[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 158 (Thursday, August 17, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 39019-39020]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17387]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2017-0273]


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, 
Palm Beach, 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 operation of the Flagler Memorial 
(SR A1A), Royal Park (SR 704), and the Southern Boulevard (SR 700/80) 
bridges, across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW), miles 
1020.8, 1022.6 and 1024.7 at Palm Beach, Florida. This deviation will 
test for 180 days a change to the drawbridge operation schedules to 
determine whether a permanent change to the schedules is needed. This 
deviation is necessary to reduce traffic congestion and ensure the 
safety of the roadways, while meeting the needs of waterways users, 
whenever the President of the United States, members of the First 
Family, or other persons under the protection of the Secret Service are 
present or expected to be

[[Page 39020]]

visiting Mar-a-Lago. This deviation allows the Flagler Memorial and 
Royal Park bridges to open once an hour during a 4 hour period on 
weekdays when the President is staying at Mar-a-Lago, and the Southern 
Boulevard Bridge to remain closed to navigation when the presidential 
motorcade is in transit.

DATES: This deviation is effective from September 1, 2017, until 
February 27, 2018.
    Comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on or 
before October 16, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2017-0273 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. Eddie Lawrence with the Seventh 
Coast Guard District Bridge Office; telephone 305-415-6946, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background, Purpose and Legal Basis

    When the President of the United States, members of the First 
Family, or other persons under the protection of the Secret Service are 
present or expected to be present at Mar-a-Lago, traffic backups have 
been caused by drawbridge openings in the Palm Beach area. The increase 
in traffic occurs due to the closure of Southern Boulevard when the 
President is visiting Mar-a-Lago. This requires through traffic to use 
the Flagler Memorial and Royal Park Bridges to cross the Atlantic 
Intracoastal Waterway (AICW). Due to the increased traffic using the 
Flagler Memorial and Royal Park bridges when the President is in town, 
the Mayor of Palm Beach has asked the Coast Guard and the bridge owner, 
Florida Department of Transportation, to test a change to the operating 
regulations of those bridges.
    During this temporary deviation, the Flagler Memorial and Royal 
Park Bridges will only be required to open once an hour, on the quarter 
and half hour, respectively, starting at 2:15 p.m. through 5:30 p.m. 
during the weekdays only. The Flagler memorial Bridge will open at 2:15 
p.m., 3:15 p.m., 4:15 p.m. and 5:15 p.m., weekdays, if vessels are 
requesting an opening. The Royal Park (Middle) Bridge will open at 2:30 
p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., weekdays, if vessels are 
requesting an opening.
    The operating schedule of the Southern Boulevard Bridge, which is 
closest to Mar-a-Lago and also crosses the AICW, will not be affected 
during the aforementioned times. However it will be allowed to remain 
closed whenever the presidential motorcade is in transit. At all other 
times all three bridges will operate per their normal schedules. The 
current operating regulation is under 33 CFR 117.261 at paragraphs (u), 
(v), and (w), respectively.
    This general deviation will have an impact on marine traffic while 
alleviating some vehicle traffic backups. Tugs with tows are not exempt 
from this regulation.
    The Coast Guard will inform waterway users of the schedule changes 
through our Local and Broadcast Notices to Mariners, so that vessel 
operators can arrange their transits to minimize any impact caused by 
the temporary deviation. Mariners should also listen to local news 
organizations to determine when the President, members of the First 
Family, or other persons under the protection of the Secret Service are 
visiting Mar-a-Largo.
    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. The Coast Guard will 
continue to evaluate the impact to mariners navigating this area during 
the closure periods and is requesting comments be submitted during the 
first 60 days of this deviation.
    Vessels able to pass through the bridge in the closed position may 
do so at anytime. The bridge will be able to open for emergencies.

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.

Barry Dragon,
Director, Bridge Branch, Seventh Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2017-17387 Filed 8-16-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P