[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 155 (Tuesday, August 12, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43096-43097]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21258]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD13-95-011]
RIN-2115-AE47


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Hood Canal, WA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: At the request of the Washington State Department of 
Transportation (WSDOT), the Coast Guard is amending the regulations 
governing the operation of the Hood Canal Bridge at Port Gamble, 
Washington. This change limits the width of the opening of the 
retractable span of the floating bridge to 300 feet of horizontal 
clearance unless a maximum horizontal clearance of 600 feet is 
specifically requested by the vessel operator.

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 11, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Unless otherwise noted, documents referred to in this 
preamble are available for inspection and copying at Commander (oan), 
Thirteenth Coast Guard District, 915 Second Avenue, Seattle, Washington 
98174-1067. Normal office hours are between 7:45 a.m. and 4:15 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John E. Mikesell, Chief, Plans and 
Programs Section, Aids to Navigation and Waterways Management Branch, 
(Telephone: (206) 220-7270).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Drafting Information

    The drafters of this notice are Austin Pratt, Project Officer, and 
Lieutenant Commander John C. Odell, Project Attorney, Thirteenth Coast 
Guard District Legal Office.

Regulatory History

    On November 1, 1995, the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed 
rulemaking entitled Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Hood Canal, 
Washington, in the Federal Register (60 FR 55515). A single comment was 
received which favored the proposed change.

Background and Purpose

    This change allows the floating retractable span of the Hood Canal 
Bridge to open halfway (300 feet) for the passage of most vessels 
instead of the maximum (600 feet). Current regulations at 33 CFR 117.5 
state that, unless otherwise required, drawbridges shall be fully 
opened for the passage of vessels. The drawspan of the Hood Canal is 
extremely wide compared to the majority of drawbridges. Unlike many 
drawbridges, no part of the draw mechanism is suspended above the 
channel when opened. Opening only to 300 feet for the vast majority of 
openings will reduce energy consumption and maintenance costs as well 
as shorten delays to roadway traffic. A full opening and closure of the 
bridge, not including vessel transit time, takes at least fifteen 
minutes. This is two or three times longer than the opening and closing 
time of many other drawbridges. WSDOT has observed that only one or two 
openings out of an average of about 32 openings per month are for 
vessels that need the span fully opened to pass safely. The remaining 
vessels pass safely through a horizontal opening of only 300 feet. In 
practice, many vessels routinely pass through the bridge before the 
retractable span has been fully opened.

Discussion of Comments and Changes

    The single comment received was from the United States Navy which 
is the entity most often in need of full openings for the safe passage 
of large vessels on Hood Canal. This change is not expected to affect 
naval operations

[[Page 43097]]

because a full opening of the retractable span may be demanded at any 
time.
    This change merely alleviates the bridge owner from providing full 
openings unless such an opening is specified by the master of a vessel. 
This is contrary to normal operations which mandate full opening for 
any request for passage. Because the only comment was in support of the 
proposed amendment, this final rule is being adopted as originally 
proposed.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This rule is not a significant regulatory action under 3(f) of 
Executive Order 12866 and does not require an assessment of potential 
cost and benefits under section 6(a)(3) of that order. It has been 
exempted from review by the Office of Management and Budget under that 
order. It is not significant under the regulatory policies and 
procedures of the Department of Transportation (DOT) (44 FR 11040; 
February 26, 1979). The Coast Guard expects the economic impact of this 
rule to be so minimal that a full regulatory evaluation under paragraph 
10e of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is unnecessary. 
This expectation is based on the fact that most vessels only need a 
300-foot opening and that vessels needing a 600-foot opening will be 
able to obtain one promptly by requesting it from the bridgetender on 
duty.

Small Entities

    The Coast Guard finds that the impact on small entities, if any, is 
not substantial. Therefore, the Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 
605(b) that this action will not have a significant impact on a 
significant number of small entities.

Collection of Information

    This rule contains no collection of information requirements under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).

Federalism

    The Coast Guard has analyzed this action under the principles and 
criteria contained in Executive Order 12612, and it has been determined 
that the rulemaking does not have sufficient federalism implications to 
warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

Environment

    The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this rule 
and concluded that, under section 2.B.2.e. of Commandant Instruction 
M16475.B, this rule is categorically excluded from further 
environmental documentation. A ``Categorical Exclusion Determination'' 
is available in the docket for inspection or copying.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117

    Bridges.

Regulations

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 
part 117 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, as follows:

PART 117--DRAWBRIDGE OPERATION REGULATIONS

    1. The authority citation for part 117 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 499; 49 CFR 1.46; 33 CFR 1.05-1(g); section 
117.255 also issued under the authority of Pub. L. 102-587, 106 
Stat. 5039.

    2. Paragraph (a) of section 117.1045 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 117.1045  Hood Canal.

* * * * *
    (a) The draw shall open on signal if at least one hour's notice is 
given. The draw shall be opened horizontally for 300 feet unless the 
maximum opening of 600 feet is requested.
* * * * *
    Dated: July 29, 1997.
J. David Spade,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Commander, 13th Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 97-21258 Filed 8-11-97; 8:45 am]
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