
[Federal Register: February 17, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 30)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 7313-7314]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17fe09-8]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2008-1225]


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, St.
Petersburg Beach and South Pasadena, FL

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations; request for
comments.

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SUMMARY: The Commander, Seventh Coast Guard District, has issued a
temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the
Pinellas Bayway Structure ``C'' and Corey Causeway (SR 693) Bridges
across the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, miles 114 and 117.7, at St.
Petersburg Beach, and South Pasadena, FL. This deviation will test a
change to the drawbridge operation schedules to determine whether a
permanent change to the schedule is needed. This deviation will allow
both drawbridges to operate on a twice an hour schedule during the day.
This deviation may be terminated/cancelled at any time via a Broadcast
Notice to Mariners.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 7 a.m. on January 26 through 7
p.m. on April 25, 2009.

[[Page 7314]]


ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Coast Guard docket
number USCG-2008-1225 to the Docket Management Facility at the U.S.
Department of Transportation. To avoid duplication, please use only one
of the following methods:
    (1) Online: http://www.regulations.gov.
    (2) Mail: Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. Department of
Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    (3) Hand delivery: Same as mail address above, between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone
number is 202-366-9329.
    (4) Fax: 202-493-2251.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this test
deviation, call Michael Lieberum, Bridge Branch at 305-415-6744. If you
have questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, call
Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-
9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We encourage you to participate in this action by submitting
comments and related materials. All comments received will be posted,
without change, to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any
personal information you have provided. We have an agreement with the
Department of Transportation to use the Docket Management Facility.

Submitting Comments

    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this
action (USCG-2008-1225), indicate the specific section of this document
to which each comment applies, and give the reason for each comment. We
recommend that you include your name and a mailing address, an e-mail
address, or a phone number in the body of your document so that we can
contact you if we have questions regarding your submission. You may
submit your comments and material by electronic means, mail, fax, or
delivery to the Docket Management Facility at the address under
ADDRESSES; but please submit your comments and material by only one
means. If you submit them by mail or delivery, submit them in an
unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for
copying and electronic filing. If you submit them by mail and would
like to know that they reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped,
self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and
material received during the comment period. We may change this
proposed action in view of them.

Viewing Comments and Documents

    To view comments, as well as documents mentioned in this preamble
as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov at
any time, click on ``Search for Dockets,'' and enter the docket number
for this action (USCG-2008-1225) in the Docket ID box, and click enter.
You may also visit the Docket Management Facility in Room W12-140 on
the ground floor of the Department of Transportation West Building,
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Privacy Act

    Anyone can search the electronic form of all comments received into
any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment
(or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association,
business, labor union, etc.). You may review a Privacy Act, system of
records notice regarding our public dockets in the January 17, 2008
issue of the Federal Register (73 FR 3316).

Background and Purpose

    The Pinellas Bayway Structure ``C'' bridge has a vertical clearance
of 25 feet in the closed position and the Corey Causeway bridge has a
vertical clearance of 23 feet in the closed position.
    The current operating regulations per 33 CFR 117.287(e), the draw
of the Pinellas Bayway Structure ``C'' bridge, mile 114, at St.
Petersburg Beach shall open on signal; except that from 7 a.m. to 7
p.m., the draw need open only on the hour, twenty minutes past the
hour, and forty minutes past the hour. Per 33 CFR 117.287(f), the draw
of the Corey Causeway (SR 693) bridge, mile 117.7 at South Pasadena,
shall open on signal; except that, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through
Friday, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays and Federal
holidays, the draw need to open only on the hour, twenty minutes after
the hour, and forty minutes after the hour.
    The local mayor has requested that the Coast Guard evaluate a twice
an hour schedule. The Florida Department of Transportation, the bridge
owner, has a concern related to the length of time during bridge
openings on the weekends due to the accumulation of vessels between
openings which may directly impact vehicle traffic. For this reason,
FDOT will be monitoring the traffic flow through the area during this
test and may recommend that the test be terminated at any point that
vehicle traffic patterns show a detriment rather than an improvement in
traffic flow. This test may have a minor impact on vessel traffic as
there will be two openings an hour rather than three during these same
time periods.
    This deviation will start on 7 a.m. on January 26 and will continue
until 7 p.m. on April 25, 2009, unless otherwise terminated/cancelled
due to heavier than normal traffic patterns. The Pinellas Bayway
Structure ``C'' and Corey Causeway bridges will open on demand except
that from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily both bridges will open on the hour and
half-hour, seven days a week. Vessels able to pass under the bridges
without an opening may do so at any time. Public vessels of the United
States and tugs with tows must be passed at any time.
    In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(e), the drawbridge must return to
its regular operating schedule immediately at the end of the designated
time period. This deviation from the operating regulations is
authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.

    Dated: January 15, 2009.
R.S. Branham,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Seventh Coast Guard
District.
 [FR Doc. E9-3301 Filed 2-13-09; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-15-P
