[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 233 (Wednesday, December 6, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 57561-57562]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26269]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2016-0257]
RIN 1625-AA09


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Delaware River, Pennsauken 
Township, NJ

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; reopening of comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is re-opening the comment period for its 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which published on June 30, 2017. 
The Coast Guard is proposing to change the regulation governing the 
DELAIR Memorial Railroad Bridge across the Delaware River, mile 104.6, 
at Pennsauken Township, NJ. Because the bridge owner implemented new 
polices and training that was not fully evaluated during the previous 
test deviation, the Coast Guard is providing an additional opportunity 
for public comment.

DATES: 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 proposed 
rule, call or email Mr. Hal R. Pitts, Fifth Coast Guard District (dpb); 
telephone (757) 398-6222, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background and Purpose

    On June 30, 2017, we published a notice of proposed rulemaking 
(NPRM) entitled, ``Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Delaware River, 
Pennsauken Township, NJ'' in the Federal Register (82 FR 29800). The 
original comment period closed on August 18, 2017. The NPRM proposed 
changes to the regulation governing the DELAIR Memorial Railroad Bridge 
across the Delaware River, mile 104.6, at Pennsauken Township, and 
contains useful background and analysis related to the proposed 
changes. The installation of the remote capabilities did not change the 
operational schedule of the bridge.\1\ The public is encouraged to 
review the NPRM.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On April 12, 2017, we issued a temporary deviation entitled 
``Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Delaware River, Pennsauken Township, 
NJ'' in the Federal Register (82 FR 17561). 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.
    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.
    On October 18, 2017, we published a second test deviation entitled 
``Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Delaware River, Pennsauken Township, 
NJ'' in the Federal Register (82 FR 48419). This second test deviation 
was issued to complete the evaluation of the changes incorporated into 
the remote operation system during the test deviation ending October 
21, 2017. Comments and related material for the second test deviation 
must reach the Coast Guard on or before January 15, 2018.

Re-Opening the Comment Period

    The comment period for the NPRM published on June 30, 2017 ended 
August 18, 2017. This notice re-opening the comment period ensures 
there is sufficient opportunity to comment on the proposed rule which 
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, before the proposed changes become final.

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,

[[Page 57562]]

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 NPRM 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: November 17, 2017.
M.L. Austin,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2017-26269 Filed 12-5-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P