Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 249 / Tuesday, December 30, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 78305 

http://www.regulations.gov, type the 

docket number (USCG–2014–0952) in 

the ‘‘SEARCH’’ box and click 

‘‘SEARCH.’’ Click on Open Docket 

Folder on the line associated with this 

rulemaking. You may also visit the 

Docket Management Facility in Room 

W12–140 on the ground floor of the 

Department of Transportation West 

Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 

Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. 

and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. 

3. Privacy Act 

Anyone can search the electronic 

form of comments received into any of 

our dockets by the name of the 

individual submitting the comment (or 

signing the comment, if submitted on 

behalf of an association, business, labor 

union, etc.). You may review a Privacy 

Act notice regarding our public dockets 

in the January 17, 2008, issue of the 

Federal Register (73 FR 3316). 

4. Public Meeting 

We do not now plan to hold a public 

meeting. But you may submit a request 

for one using one of the three methods 

specified under ADDRESSES. Please 

explain why one would be beneficial. If 

we determine that one would aid this 

rulemaking, we will hold one at a time 

and place announced by a later notice 

in the Federal Register. 

B. Basis and Purpose 

The bridge owner, the Victoria County 

Navigation District, in conjunction with 

the UPRR requested permission to 

remotely operate the Victoria Barge 

Canal Railroad Bridge across the 

Victoria Barge Canal, mile 29.4 at 

Bloomington, Victoria County, Texas. 

Traffic on the waterway consists of 

primarily commercial traffic, vessels 

and tows providing services to the Port 

of Victoria. The vertical lift bridge has 

a vertical clearance of 22 feet above high 

water in the closed-to-navigation 

position and 50 feet above high water in 

the open-to-navigation position. 

Presently, the bridge is required to 

open on signal for the passage of vessels 

in accordance with 33 CFR 117.5. 

However, due to the passing trains, 

when a request signal to open the bridge 

is received and before opening the 

bridge for vessel traffic, the tender is 

required by his company to contact the 

railroad dispatcher so that railroad 

traffic can be stopped, if necessary. The 

bridge will continue to open on signal 

for the passage of vessels, but the 

method of opening the bridge will be 

accomplished through remote operation 

by the railroad dispatcher. 

The bridge operator, UPRR, 

determined that by remotely operating 

the bridge, vessel transit through the 

bridge will become more efficient. This 

new remote method of operation 

provides for the signal to open to be 

received directly by the railroad 

dispatcher and will allow the railroad 

dispatcher to then open the bridge from 

the remote location. 

Vessel traffic on the waterway will be 

monitored by the railroad dispatcher 

through the use of Automatic 

Identification System (AIS). The 

Victoria County Navigation District 

recommends that all vessels wishing to 

transit on the Victoria Barge Canal up to 

the Port of Victoria have an operating 

AIS transponder onboard. This AIS 

tracking system allows the Port of 

Victoria and the railroad dispatcher to 

determine where vessels are located on 

the waterway in relationship to the 

bridge. Movements of vessels with AIS 

onboard within two miles of the bridge 

will trigger notification to the railroad 

dispatcher that a vessel is approaching 

the bridge and needs the bridge to be 

opened. Any vessel that has passed the 

two-mile signage may also choose to 

contact the railroad dispatcher via 

telephone. Upon receipt of this initial 

notification, the railroad dispatcher 

must contact the vessel via 

radiotelephone (marine radio) on VHF– 

FM channel 13 to coordinate the safe 

passage of the vessel through the bridge. 

The railroad dispatcher must provide 

information to include, but not limited 

to, the availability to continue the vessel 

transit as the bridge is open for 

navigation or that the vessel will have 

to wait as a train is in the block. If a 

vessel is required to wait, the railroad 

dispatcher must indicate to the vessel 

the amount of time the vessel will have 

to wait so that the train can be cleared 

from the block. 

In preparation for this test deviation, 

the bridge owner has posted signage 

regarding the operation of the bridge at 

two miles, at one mile, and at one-half 

mile from the bridge in each direction. 

To facilitate the continued smooth 

operation of the bridge, mariners should 

exchange opening requests using the 

following method: 

1. When a vessel with AIS equipment 

onboard approaches the two-mile post, the 

vessel may continue to transit the waterway 

but must tune their radiotelephone to VHF– 

FM channel 13 and receive passing 

instructions from the railroad dispatcher. The 

dispatcher must contact the vessel promptly 

to provide passing instruction to insure the 

continued safe transit of the vessel. Vessels 

without AIS equipment or vessels with AIS 

who would prefer to call via telephone, may 

call the railroad dispatcher at 800–262–4691 

to arrange passing instructions. 

2. When any vessel approaches the onemile post, the railroad dispatcher should 

have either cleared the vessel through the 

bridge or given an indication that a train is 

in the block and the vessel will be cleared 

as soon as practicable. If the vessel has not 

yet spoken with the railroad dispatcher, the 

vessel should immediately call the railroad 

dispatcher via telephone at 800–262–4691. 

3. When any vessel reaches the one-half 

mile post and has not communicated with 

the railroad dispatcher nor been cleared to 

proceed, the vessel should stop and contact 

either the railroad dispatcher at 800–262– 

4691 or the Port of Victoria emergency 

contact at 361–570–8855. 

During the test deviation phase, the 

bridge will be operated from Spring, TX, 

but the bridge operator will be required 

to have a signal maintainer on call to 

respond to bridge operation issues 

should one occur. 

In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(e), 

the drawbridge must return to its regular 

operating schedules 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. 

Dated: December 4, 2014. 

David M. Frank, 

Bridge Administrator, Eighth Coast Guard 

District. 

[FR Doc. 2014–30494 Filed 12–29–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 9110–04–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 

SECURITY 

Coast Guard 

33 CFR Part 117 

[Docket No. USCG–2014–1026] 

Drawbridge Operation Regulations; 

Mystic River, Mystic, CT 

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. 

ACTION: Notice of deviation from 

drawbridge regulation. 

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a 

temporary deviation from the operating 

schedule that governs the Amtrak 

Railroad Bridge across the Mystic River, 

mile 2.4, at Mystic, Connecticut. This 

deviation is necessary to allow the 

bridge owner to perform mechanical 

and electrical repairs at the bridge. This 

deviation allows the bridge to remain 

closed for two 14 day closures and two 

10 day closures. 

DATES: This deviation is effective from 

January 24, 2015 through March 27, 

2015. 

ADDRESSES: The docket for this 

deviation, [USCG–2014–1026] is 

available at http://www.regulations.gov. 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
78306 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 249 / Tuesday, December 30, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 

Type the docket number in the 

‘‘SEARCH’’ box and click ‘‘SEARCH.’’ 

Click on Open Docket Folder on the line 

associated with this deviation. You may 

also visit the Docket Management 

Facility in Room W12–140, on the 

ground floor of the Department of 

Transportation West Building, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 

DC, 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 

Monday through Friday, except Federal 

holidays. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If 

you have questions on this temporary 

deviation, call or email Ms. Judy LeungYee, Project Officer, First Coast Guard 

District, telephone (212) 514–4330, 

judy.k.leung-yee@uscg.mil. If you have 

questions on viewing the docket, call 

Cheryl Collins, Program Manager, 

Docket Operations, telephone (202) 

366–9826. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Amtrak Railroad Bridge across the 

Mystic River, mile 2.4, at Mystic, 

Connecticut, has a vertical clearance in 

the closed position of 4 feet at mean 

high water and 8 feet at mean low water. 

The existing bridge operating 

regulations are found at 33 CFR 

117.211(a). 

The waterway is transited by 

commercial vessels and seasonal 

recreational vessels of various sizes. 

The bridge owner, National Railroad 

Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), 

requested a temporary deviation from 

the normal operating schedule to 

facilitate mechanical and electrical 

repairs at the bridge. 

Under this temporary deviation, in 

effect from January 24, 2015 through 

March 27, 2015, the Amtrak Railroad 

Bridge shall remain in the closed 

position from January 24, 2015 through 

February 6, 2015; from February 12, 

2015 through February 25, 2015; from 

March 3, 2015 through March 12, 2015; 

and from March 18, 2015 through March 

27, 2015. 

The draw shall maintain its normal 

operating schedule at all other times. 

There are no alternate routes for 

vessel traffic; however, vessels that can 

pass under the closed draws during this 

closure may do so at all times. The 

bridge may be opened in the event of an 

emergency. 

The Coast Guard will inform the users 

of the waterways through our Local and 

Broadcast Notice to Mariners of the 

change in operating schedule for the 

bridges so that vessels 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. 

Dated: December 15, 2014. 

C.J. Bisignano, 

Supervisory Bridge Management Specialist, 

First Coast Guard District. 

[FR Doc. 2014–30454 Filed 12–29–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 9110–04–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 

SECURITY 

Coast Guard 

33 CFR Part 117 

[Docket No. USCG–2014–1045] 

Drawbridge Operation Regulation; 

Intracoastal Waterway, Surf City, NC 

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. 

ACTION: Notice of deviation from 

drawbridge regulation. 

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a 

temporary deviation from the operating 

schedule that governs the NC Route 50– 

210 Highway Bridge, on the Atlantic 

Intracoastal Waterway, mile 260.7, in 

Surf City, NC. This drawbridge is 

presently regulated to open on signal for 

commercial vessels and pleasure 

vessels, except between 7 a.m. and 7 

p.m. when the draw need only open on 

the hour for pleasure vessels. To 

facilitate necessary repairs, this 

deviation allows for the bridge to 

remain closed to navigation from 6 p.m. 

on February 22, 2015 to 6 p.m. February 

24, 2015, except for two openings at 10 

a.m. and 3 p.m. each day. 

DATES: This deviation is effective from 

6 p.m. on Sunday, February 22, 2015 to 

6 p.m. Tuesday, February 24, 2015. 

ADDRESSES: The docket for this 

deviation [USCG–2014–1045] is 

available at http://www.regulations.gov. 

Type the docket number in the 

‘‘SEARCH’’ box and click ‘‘SEARCH’’. 

Click on Open Docket Folder on the line 

associated with this deviation. You may 

also visit the Docket Management 

Facility in Room W12–140 on the 

ground floor of the Department of 

Transportation West Building, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 

DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 

Monday through Friday, except Federal 

holidays. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If 

you have questions on this temporary 

deviation, call or email Terrance 

Knowles, Environmental Protection 

Specialist, Coast Guard; telephone 

(757)398–6587, email at 

Terrance.A.Knowles@uscg.mil. If you 

have questions on viewing the docket, 

call Cheryl Collins, Program Manager, 

Docket Operations, at 202–366–9826. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The North 

Carolina Department of Transportation 

(NCDOT), who owns and operates this 

swing-type highway drawbridge, has 

requested a temporary deviation from 

the current operating regulations to 

facilitate the repairs to the terminal 

cabinets and submarine cables. The NC 

Route 50–210 drawbridge located on the 

Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 

260.7, in Surf City, NC has a vertical 

clearance of 12 feet above mean high 

water in the closed to navigation 

position. 

Under the current operating schedule 

set out in 33 CFR 117.821(a)(2), this 

bridge is regulated to open on signal for 

commercial vessels and pleasure 

vessels, except between 7 a.m. and 7 

p.m. when the draw need only open on 

the hour for the pleasure vessels. 

Under this temporary deviation, it 

allows for the bridge to remain closed to 

navigation from 6 p.m. on February 22, 

2015 to 6 p.m. February 24, 2015, except 

for two openings at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. 

each day. Vessels able to pass 

underneath the bridge in the closed 

position may do so at anytime. Also, the 

bridge can be opened for emergencies 

and there is an alternate route using the 

ocean. 

The Coast Guard will inform the users 

of the waterway through Local and 

Broadcast Notice to Mariners of the 

temporary deviation in operating 

schedule for the bridge so that vessels 

can arrange their transit plans 

accordingly. Waterway traffic consists of 

fishing boats, recreational boats, tugs, 

and barges. 

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. 

Dated: December 11, 2014. 

James L. Rousseau, 

Bridge Program Manager, Fifth Coast Guard 

District. 

[FR Doc. 2014–30459 Filed 12–29–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 9110–04–P 


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