[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 156 (Monday, August 13, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 39879-39880]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17234]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2018-0091]


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Petaluma River, Haystack Landing 
(Petaluma), CA

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 Northwestern Pacific (SMART) 
railroad bridge across the Petaluma River, mile 12.4, at Haystack 
Landing (Petaluma), CA. This deviation will be a second test of a 
change to the drawbridge operation schedule to determine whether a 
permanent change to the schedule is appropriate. This test deviation 
will modify the existing regulation to add an advance notification 
requirement for obtaining bridge openings.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 6 a.m. on August 20, 2018 to 6 
a.m. on October 18, 2018.
    Comments and related materials must reach the Coast Guard on or 
before November 1, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2018-0091 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 Carl T. Hausner, Chief, Bridge Section, 
Eleventh Coast Guard District; telephone 510-437-3516; email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background, Purpose and Legal Basis

    On March 2, 2018, the Coast Guard published a Test Deviation 
entitled Petaluma River, Haystack Landing (Petaluma), CA in the Federal 
Register (83 FR 8936). We received five comments on this rule. Four of 
the five comments submitted, concerning the test deviation, addressed 
the 2-hour advance notification. The commenters stated that the lengthy 
advance notification would be a burden on waterway users. The fifth 
comment was directed at the structural deficiency of a number of dams 
in the United States; this comment is not pertinent to this deviation.
    Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) owns the Northwestern 
Pacific railroad bridge across the Petaluma River, mile 12.4, at 
Haystack Landing (Petaluma), CA. The bridge has a vertical clearance of 
3.6 feet above mean high water in the closed-to-navigation position and 
unlimited vertical clearance in the open-to-navigation position, and 
currently operates under 33 CFR 117.187(a).
    The duration of this initial test deviation was 90 days. During 
this initial test, according to drawtender logs, 96 vessels requested 
openings and passed through the bridge. At no time was a 2-hour notice 
given to the

[[Page 39880]]

drawtender and in only one instance was a one-hour advance notice 
given. In all other instances, a notification of 30 minutes or less was 
given to the drawtender and the bridge opened for the passage of those 
vessels. The Coast Guard received five comments, via the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal, related to the initial test deviation. Four of the 
five comments indicated the 2-hour notice would be a burden on waterway 
users.
    In order to meet the reasonable needs of navigation, while 
benefiting rail transportation, the Coast Guard is publishing this 
alternate temporary deviation to the proposed schedule change to 
determine whether a permanent change to the schedule is appropriate to 
better balance the needs of marine and rail traffic.
    Under this temporary deviation, in effect from 6 a.m. on August 20, 
2018 to 6 a.m. on October 18, 2018, the bridge shall open on signal 
from 3 a.m. to 11 p.m. if at least 30 minutes notice is given to the 
drawtender. At all other times, the draw shall be maintained in the 
fully open position, except for the passage of trains or for 
maintenance. To request an opening, mariners can contact the drawtender 
via marine radio VHF-FM channel 16/9 or by telephone at (707) 890-8650. 
Vessels able to pass through the bridge in the closed position may do 
so at any time. The bridge will be required to open as soon as 
practicable for vessels engaged in emergency response. SMART will log 
dates and times of vessels requesting openings. There are no alternate 
routes for vessels transiting upstream of the bridge on the Petaluma 
River.
    The Coast Guard will also inform the users of the waterways through 
our Local and Broadcast Notices to Mariners and through direct outreach 
to local harbors, marinas, and water-based business of the temporary 
change in the 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.

II. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We view public participation as essential to effective rulemaking, 
and will consider all comments and materials received during the 
comment period. Your comments 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: August 7, 2018.
Carl T. Hausner,
District Bridge Chief, Eleventh Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2018-17234 Filed 8-10-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P


