[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 138 (Thursday, July 20, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 33448-33449]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15230]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2017-0695]


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Chambers Creek, Steilacoom, WA

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 
operating schedule that governs the Chambers Creek Burlington Northern 
Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad vertical lift railroad bridge across Chambers 
Creek, mile 0.01, near Steilacoom in Pierce County, WA. This deviation 
will test a change to the drawbridge operation schedule, for the second 
time within the past year, to determine whether a permanent change to 
the schedule is appropriate.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 6 a.m. on July 22, 2017 to 6 
a.m. on January 16, 2018.
    Comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on or 
before January 16, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2017-0695 using Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov.
    See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion 
of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for instructions on 
submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this 
temporary deviation, call or email Mr. Danny McReynolds, Bridge 
Management Specialist, Thirteenth Coast Guard District; telephone 206-
220-7234, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background, Purpose and Legal Basis

    Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, the bridge owner, is 
requesting to test a deviation to the schedule of the Chambers Creek 
BNSF railroad vertical lift railroad bridge across Chambers Creek, mile 
0.01, near Steilacoom in Pierce County, WA. Due to minimal usage of the 
drawbridge between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., the bridge owner has requested 
to test this schedule to see if it better balances the needs of marine 
and rail traffic. The bridge has a vertical clearance of 10ft in the 
closed-to-navigation position and 50ft of vertical clearance in the 
open-to-navigation position (reference plane is MHW elevation of 12.2 
feet). The bridge currently operates under 33 CFR 117.5; which requires 
the bridge to open anytime when a request or signal to open is given.
    The following facts support BNSF's proposal: (1) The previous test 
deviation from December 12, 2016 to Jun 23, 2017 had only one lift 
opening request (2) over the last 6 years only 2% of the subject bridge 
lifts have occurred between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., which 
equates to approximately 5 openings a year, (3) from February 2009 to 
June 2015 there were 1932 total openings of which only 40 occurred 
between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., and (4) the navigation traffic 
consists primarily of the tenants of Chambers Bay marina (recreational 
users) that are members of the Chambers Bay Boating Association.
    The Coast Guard is publishing this temporary deviation, for a 
second time within a year, to test the proposed schedule change to 
determine whether a permanent change to the schedule is appropriate to 
better balance the needs of marine and rail traffic.
    Under this temporary deviation, in effect from 6 a.m. on July 22, 
2017 to 6 a.m. on January 15, 2017, the subject bridge shall open on 
signal, except from

[[Page 33449]]

10 p.m. to 6 a.m. the draw shall open on signal if at least 4 hours 
notice is given. The bridge will be required to open as soon a 
possible, no later than 1 hour after notification, for vessels engaged 
in emergency response.
    The Coast Guard will inform the users of the waterways of this 
temporary deviation through our Local and Broadcast Notices to Mariners 
and through direct outreach with the Chambers Creek Boating Association 
so that vessel operators can arrange their transits to minimize any 
impact caused by the temporary deviation. Vessels able to pass 
underneath the bridge in the closed-to-navigation position may do so at 
anytime.
    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.

II. 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, 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: July 13, 2017.
Steven M. Fischer,
Bridge Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2017-15230 Filed 7-19-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P