Rules and Regulations. Notice of temporary deviation from regulations and request for comments

Agency: Coast Guard, DHS
Action: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations and request for comments
Citation: FR Doc. 04-8710 · RIN 1625-AA09 · CGD05-04-070 · 33 CFR 117

Summary

The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the drawbridge operation regulations to test an alternate drawbridge operation regulation for the U.S. Route 50/301 Bridge, mile 1.0, across Kent Island Narrows at Kent Island, Maryland. Under this temporary 90-day deviation, from May 1, through July 29, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., the bridge will open on the hour and half hour for the passage of all waiting vessels. The purpose of this temporary deviation is to test an alternate drawbridge operation schedule for 90 days and solicit comment from the public.

Dates

This deviation is effective from May 1, 2004, through July 29, 2004. Comments must reach the Coast Guard on or before 31 August 2004.

Supplementary Information

The U.S. Route 50/301 Bridge across Kent Island Narrows has a vertical clearance in the closed position of 18 feet at mean high water and 19 feet at mean low water. The existing drawbridge operation regulations are listed at 33 CFR 117.561. The bridge owner, the Maryland State Highway Authority, requested a temporary deviation from the drawbridge operation regulations to test for a period of 90 days an alternate drawbridge operation schedule. This deviation will expand the time the bridge is required to open to vessel traffic to on the hour and half hour for the period specified. This will assist in determining if additional openings are needed. The current bridge opening schedule has impacted navigational users attempting to transit through the bridge. The existing drawbridge operation regulations, outlined at 33 CFR 117.561 (b), states that: from May through October 31, on Monday (except when Monday is a holiday) through Thursday (except when Thursday is the day before a Friday holiday), the draw shall open on signal on the hour from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., but need not be opened at any other time; on Friday (except when Friday is a holiday) and on Thursday when it is the day before a Friday holiday, the draw shall open on signal on the hour from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. and at 8 p.m., but need not be opened at any other time; on Saturday and on a Friday holiday, the draw shall open on signal at 6 a.m. and 12 noon and on signal on the hour from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., but need not be opened at any other time; on Sunday and on a Monday holiday, the draw shall open on signal on the hour from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., and at 3:30 p.m., but need not opened at any other time; the draw shall open at scheduled opening times only if vessels are waiting to pass. At each opening, the draw shall remain open for a sufficient period of time to allow passage of all waiting vessels; and if a vessel is approaching the bridge and cannot reach the bridge exactly on the hour, the drawtender may delay the hourly opening up to ten minutes past the hour for the passage of the approaching vessel and any other vessels that are waiting to pass. Under this 90-day temporary deviation, effective from May 1, 2004 through July 29, 2004, the U.S. Route 50/301 Bridge across Kent Island Narrows will open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., on the hour and half hour, until all waiting vessels have passed. This deviation from the operating regulations is authorized under 33 CFR 117.43. Dated: April 9, 2004. Waverly W. Gregory, Jr., Chief, Bridge Branch, Fifth Coast Guard District. [FR Doc. 04-8710 Filed 4-15-04; 8:45 am]