[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 248 (Thursday, December 28, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 61452]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27969]



[[Page 61452]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2017-0161]


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Canaveral Barge Canal, 
Canaveral, FL

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 SR 401 Drawbridges, mile 5.5 at 
Port Canaveral, Florida. The deviation is necessary to reduce vehicular 
traffic congestion and to ensure the safety of roadways while 
passengers are transiting to and from the cruise ship terminals. Since 
the arrival of additional cruise ships to the Port of Canaveral, 
massive traffic back-ups have been caused by the on demand drawbridge 
openings. This deviation allows the bridges to not open to navigation 
during prime cruise ship passenger loading and unloading times on 
Saturdays and Sundays.

DATES: This deviation is effective without actual notice from December 
28, 2017 through January 31, 2018. For the purposes of enforcement, 
actual notice will be used from December 5, 2017, until December 28, 
2017.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, USCG-2017-0161 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this 
temporary deviation, call or email LT Allan Storm, Sector Jacksonville, 
Waterways Management Division, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 904-714-
7616, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Canaveral Port Authority, with 
concurrence from the bridge owner, Florida Department of Transportation 
have requested the Coast Guard consider allowing the SR 401 Drawbridges 
across the Canaveral Barge Canal, Port Canaveral, Florida to not open 
to navigation from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
    On October 23, 2017 the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed 
rulemaking entitled ``Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Canaveral Barge 
Canal, Canaveral, FL in the Federal Register (82 FR 48940). Under that 
proposed rule, the bridges would remain in the closed-to-navigation 
position from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The existing 
regulation for the SR 401 Drawbridges, across Canaveral Barge Canal, 
mile 5.5 at Port Canaveral, FL is published in 33 CFR 117.273(b). The 
SR 401 Drawbridges provide a vertical clearance of 25 feet in the 
closed position at Mean High Water (MHW) and a horizontal clearance of 
90 feet between fenders. The bridge logs from October 2017 indicate 
that, at most, approximately nine vessels may be affected by 
establishing this three hour bridge closure on Saturdays and Sundays. 
The majority of the opening requests were either at the beginning or 
end of this closure period; therefore, by adjusting their transits 
slightly there should be a negligible overall effect. This temporary 
deviation is effective from December 28, 2017 until January 31, 2018. 
The Coast Guard will continue to evaluate the impact to mariners 
navigating this area during the closure periods.
    Vessels able to pass through the bridge in the closed position may 
do so at any time. The bridge will be able to open for emergencies and 
there is no immediate alternate route for vessels to pass through the 
bridge in closed position. 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 vessel 
operators 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: December 5, 2017.
Barry Dragon,
Director, Bridge Branch, Seventh Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2017-27969 Filed 12-27-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P


