[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 90 (Thursday, May 11, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 21916-21917]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09598]


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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; modification.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has modified a temporary deviation from the 
operating schedule that governs the SR 401 Drawbridge, mile 5.5 at Port 
Canaveral, Florida. This modified 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 
modified deviation allows the bridge to not open to navigation during 
prime cruise ship passenger loading and unloading times on Saturdays 
and Sundays.

DATES: This modified deviation is effective without actual notice from 
May 11, 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.

[[Page 21917]]


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: On April 25, 2017 the Coast Guard published 
a temporary deviation entitled ``Drawbridge Operation Regulation; 
Canaveral Barge Canal, Canaveral, FL in the Federal Register (82 FR 
18989). Under that temporary deviation, the bridge would remain in the 
closed-to-navigation position from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. The 
Canaveral Port Authority has requested that this deviation also include 
Sundays. The current operating regulation is under 33 CFR 117.273. The 
bridge logs from November 2016 indicate that, at most, approximately 
nine vessels may be affected by establishing this three hour bridge 
closure on Saturdays and Sundays. 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 modified deviation is effective from May 11, 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 
modified deviation.
    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: May 8, 2017.
Barry Dragon,
Director, Bridge Branch, Seventh Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2017-09598 Filed 5-10-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P