
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 88 (Thursday, May 7, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 26182-26183]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-10635]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2015-0351]


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Lewis and Clark River, Astoria, 
OR

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of deviation from drawbridge regulation.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the 
operating schedule that governs the Oregon State (Lewis and Clark 
River) Highway Bridge across the Lewis and Clark River, mile 1.0, at 
Astoria, OR. The deviation is necessary to accommodate bridge 
maintenance activities on the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge 
to remain in the closed-to-navigation position and need not open to 
maritime traffic.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 7 a.m. on May 11, 2015 to 5 
p.m. on August 30, 2015.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2015-0351] 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 Steven M. Fischer, Thirteenth Coast 
Guard District Bridge Program Administrator, telephone 206-220-7282, 
email d13-pf-d13bridgesuscg.mil. If you have questions on viewing the 
docket, call Cheryl Collins, Program Manager, Docket Operations, 
telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Oregon Department of Transportation 
(ODOT) has requested that the Lewis and Clark River Bridge, mile 1.0, 
remain in the closed-to-navigation position, and need not open to 
vessel traffic Tuesday through Saturday. The bascule span will be 
available to open on Mondays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. when given 3 hours 
advanced notice. The deviation is necessary to facilitate bridge 
maintenance activities to include repairing and preserving the bascule 
drawbridge structural steel. The Lewis and Clark Bridge provides a 
vertical clearance of 17.3 feet above mean high water when in the 
closed-to-navigation position. The normal operating schedule of the 
Oregon State highway bridge can be found in 33 CFR 117.899(c). This 
deviation period is from 7 a.m. on May 11, 2015 to 5 p.m. on August 30, 
2015. The deviation allows the bascule span of the Lewis and Clark 
Bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position

[[Page 26183]]

Tuesdays through Saturdays throughout the deviation period. In 
addition, the span will be in the closed position on Mondays, but 
available to open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. when given 3 hours advanced 
notice. The bridge will operate as normal on Sundays. Waterway usage on 
the Lewis and Clark River is primarily small recreational boaters and 
fishing vessels transiting to and from Fred Wahl Marine Construction 
Inc.
    The bascule span of the bridge will have a containment system 
installed which will reduce the vertical clearance by 5 feet from 17.3 
feet above mean high water to 12.3 feet above mean high water. Vessels 
able to pass through the bridge in the closed positions may do so at 
anytime. The bridge will be able to open for any emergency if a three-
hour notice is given from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday; on 
Sundays the bridge will be able to open in accordance with 33 CFR 
117.899(c), and there is no immediate alternate route for vessels to 
pass. The Coast Guard will also inform the users of the waterways 
through our Local and Broadcast Notices to Mariners of the change in 
operating schedule for the bridge so that vessels can arrange their 
transits to minimize any impact caused by the temporary deviation.
    In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(e), the drawbridge must return to 
its regular operating schedule 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: May 1, 2015.
Steven M. Fischer,
Bridge Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2015-10635 Filed 5-6-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P


