[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 6, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 9430]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04436]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2018-0131]


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Youngs Bay and Lewis and Clark 
River, Astoria, OR

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 three bridges at Astoria, OR, including 
the US101 (Youngs Bay) highway bridge, across Youngs Bay, the Oregon 
State (Old Youngs Bay) highway bridge, across Youngs Bay foot of Fifth 
Street, and the Oregon State (Lewis and Clark River) highway bridge, 
across Lewis and Clark River. This deviation will test a change to the 
drawbridge operation schedule to determine whether a permanent change 
to the schedule is appropriate. This deviation will allow the bridge to 
open during weekends and nighttime hours after receiving a 2 hour 
advance notice.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 5 p.m. on March 16, 2018 to 7 
a.m. on August 10, 2018.
    Comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on or 
before August 23, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2018-0131 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. Steven Fischer, Bridge Chief 
Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard District; telephone 206-220-7282, 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background, Purpose and Legal Basis

    Due to infrequent drawbridge opening requests between Friday 
evenings through Monday early mornings, Oregon Department of 
Transportation (ODOT) (bridge owner), has requested to open the three 
highway bridges within Youngs Bay and Lewis and Clark River with 2 
hours advance notice. The Youngs Bay highway bridge, Old Youngs Bay 
highway bridge and the Lewis and Clark River highway bridge are within 
one mile of each other, and currently open on signal for the passage of 
vessels with one half-hour notice by marine radio, telephone, or other 
suitable means. These three bridges are operated by the Lewis and Clark 
River highway bridge operator. The subject bridges operate per 33 CFR 
117.899.
    Vessels operating on Youngs Bay and the Lewis and Clark River range 
from small recreational vessels, sailboats, tribal fishing boats and 
small commercial fishing vessels. No navigational impacts are expected 
due to few vessels operating on these waterways at the stated hours. 
Also during roadway maintenance in 2016 and 2017, we approved 
deviations for the three subject bridges allowing these bridges to open 
on a three hour notice. No complaints or opening issues were identified 
at all hours of the day. Vessels able to pass through the subject 
bridges with the draw in the closed-to-navigation position may do so at 
any time.
    This deviation authorizes ODOT to open the Youngs Bay highway 
bridge, the Old Youngs Bay highway bridge and the Lewis and Clark River 
highway bridge, with a two hour advance notice on weekends from 5 p.m. 
on Friday to 7 a.m. on Monday, including all Federal holidays but 
Columbus Day, starting 5 p.m. on March 16, 2018 through 7 a.m. on 
August 10, 2018. The Youngs Bay highway bridge provides a vertical 
clearance approximately 37 feet above mean high water when in the 
closed-to-navigation position. The Old Youngs Bay highway bridge 
provides a vertical clearance approximately 19 feet above mean high 
water when in the closed-to-navigation position. The Lewis and Clark 
River highway bridge provides a vertical clearance of 17 feet above 
mean high water when in the closed-to-navigation position.
    The Coast Guard will also inform the users of the waterway through 
our Local and Broadcast Notices to Mariners of the change in operating 
schedule for the subject bridge so that vessel operators can arrange 
their transits to minimize any impact caused by the temporary test 
deviation. Youngs Bay and the Lewis and Clark River do not have an 
immediate alternate route for vessels to pass through the subject 
bridges. The subject bridges will be not be able to open for 
emergencies.
    In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(e), the drawbridges must return to 
their 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, visit http://www.regulations.gov/privacynotice.
    Documents mentioned in this notice as being available in the docket 
and all public comments, will be in our online docket at http://www.regulations.gov, and can be viewed by following that website'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: February 27, 2018.
Steven M. Fischer,
Bridge Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2018-04436 Filed 3-5-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P