[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 26, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 60869-60870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27718]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2017-0967]


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, 
Alligator River, Columbia, NC

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of deviation from drawbridge regulation; modification.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has modified a temporary deviation from the 
operating schedule that governs the US 64/Alligator River Bridge which 
carries US 64 over the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW), Alligator 
River, mile 84.2, near Columbia, NC. The deviation is necessary to 
facilitate bridge maintenance. This deviation allows the bridge to 
remain in the closed-to-navigation position.

DATES: This deviation is effective without actual notice from December 
26, 2017 through 6 p.m. on March 29, 2018. For the purposes of 
enforcement, actual notice will be used from 7 a.m. on November 6, 
2017, until December 26, 2017.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, USCG-2017-0967, 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. Michael Thorogood, Bridge 
Administration Branch Fifth District, Coast Guard, telephone 757-398-
6557, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 1, 2017, the Coast Guard 
published a temporary deviation entitled ``Drawbridge Operation 
Regulation; Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Alligator River, Columbia, 
NC'' in the Federal Register (82 FR 50577). That document resulted from 
North Carolina Department of Transportation's request for a temporary 
deviation, occurring from 7 a.m. on November 6, 2017, through 7 p.m. on 
November 17, 2017, from normal operation of the drawbridge to 
facilitate bridge maintenance. Subsequent to the approval of that 
request, North Carolina Department of Transportation requested a 
modification, extending the temporary deviation from 7:01 p.m. on 
November 17, 2017, through 6 p.m. on March 29, 2018, to allow more time 
to perform and complete additional bridge maintenance discovered during 
the previous temporary deviation. Therefore, through this document, the 
Coast Guard modifies the dates of the previously approved temporary 
deviation to allow the US 64/Alligator River Bridge that carries US 64 
over the AICW, Alligator River, mile 84.2, at near Columbia, NC, to 
remain in the closed-to-navigation position from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., on 
Wednesday, December 27, 2017, through Saturday, December 30, 2017; 
Monday, January 1, 2018, through Saturday, January 5, 2018; and Monday, 
January 8, 2018, through Tuesday, January 9, 2018. During these closure 
periods the bridge will open on signal, if at least 2 hours notice is 
given. The bridge will also remain in the closed-to-navigation position 
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from 6 a.m. on Wednesday, January 10, 
2018, through 6 p.m. on Wednesday, January 17, 2018; and from 6 a.m. on 
Wednesday, March 14, 2018, through 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 21, 2018. 
Alternative work dates for these closure periods will be from noon on 
Thursday, January 18, 2018, through 6 p.m. on Wednesday, January 24, 
2018; and from noon on Thursday, March 22, 2018, through 6 p.m. on 
Thursday, March 29, 2018. If the alternative work dates from noon on 
Thursday, January 18, 2018, through 6 p.m. on Wednesday, January 24, 
2018 are used, the bridge will also remain in the closed-to-navigation 
position from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, from January 
22, 2018, through March 14, 2018; except for scheduled daily openings 
at noon, if at least 2 hours notice is given. If the alternative work 
dates from noon on Thursday, January 18, 2018, through 6 p.m. on 
Wednesday, January 24, 2018 are not used, the bridge will also remain 
in the closed-to-navigation position from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday 
through Saturday, from January 17, 2018, through March 14, 2018; except 
for scheduled daily openings at noon, if at least 2 hours notice is 
given. The Coast Guard will inform the users of the waterway through 
our Broadcast Notices to Mariners, if the alternative work dates

[[Page 60870]]

will be used. The bridge has a vertical clearance of 14 feet above mean 
high water in the closed position and unlimited feet above mean high 
water in the open position. The bridge will open on signal at all other 
times. The current operating schedule is set out in 33 CFR 117.5.
    The AICW, Alligator River is used by a variety of vessels 
including, small commercial vessels, tug and barge traffic, and 
recreational vessels. The Coast Guard has carefully coordinated the 
restrictions with waterway users in publishing this temporary 
deviation.
    Vessels able to pass through the bridge in the closed-to-navigation 
position may do so at any time. During the closure periods, the bridge 
will not be able to open for emergencies and the Croatan Sound to the 
Pamlico Sound can be used as an alternative route for vessels unable to 
pass through the bridge in the closed position. During the closure 
periods with scheduled openings at noon, the bridge will be able to 
open up for emergencies, if at least one hour notice is given. The 
Coast Guard will also inform the users of the waterway through our 
Local Notice and Broadcast Notices to Mariners of the change in 
operating schedule for the bridge so 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 18, 2017.
Hal R. Pitts,
Bridge Program Manager, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2017-27718 Filed 12-22-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P


