[Federal Register: June 28, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 123)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 36011-36012]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28jn04-5]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[CGD05-04-118]
RIN 1625-AA09
Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Chincoteague Channel, VA
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations and request for
comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Route 175 Bridge
across Chincoteague Channel, mile 3.5, at Chincoteague, Virginia. Under
this temporary 90-day deviation, the draw of the bridge will open every
two hours on the even hour from 6 a.m. to Midnight; except from 7 a.m.
to 5 p.m., on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July, the
draw need not be opened. At all other times, the draw need not open.
The purpose of this temporary deviation is to test an alternate
drawbridge operation schedule for 90 days and solicit comments from the
public.
DATES: This deviation is effective from July 2, 2004 through September
29, 2004. Comments must reach the Coast Guard on or before 15 October
2004.
ADDRESSES: You may mail comments and related material to Commander
(obr), Fifth Coast Guard District, Federal Building, 4th Floor, 431
Crawford Street, Portsmouth, Virginia 23704-5004, or they may be hand
delivered to the same address between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal Holidays. The Commander (obr), Fifth Coast Guard
District maintains the public docket for this test deviation. 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
above address.
Request for Comments
We encourage you to participate in this test schedule by submitting
comments and related material. If you do so, please include your name
and address, identify the docket number for this test deviation CGD05-
04-118, 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
they reached us, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or
envelope. We will consider all comments and material received during
the comment period.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary S. Heyer, Bridge Management
Specialist, Fifth Coast Guard District, at (757) 398-6629.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Effective on June 16, 2004, the bridge
owner, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), was officially
permitted to operate the Route 175 Bridge across Chincoteague Channel
with new regulations. The new operating regulations listed at 33 CFR
Sec. 117.1005 allows the draw of the bridge to remain in the closed
position from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the last consecutive Wednesday and
Thursday in July of every year, to facilitate public safety during the
Annual Pony Swim.
On behalf of the Chincoteague Town Council (the Town Council),
residents and business owners in the area, VDOT has requested a
temporary deviation from the drawbridge regulations to test for a
period of 90 days an alternate drawbridge operation schedule in an
effort to balance the needs of vessel and vehicular traffic transiting
in and around this seaside resort area. The new
[[Page 36012]]
proposal will test new regulations that will require the bridge to open
on two-hour intervals on the even hour from 6 a.m. to Midnight; except
from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday
in July, the draw need not be opened. At all other times, the draw need
not open.
The Town Council has recommended this test regulation to reduce
vehicular traffic congestion, to increase public safety on this small
island as a result of the reduced number of drawbridge openings, and to
extend the structural and operational integrity of the movable span.
Under this 90-day temporary deviation, effective from July 2, 2004
through September 29, 2004, the Route 175 Bridge across Chincoteague
Channel shall open every two hours on the even hour from 6 a.m. to
Midnight; except from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., on the last consecutive
Wednesday and Thursday in July, the draw need not be opened. At all
other times, the draw need not open.
This deviation from the operating regulations is authorized under
33 CFR Sec. 117.43.
Dated: June 21, 2004.
Waverly W. Gregory, Jr.,
Chief, Bridge Administration Branch, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 04-14628 Filed 6-25-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P