
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 197 (Friday, October 13, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47615-47616]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22169]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2017-0960]


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Willamette River, Portland, 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 upper deck of the Steel Bridge 
across the Willamette River, mile 12.1, in Portland, OR. The deviation 
is necessary to support the Annual Run Like Hell Half Marathon event. 
This deviation allows the upper lift span of the bridge to remain in 
the closed-to-navigation position to ensure the safety of construction 
crew members.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 8 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. on 
October 22, 2017.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, USCG-2017-0960, 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 Mr. Steven Fischer, Bridge 
Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard District; telephone 206-220-7282, 
email d13-pf-d13bridges@uscg.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Union Pacific Railroad Company (UPRR), 
bridge owner, has requested a temporary deviation from the operating 
schedule for the Steel Bridge across the Willamette River, at mile 
12.1, in Portland, OR. The deviation is necessary to accommodate the 
Annual Run Like Hell Half Marathon event. The City of Portland is 
sponsoring the race and event. The Steel Bridge is a double-deck lift 
bridge with a lower lift deck and an upper lift deck which operate 
independent of each other. To facilitate this paving operation, the 
upper deck will remain in the closed-to-navigation position. When the 
lower deck is in the closed-to-navigation position, the bridge provides 
26 feet of vertical clearance above Columbia River Datum 0.0; and in 
open-to-navigation position, the vertical clearance is 71 feet above 
Columbia River Datum 0.0. The deviation period is from 8 a.m. to 11:30 
a.m. on October 22, 2017. The lower deck for the Steel Bridge will 
continue to operate in accordance with 33 CFR 117.897(c)(3)(ii), and at 
the end of this deviation period, the upper deck of the Steel Bridge 
will resume operating in accordance with 33 CFR 117.897(c)(3)(ii).
    Waterway usage on this part of the Willamette River includes 
vessels ranging from commercial tug and barge to small pleasure craft. 
Vessels able to pass through the bridge with the lower deck in the 
open-to-navigation position or upper deck in the closed-to-navigation 
position may do so at anytime. The upper lift and lower lift of the 
Steel Bridge will be able to open for emergencies, and there is no 
immediate alternate route for vessels to pass. The Coast Guard has 
conducted public outreach regarding this closure of the upper deck on 
the subject bridge to known mariners that transit on the river. The 
Coast Guard has not received any objections to this temporary deviation 
from the operating schedule. 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 designated 
time period. This

[[Page 47616]]

deviation from the operating regulations is authorized under 33 CFR 
117.35.

    Dated: October 5, 2017.
Steven Michael Fischer,
Bridge Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2017-22169 Filed 10-12-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P


