[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 27, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7238-7239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-01104]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2019-0911]


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Mobile River, Hurricane, AL

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 CSX Transportation Railroad 
drawbridge across the Mobile River, mile 13.3 near Hurricane, Mobile 
County, Alabama. This deviation will test a change to the drawbridge 
operation schedule to determine whether a permanent change to the 
schedule is needed. The Coast Guard is seeking comments from the public 
regarding these proposed changes.

DATES: This deviation is effective without actual notice from 7:01 a.m. 
January 27, 2021 through 7 a.m. July 8, 2021. For the purposes of 
enforcement, actual notice will be used from 7 a.m. January 8, 2021 
through 7 a.m. January 27, 2021. Comments and related material must 
reach the Coast Guard on or before July 8, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2019-0911 using Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://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. Doug Blakemore. Eighth Coast Guard 
District Bridge Administration Branch Chief; telephone (504) 671-2128, 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background, Purpose and Legal Basis

    The CSX Transportation Railroad drawbridge has a vertical clearance 
of 5.5' in the closed to navigation position and operates in accordance 
with 33 CFR 117.5. The CSX Railroad Company, the owner of the bridge 
requested to change operation of the bridge from a tended drawbridge to 
a remotely operated drawbridge.
    CSX has completed installation of a remote operation system at the 
bridge and a remote control center, located in Mobile, AL. At the 
bridge, CSX has installed infrared cameras, closed circuit cameras and 
TVs, communication systems and information technology systems on the 
bridge that allow an operator from Mobile to monitor and control the 
bridge. They have also developed an operations manual that remote 
operators use to control each bridge.
    The purpose of this test is to evaluate the impact to navigation 
safety and vessels reasonable ability to use the waterway while the 
drawbridge is operated from the CSX remote control center in Mobile, 
AL. The bridge's operation schedule and methods to contact the bridge 
to open will remain the same.
    The waterway users include recreational vessels and commercial 
tows; which combined requires approximately six openings a day.
    The Coast Guard will 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.

[[Page 7239]]

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 https://www.regulations.gov. If your material cannot be 
submitted using https://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 https://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided. For more about privacy and 
submissions in response to this document, see DHS's eRulemaking System 
of Records notice (85 FR 14226, March 11, 2020).
    Documents mentioned in this test deviation as being available in 
this docket and all public comments, will be in our online docket at 
https://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: January 11, 2021.
Douglas Allen Blakemore, Sr.,
Chief, Bridge Administration Branch, Eighth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2021-01104 Filed 1-26-21; 8:45 am]
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