[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 78 (Tuesday, April 25, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18989-18990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-08260]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2017-0161]


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Canaveral Barge Canal, 
Canaveral, FL

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

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

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the 
operating schedule that governs the SR 401 Drawbridge, mile 5.5 at Port 
Canaveral, Florida. This deviation is necessary to reduce vehicular 
traffic congestion and to ensure the safety of the roadways while 
passengers are transiting to and from Cruise Terminal 10, which is used 
by Norwegian Cruise Line at Port Canaveral. Since the arrival of the 
cruise ship Norwegian Epic to the Port of Canaveral, massive traffic 
back-ups have been caused by the drawbridge openings. This deviation 
allows the bridge to not open to navigation during prime cruise ship 
passenger loading and unloading times on Saturdays.

DATES: This deviation is effective from April 25, 2017 until October 
23, 2017. Submit comments by June 26, 2017.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2017-0161] 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. We encourage you to submit comments 
through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. 
If your material cannot be submitted using http://www.regulations.gov, 
contact Mr. Michael Lieberum with the Seventh Coast Guard District 
Bridge Office; telephone 305-415-6744, email 
[email protected], for alternate instructions.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this 
temporary deviation, call or email Mr. Michael Lieberum with the 
Seventh Coast Guard District Bridge Office; telephone 305-415-6744, 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Canaveral Port Authority, with 
concurrence from the bridge owner, Florida Department of Transportation 
have requested the Coast Guard consider changing the regulation of the 
SR401 Bridge across the Canaveral Barge Canal, Port Canaveral, FL to 
allow the bridge to not open to navigation from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 
Saturdays. The current operating regulation is under 33 CFR 117.273. 
The bridge logs (insert the time period of the reviewed bridge logs) 
indicate that, at most, approximately nine vessels may be affected by 
establishing this three hour bridge closure on Saturdays. The majority 
of the opening requests were either at the beginning or end of this 
closure period; therefore, by adjusting their transits slightly there 
should be a negligible overall effect. This deviation is effective from 
April 25, 2017 until October 23, 2017. The Coast Guard will continue to 
evaluate the impact to mariners navigating this area during the closure 
periods and has requested comments be submitted during the first 60 
days of this deviation.

[[Page 18990]]

    Vessels able to pass through the bridge in the closed position may 
do so at any time. The bridge will be able to open for emergencies and 
there is no immediate alternate route for vessels to pass through the 
bridge in closed positions. The Coast Guard will also inform the users 
of the waterways through Local and Broadcast Notices to Mariners of the 
change in operating schedule for the bridge so that vessel operators 
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.

Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We view public participation as essential to effective rulemaking, 
and will consider all comments and material received during the comment 
period. Your comment can help shape the outcome of this rulemaking. If 
you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
rulemaking, indicate the specific section of this document to which 
each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or 
recommendation.
    We encourage you to submit comments through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. If your material cannot be 
submitted using http://www.regulations.gov, contact the person in the 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for alternate 
instructions.
    We accept anonymous comments. All comments received will be posted 
without change to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided. For more about privacy and the 
docket, you may review a Privacy Act notice regarding the Federal 
Docket Management System in the March 24, 2005, issue of the Federal 
Register (70 FR 15086).
    Documents mentioned in this notice of deviation, and all public 
comments, are in our online docket at http://www.regulations.gov and 
can be viewed by following that Web site's instructions. Additionally, 
if you go to the online docket and sign up for email alerts, you will 
be notified when comments are posted or a final rule is published.

    Dated: April 19, 2017.
Barry Dragon,
Director, Bridge Branch, Seventh Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2017-08260 Filed 4-24-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P