[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 31 (Friday, February 14, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6875-6877]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3756]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[CGD09-94-029]
RIN 2115-AE47

Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Sturgeon Bay, WI
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Interim rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is revising the operating regulations for 
Michigan
Street highway bridge, mile 4.3 over Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal in 
Sturgeon Bay, WI, to reduce the number of required openings for 
recreational vessels. Commercial vessel traffic will not be affected by 
this action. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has requested 
this change to minimize stress on the operating machinery at the bridge 
until a replacement bridge is constructed.


[[Page 6876]]


DATES: This interim rule is effective on March 17, 1997. Comments must 
be received on or before April 15, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Documents concerning this regulation are available for 
inspection and copying and comments may be sent to Commander (obr), 
1240 E. Ninth Street, Room 2019B, Cleveland, OH 44199-2060 between 6:30 
a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. The telephone 
number is (216) 522-3993.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
 Mr. Scot Striffler, Project Manager, Bridge Branch at (216) 522-3993.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to participate in 
this rulemaking by submitting written data, views, or arguments. 
Persons submitting comments should include their name, address, 
identify this rulemaking (CGD09-94-029) and the specific section of 
this rule to which each comment applies, and give the reason for each 
comment. Please submit two copies of all comments and attachments in an 
unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for 
copying and electronic filing. Persons wanting acknowledgement of 
receipt of comments should enclose a stamped self-addressed post card 
or envelope. Persons may submit comments by writing to Commander (obr), 
Ninth Coast Guard District, listed under ADDRESSES.
    The Coast Guard plans no public hearing. Persons may request a 
public hearing by writing to Mr. Scot Striffler at the address under 
ADDRESSES. The request should include reasons why a hearing would be 
beneficial. If it determines that the opportunity for oral 
presentations will aid this rulemaking, the Coast Guard will hold a 
public hearing at a time and place announced by a later notice in the 
Federal Register.

Regulatory Information

    This rule is being published as an interim rule and is being made 
effective March 17, 1997. Under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553(b), this 
rule is being promulgated without issuing a Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking. An interim final rule, effective September 8, 1994, was 
issued to reduce the required openings of the bridge for certain 
vessels because of stress fractures found in the operating machinery. 
The owners have requested further restrictions on opening requirements 
to extend the life of the bridge.

Background and Purpose

    The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WDOT) has requested the 
Coast Guard revise the operating requirements for the Michigan Street 
bridge, mile 4.3 over Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal, for recreational 
vessels. This action was requested to limit the number of openings to 
reduce stress on the machinery gear that raises and lowers the bridge. 
Construction of a replacement bascule bridge is scheduled to commence 
in the year 2002. The limited bridge openings are necessary to help 
extend the life of the existing span and avoid potential serious 
interruptions to commercial and recreational vessel traffic until a 
replacement bridge is built. In June of 1994, WDOT requested a 
limitation on the hours that the bridge be required to open on signal 
for recreational traffic. The Coast Guard issued an interim final rule 
that was published on September 8, 1994 in the Federal Register. This 
action helped reduce openings without adversely impacting recreational 
traffic. No comments were received from the public concerning this 
rule. On July 11, 1996, WDOT requested that the bridge be opened only 
on the hour, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for recreational vessels 
between March 15 and December 31. WDOT has stated that, according to 
bridge logs, approximately 100 openings could have been eliminated in 
1995 if the bridge operated on the schedule requested.
    The Coast Guard authorized WDOT a temporary deviation to the 
current regulations during the summer of 1996 for a trial period to 
test the effectiveness of this change. The Coast Guard did not receive 
any comments and WDOT reported no adverse comments or feedback from 
recreational craft in the area during the trial period.
    The bridge shall continue to open on signal for the passage of 
public vessels of the United States, state or local vessels used for 
public safety, commercial vessels, vessels in distress, and vessels 
seeking shelter from severe weather.

Discussion of Interim Rule

    Currently, from March 15 to December 31, the bridge is required to 
open on the hour for recreational vessels between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. 
Between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., the draw need open for recreational vessels 
only on the hour and half-hour. The bridge opens on signal from 10 p.m. 
to 8 a.m. This rule will require the bridge to open for recreational 
vessels only on the hour, 24 hours a day, between March 15 and December 
31. There is no change to the requirement for vessels to provide a 12-
hour advance notice for requests to open the draw between January 1 and 
March 14.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This rule is not a significant regulatory action under section 3(f) 
of Executive Order 12866 and does not require an assessment of 
potential costs and benefits under section 6(a)(3) of that order. It 
has not been reviewed 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. 
Commercial vessel traffic will not be impacted by this action. 
Furthermore, the failure to modify the operating schedule of the bridge 
could potentially result in a long-term breakdown that would close the 
waterway and seriously impact the economy of the area.

Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the 
Coast Guard must consider the economic impact on small entities of a 
rule for which a general notice of proposed rulemaking is required. 
``Small entities'' may include (1) small businesses and not-for-profit 
organizations that are independently owned and operated and are not 
dominant in their fields and (2) governmental jurisdictions with 
populations of less than 50,000.
    This rule, while limiting openings to every hour for recreational 
vessels, will not interfere with commercial use of the waterway. 
Therefore, no adverse economic impact is anticipated on a substantial 
number of small entities.
    If, however, you think that your business or organization qualifies 
as a small entity and this rule will have a significant impact on your 
business or organization, please submit a comment (see ADDRESSES) 
explaining why you think it qualifies and in what way and to what 
degree this rule will economically affect it.

Collection of Information

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

Federalism

    The Coast Guard has analyzed this rule under the principles and 
criteria contained in Executive Order 12612 and

[[Page 6877]]

has determined that this rule 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 paragraph 2.B.2 of Commandant Instruction 
M16475.1B, (as revised by 59 FR 38654, July 29, 1994), this rule is 
categorically excluded from further environmental documentation. This 
action is not expected to result in any significant cumulative impacts 
on the human environment or create substantial controversy or 
substantial change to existing environmental conditions. A 
``Categorical Exclusion Determination'' is available in the docket for 
inspection or copying where indicated under ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117

    Bridges.

    For reasons set out in the preamble, 33 CFR part 117 is amended 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(g); section 
117.255 also issued under the authority of Pub. L. 102-587, 106 
Stat. 5039.

    2. Section Sec. 117.1101 (a)(1) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 117.1101   Sturgeon Bay.

* * * * *
    (a) From March 15 through December 31--
    (1) The draw need open on signal for recreational vessels only on 
the hour, 24 hours a day. However, if more than 20 vessels have 
accumulated at the bridge, the draw shall open as soon as possible.
* * * * *
    Dated: February 10, 1997.
G.F. Woolever,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Ninth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 97-3756 Filed 2-13-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M