[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 242 (Friday, December 17, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 75472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-27676]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD05-04-223]
RIN 1625-AA-09


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway 
(AICW), Elizabeth River, Southern Branch, VA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

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

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SUMMARY: The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has issued a 
temporary deviation from the drawbridge operation regulations to test 
an alternate drawbridge operation regulation for the Dominion Boulevard 
(US 17) Bridge across the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River, at 
AICW mile 8.8, at Chesapeake, Virginia. Under this temporary 90-day 
deviation, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays, the draw of the bridge will open every hour on the 
half hour. During the temporary deviation, the bridge will continue to 
open on signal for commercial vessels that provide a two-hour advance 
notice and will open on demand at all times for commercial vessels 
carrying liquefied flammable gas or other hazardous materials.
    The purpose of this temporary deviation is to test an alternate 
drawbridge operation schedule for 90 days and solicit comments from the 
public.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 8:30 a.m. on December 13, 2004, 
to 4 p.m. on March 13, 2005. Comments must reach the Coast Guard on or 
before March 14, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You may mail comments and related material to Commander 
(obr), Fifth Coast Guard District, Federal Building, 1st Floor, 431 
Crawford Street, Portsmouth, Virginia 23704-5004, or they may be hand 
delivered to the same address between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal Holidays. The Commander (obr), Fifth Coast Guard 
District maintains the public docket for this test schedule. Comments 
and material received from the public, as well as documents indicated 
in this preamble as being available in the docket, will become part of 
this docket and will be available for inspection or copying at the 
above address.

Request for Comments

    We encourage you to participate in this test deviation by 
submitting comments and related material. If you do so, please include 
your name and address, identify the docket number for this test 
deviation CGD05-04-223, indicate the specific section of this document 
to which each comment applies, and give the reason for each comment. 
Please submit all comments and related material in an unbound format, 
no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for copying. If you would 
like to know they reached us, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed 
postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and material 
received during the comment period.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Brazier, Bridge Management 
Specialist, Fifth Coast Guard District, at (757) 398-6422.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In an effort to ease vehicle traffic 
congestion as a result of recent vessel openings of the drawbridge, the 
Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the drawbridge 
regulations to test for a period of 90 days an alternate drawbridge 
operation schedule.
    Under this 90-day temporary deviation, effective from December 13, 
2004 to March 13, 2005, the Dominion Boulevard (US 17) Bridge, mile 8.8 
in Chesapeake, shall open on signal for commercial vessels that provide 
a two-hour advance notice and will open on demand at all times for 
commercial vessels carrying liquefied flammable gas or other hazardous 
materials. From December 13, 2004 to March 13, 2005, from 8:30 a.m. to 
4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, the draw need 
be opened only every hour on the half hour.
    This deviation from the operating regulations is authorized under 
33 CFR 117.43.

    Dated: December 10, 2004.
Waverly W. Gregory, Jr.,
Chief, Bridge Administration Branch, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 04-27676 Filed 12-16-04; 8:45 am]
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