astoria, 
OR

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 Oregon State (Lewis and Clark 
River) Highway Bridge across the Lewis and Clark River, mile 1.0, at 
Astoria, OR. The deviation is necessary to accommodate bridge 
maintenance activities. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in 
the closed-to-navigation position and need not open to maritime 
traffic.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 7 a.m. on August 20, 2015 to 5 
p.m. on October 30, 2015.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2015-0351] 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, Thirteenth Coast 
Guard District Bridge Program Administrator, telephone 206-220-7282, 
email d13-pf-d13bridgesuscg.mil. If you have questions on viewing the 
docket, call Cheryl Collins, Program Manager, Docket Operations, 
telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Oregon Department of Transportation 
(ODOT) has requested that the Lewis and Clark River Bridge, mile 1.0, 
remain in the closed-to-navigation position, and need not open to 
vessel traffic Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The 
bascule span will be available to open on Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 4 
p.m., when given 3 hours advanced notice. The bridge will operate as 
normal on Sundays. The deviation is necessary to facilitate

[[Page 50769]]

bridge maintenance activities to include repairing and preserving the 
bascule drawbridge structural steel. The Lewis and Clark Bridge 
provides a vertical clearance of 17.3 feet above mean high water when 
in the closed-to-navigation position. The normal operating schedule of 
the Oregon State highway bridge can be found in 33 CFR 117.899(c). This 
deviation period is from 7 a.m. on August 20, 2015 to 5 p.m. on October 
30, 2015. The deviation allows the bascule span of the Lewis and Clark 
River Bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position Monday, 
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday throughout the deviation 
period. In addition, the span will be in the closed-to-navigation 
position on Thursdays, but available to open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. when 
given 3 hours advanced notice. The bridge will operate as normal on 
Sundays in accordance with 33 CFR 117.899(c). Waterway usage on the 
Lewis and Clark River is primarily small recreational boaters and 
fishing vessels transiting to and from Astoria Marine Construction 
Company.
    The bascule span of the bridge will have a containment system 
installed which will reduce the vertical clearance by 5 feet from 17.3 
feet above mean high water to 12.3 feet above mean high water. Vessels 
able to pass through the bridge in the closed-to-navigation position 
may do so at any time. The bridge will be able to open for any 
emergency if a three-hour notice is given from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday 
through Saturday; on Sundays the bridge will be able to open in 
accordance with 33 CFR 117.899(c), 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 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: August 17, 2015.
Steven M. Fischer,
Bridge Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2015-20670 Filed 8-20-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P