[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 21, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43501-43502]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-18109]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2019-0714]


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; New River, Fort Lauderdale, FL

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from drawbridge regulations; 
request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the 
operating schedule that governs the Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) 
Railroad Bridge across the New River, mile 2.5, at Fort Lauderdale, 
Florida. This deviation is necessary to test a change to the drawbridge 
operation schedule to determine whether a permanent change to the 
schedule is needed. Under this deviation, the bridge shall not be 
closed more than 60 combined minutes in each consecutive 120-minute 
block of time, and at no time will this bridge be closed to navigation 
for more than 60 consecutive minutes of time. This deviation supports 
ongoing negotiations between the railroad and maritime stakeholders as 
the parties discuss a Final Rule that reasonably meets their interests.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 12:01 a.m. on August 20, 2019, 
to 11:59 p.m. on October 18, 2019.
    Comments must reach the Coast Guard on or before September 19, 
2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2019-0714 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 LT Samuel Rodriguez-Gonzalez, U.S. Coast 
Guard, Sector Miami Waterways Management Division; telephone 305-535-
4307, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background, Purpose and Legal Basis

    The Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) Railroad Bridge across the New 
River, mile 2.5, at Fort Lauderdale, Florida is a single-leaf bascule 
railroad bridge with a 4 foot vertical clearance at mean high water in 
the closed position. The normal operating schedule for the bridge is 
found in 33 CFR 117.313(c). There has been an increase in rail traffic 
over the bridge in recent years due the start of passenger rail 
service. This test deviation provides a block schedule for the bridge 
to operate allowing for a more consistent operating schedule.
    The draw shall operate as follows:
    (1) The bridge shall be constantly tended.
    (2) The bridge tender will utilize a VHF-FM radio to communicate on 
channels 9 and 16 and may be contacted by telephone at 305-889-5572.
    (3) Signs will be posted displaying VHF radio contact information 
and

[[Page 43502]]

telephone numbers for the bridge tender and dispatch. A countdown clock 
giving notice of time remaining before bridge closure shall remain at 
the bridge site and must be visible for maritime traffic.
    (4) A bridge log will be maintained including, at a minimum, bridge 
opening and closing times.
    (5) When the draw is in the fully open position, green lights will 
be displayed to indicate that vessels may pass.
    (6) When a train approaches, the lights go to flashing red then the 
draw lowers and locks.
    (7) After the train has cleared the bridge, the draw opens and the 
lights return to green.
    (8) The bridge shall not be closed more than 60 minutes combined in 
each consecutive 120-minute block of time beginning at 12:01 a.m. each 
day. At no time will the bridge be closed to navigation for more than 
60 consecutive minutes of time.
    (9) The bridge shall remain open to maritime traffic when trains 
are not crossing.
    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 and 
there is no immediate alternate route for vessels to pass. 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 
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, visit http://www.regulations.gov/privacynotice.

    Dated: August 19, 2019.
Barry Dragon,
Director, Bridge Branch, Seventh Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2019-18109 Filed 8-19-19; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P