[Federal Register: June 2, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 105)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 32643]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02jn03-12]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[CGD01-03-047]
Drawbridge Operation Regulations: Mystic River, CT
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations; request for
comment.
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SUMMARY: The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a
temporary deviation from the drawbridge operation regulations for the
U.S. 1 Bridge, mile 2.8, across the Mystic River at Mystic,
Connecticut. This temporary deviation will test a proposed change to
the drawbridge operation regulations to determine if a permanent change
to the regulations is reasonable. It is expected that this change to
the regulations will better meet the needs of navigation and vehicular
traffic.
DATES: Comments must reach the Coast Guard on or before November 15,
2003. This deviation is effective from June 15, 2003 through August 31,
2003.
ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to Commander (obr), First Coast Guard
District, Bridge Branch, at 408 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02110-3350,
or deliver them to the same address between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is (617)
223-8364. The First Coast Guard District, Bridge Branch, maintains the
public docket for this rulemaking. Comments and material received from
the public, as well as documents indicated in this preamble as being
available in the docket, will become part of this docket and will be
available for inspection or copying at the First Coast Guard District,
Bridge Branch, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Schmied, Project Officer, First
Coast Guard District, at (212) 668-7195.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Request for Comments
We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting
comments or related material. If you do so, please include your name
and address, identify the docket number for this rulemaking (CGD01-03-
047), indicate the specific section of this document to which each
comment applies, and give the reason for each comment. Please submit
all comments and related material in an unbound format, no larger than
8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for copying. If you would like to know if
they reached us, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or
envelope. We will consider all comments and material received during
the comment period.
Background and Purpose
The U.S. 1 Bridge has a vertical clearance of 4 feet at mean high
water and 7 feet at mean low water in the closed position.
The existing regulations, listed at 33 CFR 117.211(b), require the
bridge to open on signal with a maximum delay of up to 20 minutes;
except that: from May 1 through October 31, from 7:15 a.m. to 7:15
p.m., the draw need only open once an hour, at quarter past the hour.
From November 1 through April 30, from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., the draw shall
open on signal after a six-hour advance notice is given.
The Mystic Connecticut Chamber of Commerce and Marine Affairs
Committee requested that the U.S. 1 Bridge opening schedule be changed.
Under this temporary deviation the draw of the U.S. 1 Bridge shall
open on signal; except that, from 7:40 a.m. to 7:40 p.m., daily, the
draw need only open at 7:40 a.m., 8:40 a.m., 9:40 a.m., 10:40 a.m.,
11:40 a.m., 1:10 p.m., 1:40 p.m., 2:40 p.m., 3:40 p.m., 4:40 p.m., 5:40
p.m., 6:40 p.m., and 7:40 p.m.
This temporary deviation eliminates the provision that permits
openings to be delayed up to 20 minutes after a request is given. Under
this temporary deviation, the bridge must open promptly and fully upon
request, in accordance with 33 CFR 117.5.
This deviation from the operating regulations is authorized under
33 CFR 117.43, and comments and information gathered during the comment
period will assist the Coast Guard in determining if this test
operating schedule is reasonable and should be made a permanent change
to the drawbridge operation regulations.
Dated: May 20, 2003.
John L. Grenier,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Commander, First Coast Guard
District.
[FR Doc. 03-13698 Filed 5-30-03; 8:45 am]
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