
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 245 (Wednesday, December 21, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 79145-79146]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-32631]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2010-0972]
RIN 1625-AA09


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Bayou Liberty, Mile 2.0, St. 
Tammany Parish, Slidell, LA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is withdrawing its proposed rule concerning 
the regulation governing the operation of the SR 433 Bridge over Bayou 
Liberty, mile 2.0, St. Tammany Parish, Slidell, LA. The Louisiana 
Department of Transportation and Development (the bridge owner) 
proposed a change in the operating schedule to reduce the hours of 
manned operation of the bridge to make more efficient use of personnel 
and operating resources. Based on public comments expressing concern 
with the impact the proposed changes would have on public access to the 
waterway, the bridge owner no longer desires to move forward with the 
proposed rule.

DATES: The notice of proposed rulemaking is withdrawn on December 21, 
2011.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this withdrawn rulemaking is available for 
inspection or copying at the 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, between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also find 
this docket on the Internet by going to http://www.regulations.gov, 
inserting USCG-2010-0972 in the ``Keyword'' box and then clicking 
``Search''.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice, 
call or email Jim Wetherington, Bridge Administration Branch, Eighth 
Coast Guard District; telephone (504) 671-2128, email 
james.r.wetherington@uscg.mil. If you have questions on viewing 
material in the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket 
Operations, telephone (202) 366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 79146]]

Background

    On November 22, 2010, we published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
(NPRM) entitled ``Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Bayou Liberty, mile 
2.0, St. Tammany Parish, Slidell, LA.'' in the Federal Register (75 FR 
71061). The NPRM concerned the change to the operating schedule for the 
State Route 433 (SR 433) pontoon span bridge across Liberty Bayou, mile 
2.0, at Slidell, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. The NPRM provided for 
an opening upon two-hour notice, allowing the Louisiana Department of 
Transportation and Development, owner of the bridge, to reduce the 
hours of manned operation of the bridge in order to make more efficient 
use of personnel and operating resources. This notice met with public 
concern over access and property values. On July 20, 2011, we published 
a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNPRM) entitled 
``Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Bayou Liberty, mile 2.0, St. 
Tammany Parish, Slidell, LA.'' in the Federal Register (76 FR 43226). 
The SNPRM concerned the change to the operating schedule for the State 
Route 433 (SR 433) pontoon span bridge across Liberty Bayou, mile 2.0, 
at Slidell, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. The SNPRM provided for an 
opening upon one-hour notice from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., allowing the 
Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, owner of the 
bridge, to reduce the hours of manned operation of the bridge in order 
to make more efficient use of personnel and operating resources.

Withdrawal

    Due to the negative feedback from the waterway users and the 
general public as well as the financial pressure mitigating these 
concerns would cause, the bridge owner has decided to maintain the 
current operating schedule. Therefore, we withdraw our proposed change 
to the existing notification requirements within this regulation.

Authority

    This action is taken under the authority of 33 U.S.C. 499; 33 CFR 
1.05-1; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.

    Dated: November 21, 2011.
Roy A. Nash,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2011-32631 Filed 12-20-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P


