Document ID: USCG-2016-0130-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Rule
Title: Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Atchafalaya River, Morgan City, LA
Posted Date: 2016-02-24T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 24, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 9109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-03895]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2016-0130]

Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Atchafalaya River, Morgan City, 
LA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from drawbridge regulation.

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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 
the Atchafalaya River (also known as Berwick Bay), mile 17.5 [Gulf 
Intracoastal Waterway (Morgan City-Port Allen Alternate Route), mile 
0.3] in Morgan City, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. This deviation is 
necessary to perform maintenance needed for the operation of the 
bridge. This deviation allows for the bridge to remain closed-to-
navigation for eight-consecutive hours in the morning and five-
consecutive hours in the evening with an opening in the middle to pass 
vessels for a five-day period.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 11 a.m. on March 2 through 9 
p.m. on March 6, 2016.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2016-0130] 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 Donna Gagliano, Bridge 
Administration Branch, Coast Guard, telephone (504) 671-2128, email 
Donna.Gagliano@uscg.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BNSF Railway requested a temporary 
deviation from the operating schedule of the Morgan City Railroad 
Bridge. These repairs are necessary for the operation of the bridge. 
This deviation is to install new Conley joints on the four bases on the 
east and west ends of the bridges and transition rails on the east and 
west side of the bridge's north and south sides. The draw currently 
operates under 33 CFR 117.5.
    For the purposes of this deviation, the bridge will not be required 
to open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. From 2 p.m. until 4 p.m., the 
bridge will be opened for the passage of vessels. The bridge will again 
be closed-to-navigation from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. From 9 p.m. until 6 a.m. 
the bridge will be maintained in the open position. The closure will 
begin at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 and continue through 9 
p.m. on March 6, 2016.
    The vertical clearance of the bridge is 4 feet above mean high 
water, elevation 8.2 feet NGVD in the closed-to-navigation position and 
73 feet above mean high water in open-to-navigation position. 
Navigation on the waterway consists of tugs with tows, oil industry 
related work and crew boats, commercial fishing vessels and some 
recreational crafts.
    Vessels able to pass the bridge in the closed position may do so at 
any time. The bridge will be able to open for emergencies and the 
Morgan City-Port Allen Landside route through Amelia, LA can be used as 
an alternate route. The Coast Guard will also inform the users of the 
waterways through our Local Notice to Mariners and Broadcast Notices to 
Mariners of the change in operating schedule for the bridge, so that 
vessel operators can arrange their transits to minimize any impact 
caused by the temporary deviation.
    In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35, 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: February 19, 2016.
David M. Frank,
Bridge Administrator, Eighth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2016-03895 Filed 2-23-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P