Document ID: USCG-2016-0677-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Rule
Title: Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Berwick Bay-Atchafalaya River, Morgan City, LA
Posted Date: 2016-08-10T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 154 (Wednesday, August 10, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 52769]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-18968]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2016-0677]

Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Berwick Bay-Atchafalaya River, 
Morgan City, LA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of deviation from drawbridge regulations.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the 
operating schedule that governs the Morgan City Railroad Bridge across 
Berwick Bay at mile 17.5 of the Atchafalaya River and the Gulf 
Intracoastal Waterway, Morgan City to Port Allen Alternate Route, mile 
0.3 in Morgan City, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. The deviation is 
necessary to conduct maintenance on the bridge. This deviation allows 
the bridge to remain temporarily closed to navigation for five hours.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 7 a.m. to noon on August 25, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2016-0677] 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this 
temporary deviation, call or email David Frank, Bridge Administration 
Branch, Coast Guard; telephone 504-671-2128, email 
david.m.frank@uscg.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway 
Company requested a temporary deviation from the operating schedule of 
the Morgan City Railroad Bridge across Berwick Bay at mile 17.5 of the 
Atchafalaya River and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, Morgan City to 
Port Allen Alternate Route, mile 0.3 in Morgan City, St. Mary Parish, 
Louisiana. This deviation was requested to allow the bridge owner to 
replace a cracked joint on the west end of the bridge. This bridge is 
governed by 33 CFR 117.5.
    This deviation allows the vertical lift bridge to remain closed to 
navigation from 7 a.m. to noon on Thursday, August 25, 2016. The bridge 
has a vertical clearance of 4 feet above high water in the closed-to-
navigation position and 73 feet above high water in the open-to-
navigation position. Navigation on the waterway consists of tugs with 
tows, oil industry related work boats and crew boats, commercial 
fishing vessels and some recreational craft.
    Vessels able to pass through the bridge in the closed position may 
do so at any time and should pass at the slowest safe speed. The bridge 
will not be able to open for emergencies and the Morgan City-Port Allen 
Landside route through Amelia, LA is the closest available alternate 
route.
    The Coast Guard will also inform the users of the waterways through 
our Local and Broadcast Notices to Mariners of the change in operating 
schedule for the bridge.
    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.

David M. Frank,
Bridge Administrator, Eighth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2016-18968 Filed 8-9-16; 8:45 am]
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