[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 6, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 9431]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04497]



[[Page 9431]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2017-0273]


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, 
West Palm Beach, FL

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations; request for 
comments, extension.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the 
operating schedule that governs the Flagler Memorial (SR A1A) Bridge, 
mile 1021.8, the Royal Park (SR 704) Bridge, mile 1022.6, and the 
Southern Boulevard (SR 700/80) Bridge, mile 1024.7, across the Atlantic 
Intracoastal Waterway, at West Palm Beach, Florida. This deviation will 
extend the test to change the drawbridge operation schedules to 
determine whether permanent changes to the schedules are needed. This 
deviation allows the Flagler Memorial, Royal Park and Southern 
Boulevard Bridges to operate on alternative schedules when the 
President of the United States, members of the First Family, or other 
persons under the protection of the Secret Service visit Mar-a-Lago. 
This deviation is necessary to accommodate the increase in vehicular 
traffic when the presidential motorcade is in transit.

DATES: This deviation is effective without actual notice from March 6, 
2018 to 11:59 p.m. on May 31, 2018. For purposes of enforcement, this 
deviation is effective from 8 a.m. on February 27, 2018 to March 6, 
2018.
    Comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on or 
before May 7, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2017-0273 using Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov.
    See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion 
of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for instructions on 
submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this test 
deviation, call or email LT Ruth Sadowitz, Coast Guard Sector Miami, 
FL, Waterways Management Division, telephone 305-535-4307, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background, Purpose and Legal Basis

    On August 17, 2017, the Coast Guard published a notice of deviation 
from drawbridge regulation with request for comments in the Federal 
Register (82 FR 39019) to test proposed changes. Three comments were 
received, which were in favor of the regulation changes. Due to 
unanticipated delays in processing this proposed regulatory change, the 
Coast Guard finds it necessary to extend the test deviation to allow 
additional time for public comment. The changes to the operating 
schedules proposed in this deviation will coincide with the 
establishment of the proposed Presidential Security Zone (see 82 FR 
28036).
    When the President of the United States, members of the First 
Family, or other persons under the protection of the Secret Service 
visit Mar-a-Lago, drawbridge openings have caused traffic backups in 
the West Palm Beach area. The increase in traffic congestion occurs 
when the presidential motorcade is in transit, which closes the 
Southern Boulevard Bridge to vehicle and vessel traffic. This action 
requires through traffic to use the Flagler Memorial and Royal Park 
Bridges. The Mayor of Palm Beach has asked the Coast Guard and the 
bridge owner, Florida Department of Transportation, to test a change to 
the operating regulations of those bridges.
    During this temporary deviation, the Flagler Memorial Bridge is 
allowed to remain closed to navigation from 2:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. with 
the exception of a once an hour opening at 2:15 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 4:15 
p.m. and 5:15 p.m., weekdays only, if vessels are requesting an 
opening. The Royal Park Bridge is allowed to remain closed to 
navigation from 2:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. with the exception of a once an 
hour opening at 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., weekdays 
only, if vessels are requesting an opening. At all other times the 
bridges will operate per their normal schedules, published in 33 CFR 
117.261(u) and (v), respectively.
    The operating schedule of the Southern Boulevard Bridge, which is 
closest to Mar-a-Lago, will be allowed to remain closed to navigation 
whenever the presidential motorcade is in transit. At all other times 
the bridge shall operate under the normal operating schedule, published 
in 33 CFR 117.261(w).
    This test deviation will have an impact on marine traffic while 
alleviating some vehicle traffic backups. Tugs with tows are not exempt 
from this regulation. Vessels able to pass through the Flagler Memorial 
and Royal Park Bridges in the closed position may do so at any time. 
The bridges will be able to open for emergencies. The Southern 
Boulevard Bridge will be under the control of the on-scene designated 
representative.
    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 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.

II. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We view public participation as essential to effective rulemaking, 
and will consider all comments and material received during the comment 
period. Your comment can help shape the outcome of this rulemaking. If 
you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
rulemaking, indicate the specific section of this document to which 
each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or 
recommendation.
    We encourage you to submit comments through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. If your material cannot be 
submitted using http://www.regulations.gov, contact the person in the 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for alternate 
instructions.
    We accept anonymous comments. All comments received will be posted 
without change to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided. For more about privacy and the 
docket, visit http://www.regulations.gov/privacynotice.
    Documents mentioned in this notice as being available in this 
docket and all public comments, will be in our online docket at http://www.regulations.gov and can be viewed by following that website's 
instructions. Additionally, if you go to the online docket and sign up 
for email alerts, you will be notified when comments are posted or a 
final rule is published.

    Dated: March 1, 2018.
Barry L. Dragon,
Director, Bridge Branch, Seventh Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2018-04497 Filed 3-5-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P


