[Federal Register: May 12, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 91)] [Notices] [Page 25530] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr12my99-126] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Coast Guard [CGD07-99-008] Bridge of Lions; Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, St. Augustine, FL AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT. ACTION: Notice of public hearing; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Coast Guard together with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), will hold a public hearing to receive information concerning the environmental and navigational impacts of alternate bridge designs being considered for the replacement or rehabilitation of the Bridge of Lions. The bridge is located on State Road A1A where it crosses the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW), mile 777.9, at St. Augustine, Florida. The hearing will allow interested parties to present comments and information concerning the bridge alternates under consideration. DATES: The hearing will start at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 7, 1999. Comments must be received by July 7, 1999. ADDRESSES: The hearing will be held at the St. Johns County Administration Building, 4010 Lewis Speedway Road, St. Augustine, Florida. Written comments may be submitted to, and will be available for examination between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, at the office of the Commander (oan), Seventh Coast Guard District, Bridge Section, Brickell Plaza Federal Building, 909 SE First Avenue, Miami, Florida 33131-3050. Please submit all comments and attachments in an unbound format, no larger than 8 by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. Persons wanting acknowledgement of receipt of comments should enclose a stamped, self- addressed postcard or envelope. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. N.E. Mpras, Chief, Office of Bridge Administration, Commandant (G- OPT), U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 Second Street, SW, Washington, DC 20593 (202 267-0368); Commander Eugene Gray, U.S. Coast Guard, Chief, Aids to Navigation and Waterways Management Branch, Seventh Coast Guard District, Miami, FL (305) 536-5621; Mr. Joel Glenn, District Environmental Management Engineer, Florida Department of Transportation, Lake City, FL (904) 752-3300; or Mr. Mark Bartlett, Program Operations Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, Tallahassee, FL (850) 942-9598. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The Bridge of Lions is a historic, sub-standard two-lane structure across the AIWW. The Coast Guard is concerned about the restrictive horizontal clearance that the existing bridge and fender system now imposes on commercial tug and barge traffic on the AIWW. These navigational concerns must be addressed sufficiently to allow the Coast Guard to accept an application for a proposed bridge replacement or rehabilitation at this location on the AIWW. The Coast Guard has been involved in temporary remedial measures to insure the safety of navigation through the existing bridge structure while plans are being prepared for a new or rehabilitated bridge at the reach of the AIWW. These measures include the placement of temporary mooring dolphins upstream and downstream of the bridge to provide tugs with tows a place to moor while waiting for slack water conditions to make safe passage of the structure. These temporary mooring dolphins remain in place at the time of this public hearing but the Coast Guard does not consider them a suitable long-term solution. The FHWA is lead federal agency for the environmental documentation for this project. The Coast Guard has been involved as a cooperating agency during the preparation of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The DEIS identifies no preferred alternate for implementation. The selection of a preferred alternative will be made only after a thorough evaluation of the merits of each. The Coast Guard, in cooperation with the FDOT, owner of the bridge, and the FHWA, welcomes your comments on the Bridge of Lions project study. A U.S. Coast Guard Bridge Permit approving the location and clearances of the alternative eventually selected for construction is required before construction begins. Accordingly, it is extremely important to receive all information on the alternatives, which may present serious problems for navigation and bridge safety. Procedural Any person who wishes may appear and speak or present evidence at this public hearing. Persons planning to speak at the hearing should notify Mr. Joel Glenn or Mr. Bill Henderson with the Lake City office of the Florida Department of Transportation, or the Commander (oan), Seventh Coast Guard District, Bridge Administrator, at the telephone numbers listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT any time prior to the hearing, indicating the amount of time required. Written statements and exhibits may be submitted in place of or in addition to oral statements and will be made a part of the hearing record. Written statements and exhibits may be delivered before or during the hearing, or they may be submitted for up to 30 days following the date of the hearing to the Coast Guard office listed under ADDRESSES. The DEIS is available in print format in FDOT offices as well as all St. Johns County, Florida public libraries. It is the official document sent to all governmental agencies for the final round of comments on whether to rehabilitate or replace the existing bridge. Information on Services for Individuals with Disabilities For information about facilities or services for individuals with disabilities, or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact Commander Eugene Gray, U.S. Coast Guard, Chief, Aids to Navigation and Waterways Management Branch, Seventh Coast Guard District at the number under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT As soon as possible. Authority: 33 CFR 115.60. Dated: May 5, 1999. Norman T. Saunders, Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Seventh Coast Guard District. [FR Doc. 99-11927 Filed 5-11-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-15-M