
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 115 (Monday, June 16, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34228-34229]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-14060]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2014-0449]


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway 
(AIWW), Wrightsville Beach, NC, and Northeast Cape Fear River, 
Wilmington, NC

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of deviation from drawbridge regulations.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the 
operating schedules that govern two North Carolina Department of 
Transportation (NCDOT) drawbridges: The S.R. 74 Bridge, across the 
AIWW, mile 283.1, at Wrightsville Beach, NC, and the Isabel S. Holmes 
Bridge across the Northeast Cape Fear River, mile 1.0, at Wilmington, 
NC. The deviation is necessary to accommodate the annual 
Beach2Battleship Iron and Half Iron Distance Triathlons. This deviation 
allows the bridges to remain in the closed position during the races.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 7 a.m. through 6 p.m. on 
Saturday, October 25, 2014.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation [USCG-2014-0449] is available 
at http://www.regulations.gov. Type the docket number in the ``SEARCH'' 
box and click ``SEARCH''. Click on Open Docket Folder on the line 
associated with this deviation. 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this 
temporary deviation, call or email Jim Rousseau, Bridge Management 
Specialist, Coast Guard; telephone 757-398-6557, email 
James.L.Rousseau2@uscg.mil. If you have questions on viewing the 
docket, call Cheryl Collins, Program Manager, Docket Operations, 
telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: AAA Series Director of SetUp Events, on 
behalf of NCDOT, has requested a temporary deviation from the current 
operating regulations for the S.R. 74 Bridge, across AIWW, mile 283.1, 
at Wrightsville Beach, NC and the Isabel S. Holmes Bridge across the 
Northeast Cape Fear River, mile 1.0, at Wilmington, NC. The requested 
deviation is to accommodate the annual Beach2Battleship Iron and Half-
Iron Distance Triathlons scheduled for Saturday, October 25, 2014. To 
facilitate these events, the draw of the S.R. 74 Bridge will be 
maintained in the closed position from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and the draw 
of the Isabel S. Holmes Bridge will be maintained in the closed 
position from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Extended closure times were requested 
for the event beyond the times published in the current regulations 
based on tide dependant races.
    The S.R. 74 Bridge is a double-leaf bascule drawbridge with a 
vertical clearance of 20 feet at mean high water in the closed 
position, the current operating schedule is set out in 33 CFR 
117.821(a)(4). During the month of October, the bridge is required to 
open on the hour from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., except 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on 
the last Saturday of October of every year when the draw need not open 
for vessels due to annual races.
    The Isabel S. Holmes Bridge is a double-leaf bascule drawbridge 
with a vertical clearance of 40 feet at mean high water in the closed 
position. The current operating schedule is set out in 33 CFR 
117.829(a): The regulation requires that during the month of October, 
from noon to 11:59 p.m. on the last Saturday of October of every year,

[[Page 34229]]

that the draw need not open for vessels, to accommodate annual races. 
Most waterway traffic for both bridges consists of recreational boats 
with a few barges and tugs in the daytime.
    Vessels able to pass under these bridges in the closed position may 
do so at any time and are advised to proceed with caution. The bridges 
will be able to open for emergencies as soon as safely possible. There 
are no alternate routes available to vessels transiting these 
waterways. These races have been an annual event; therefore, local 
waterway users should be familiar with these closures. The Coast Guard 
will also inform additional waterway users through our Local and 
Broadcast Notices to Mariners of the closure periods for the bridge so 
that vessels can arrange their transits to minimize any impacts caused 
by the temporary deviation.
    In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(e), the drawbridges must return to 
their regular operating schedules immediately at the end of the 
effective period of this temporary deviation. This deviation from the 
operating regulations is authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.

    Dated: June 4, 2014.
Waverly W. Gregory, Jr.,
Bridge Program Manager,Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2014-14060 Filed 6-13-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P


