[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 200 (Wednesday, October 18, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48419-48420]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22639]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2016-0257]


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Delaware River, Pennsauken 
Township, NJ

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 DELAIR Memorial Railroad Bridge 
across the Delaware River, mile 104.6, at Pennsauken Township, NJ. This 
deviation will test the remote operation capability of the drawbridge 
to determine whether the bridge can be safely operated from a remote 
location. This deviation will allow the bridge to be remotely operated 
from the Conrail South Jersey dispatch center in Mount Laurel, NJ, 
instead of being operated by an on-site bridge tender.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 8 a.m. on October 21, 2017 
through 7:59 a.m. on April 19, 2018.
    Comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on or 
before January 15, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2016-0257 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 test 
deviation, call or email Mr. Hal R. Pitts, Fifth Coast Guard District 
(dpb); telephone (757) 398-6222, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background, Purpose and Legal Basis

    On April 12, 2017, we published a notice in the Federal Register 
entitled, ``Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Delaware River, Pennsauken 
Township, NJ'' announcing a temporary deviation from the regulations, 
with request for comments (see 82 FR 17562). The purpose of the 
deviation was to test the newly installed remote operational 
capabilities of the DELAIR Memorial Railroad Bridge across the Delaware 
River, mile 104.6, at Pennsauken Township, NJ, owned and operated by 
Conrail Shared Assets. The installation of the remote capabilities did 
not change the operational schedule of the bridge.\1\
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    \1\ A full description of the remote operational system is 
outlined in the aforementioned publication, which can be found at 
http://regulations.gov. (see ADDRESSES for more information).
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    During the initial test deviation performed from 8 a.m. on April 
24, 2017, through 7:59 a.m. on October 21, 2017, the bridge owner 
identified deficiencies in the remote operation center procedures, 
bridge to vessel communications, and equipment redundancy. Comments 
concerning these deficiencies were submitted to the docket and provided 
to the Coast Guard and bridge owner by representatives from the 
Mariners' Advisory Committee for the Bay and River Delaware.
    During the initial test deviation, we also published a notice of 
proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register, entitled, 
``Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Delaware River, Pennsauken Township, 
NJ'' (see 82 FR 29800). In the NPRM, we stated that we are proposing to 
modify the operating regulation that governs the DELAIR

[[Page 48420]]

Memorial Railroad Bridge across the Delaware River, mile 104.6, at 
Pennsauken Township, NJ. This proposed regulation would allow the 
bridge to be remotely operated from the Conrail South Jersey dispatch 
center in Mount Laurel, NJ, instead of being operated by an on-site 
bridge tender. In the NPRM, we also stated we would not change the 
operating schedule of the bridge. The comment period for the notice and 
NPRM closed on August 18, 2017, and we received a total of fourteen 
comments. The Coast Guard will adjudicate all comments at the 
completion of this test.
    The bridge owner implemented policies and provided training to 
address the procedural and communications deficiencies and implemented 
backup systems to mitigate potential equipment and systems failures. 
These changes were not fully evaluated during the test deviation ending 
October 21, 2017. Therefore, the Coast Guard has decided to issue a 
second test deviation to complete the evaluation of the changes 
incorporated into the remote operation system.
    This test deviation will commence at 8 a.m. on October 21, 2017, 
and conclude at 7:59 a.m. on April 19, 2018. During the test deviation, 
a bridge tender will be stationed on-site at the bridge and will be 
able to immediately take local control of the bridge, as required.
    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 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 
normal local operation 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, visit http://www.regulations.gov/privacynotice.
    Documents mentioned in this notice as being available in this 
docket and all public comments, will be 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: October 13, 2017.
Hal R. Pitts,
Bridge Program Manager, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2017-22639 Filed 10-17-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P