
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 153 (Monday, August 10, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47850-47851]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19562]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2015-0746]


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, 
Surf City, NC

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 S.R. 50 Bridge across the Atlantic 
Intracoastal Waterway, mile 260.7, at Surf City, NC. This deviation is 
necessary to facilitate reconstruction of the bridge fender system. 
This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation 
position.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 4 a.m. on August 17, 2015 to 2 
p.m. October 23, 2015.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2015-0746], 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 Mr. Hal R. Pitts, Bridge 
Administration Branch Fifth District, Coast Guard; telephone (757) 398-
6222, email Hal.R.Pitts@uscg.mil. If you have questions on viewing the 
docket, call Cheryl Collins, Program Manager, Docket Operations, 
telephone 202-366-9826.

[[Page 47851]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The North Carolina Department of 
Transportation, who owns and operates the S.R. 50 Bridge, has requested 
a temporary deviation from the current operating regulations set out in 
33 CFR 117.821(a)(2) to facilitate reconstruction of the bridge fender 
system.
    Under the normal operating schedule for the S.R. 50 Bridge across 
the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 260.7, at Surf City, NC in 33 
CFR 117.821(a)(2); the draw shall open on signal for commercial 
vessels; open on signal for recreational vessels, except between 7 a.m. 
and 7 p.m., the draw need only open on the hour. The bridge has a 
vertical clearance in the closed-to-navigation position of 13 feet 
above mean high water.
    Under this temporary deviation, the bridge will be closed to 
navigation from 4 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday; except for 
scheduled openings at 8:30 a.m. and 12 noon, and openings for 
commercial tug and barge traffic unable to transit through the bridge 
during a scheduled opening, if at least 3 hours notice is given. At all 
other times the bridge will operate under its normal operating schedule 
in 33 CFR 117.821(a)(2). The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway is used by 
a variety of vessels including small commercial fishing vessels, 
recreational vessels and tug and barge traffic. The Coast Guard has 
carefully coordinated the restrictions with commercial and recreational 
waterway users.
    Vessels able to pass through the bridge in the closed position may 
do so at anytime. The bridge will be able to open for emergencies and 
there is no alternate route for vessels unable to pass through the 
bridge in the closed position. The Coast Guard will also inform the 
users of the waterways through our Local and Broadcast Notice to 
Mariners of the change in operating schedule 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 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: August 5, 2015.
Hal R. Pitts,
Bridge Program Manager, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2015-19562 Filed 8-7-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P


