[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 13, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10785-10786]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04966]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2018-0067]


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Duwamish Waterway, Seattle, WA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

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

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the 
operating schedule that governs the South Park highway bridge, across 
the Duwamish Waterway mile 3.8, at Seattle, WA. This deviation will 
test a change to the drawbridge operation schedule, to determine 
whether a permanent change to the schedule is appropriate. This 
deviation will allow the bridge to open during nighttime hours after 
receiving a 12 hour advance notice.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 6 a.m. on March 22, 2018 to 6 
a.m. on September 17, 2018.
    Comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on or 
before August 30, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2018-0067 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 
temporary deviation, call or email Mr. Steven Fischer, Bridge Chief 
Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard District; telephone 206-220-7282, 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background, Purpose and Legal Basis

    Due to infrequent drawbridge opening requests between 11 p.m. to 7 
a.m., King County (the bridge owner), has requested to open the South 
Park highway bridge with 12 hours advances notice between the hours of 
11p.m. and 7 a.m. In addition, King County requested between the hours 
of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. vessels engaged in sea-trials or waterway 
dredging activities may request a standby drawtender, to open the 
bridge on demand during sea-trials and/or dredging operations, if at 
least a 24 hour notice is given to the drawtender. The 2017 drawbridge 
log book reflects the infrequent requests for drawbridge opening of the 
South Park highway bridge. Of the 524 openings in 2017 only 24 occurred 
between the hours of 11.00 p.m. and 7 a.m., this is approximately 4.5 
percent. Opening from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. for 2014, 2015, 2016 ranged 
from 5% to 10% of all openings. The South Park highway bridge operates 
per 33 CFR 117.1041(a)(2).
    Vessels operating on the Duwamish Waterway range from small 
recreational, sailboats, tribal fishing boats, mega yachts and 
commercial tug and tow vessels. No navigational impacts are expected 
due to few vessels operating on this waterway at the stated hours. King 
County has discussed this test deviation and coordinating with all 
known waterway users. Vessels able to pass through the subject bridge 
with the span in the closed-to-navigation position may do so at any 
time.
    The Coast Guard will also inform the users of the waterway through 
our Local and Broadcast Notices to Mariners of the change in operating 
schedule for the subject bridge so that vessel operators can arrange 
their transits to minimize any impact caused by the temporary 
deviation. Duwamish Waterway does not have an immediate alternate route 
for vessels to pass. Therefore, in the event of an emergency requiring 
a bridge opening any day between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., the standby bridge 
operator at the Fremont Bridge will respond to an opening request and 
have the South Park Bridge open within 45 minutes from initial 
notification.
    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

[[Page 10786]]

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 the 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 7, 2018.
Steven M. Fischer,
Bridge Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2018-04966 Filed 3-12-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P


