Document ID: USCG-2018-0541-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Rule
Title: Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Cape Fear River, North Carolina, Wilmington, NC
Posted Date: 2018-06-22T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 121 (Friday, June 22, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 29001-29002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13386]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2018-0541]

Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Cape Fear River, North Carolina, 
Wilmington, NC

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

[[Page 29002]]

ACTION: Notice of deviation from drawbridge regulation.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the 
operating schedule that governs the U.S. Route 76 (Cape Fear Memorial) 
Bridge across the Cape Fear River, mile 26.8, in Wilmington, NC. The 
deviation is necessary to facilitate routine maintenance. This 
deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation 
position.

DATES: This deviation is effective without actual notice from June 22, 
2018 through 5 p.m. on November 30, 2018. For the purposes of 
enforcement, actual notice will be used from 12:01 a.m. on June 15, 
2018, until June 22, 2018.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2018-0541] 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 Mr. Mickey Sanders, Bridge 
Administration Branch, Fifth District, Coast Guard; telephone (757) 
398-6587, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The North Carolina Department of 
Transportation, owner and operator of the U.S. Route 76 (Cape Fear 
Memorial) Bridge across the Cape Fear River, mile 26.8, in Wilmington, 
NC, has requested a temporary deviation from the current operating 
schedule to accommodate routine maintenance.
    Under this temporary deviation, the bridge will require a four hour 
advanced notice to open from 12:01 a.m. on June 15, 2018, to 5 p.m. on 
November 30, 2018. The current operating schedule is set out in 33 CFR 
117.822.
    The Cape Fear River is used by a variety of vessels including small 
commercial vessels, recreational vessels and tug and barge traffic. The 
Coast Guard has carefully considered the restrictions with waterway 
users in publishing this temporary deviation.
    Vessels able to pass through the bridge in the closed position may 
do so at any time. The bridge will not be able to open for emergencies 
and there is no immediate alternate route for vessels unable to pass 
through the bridge in the closed position. The Coast Guard will also 
inform the users of the waterways through our Local and Broadcast 
Notice 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 this temporary deviation.
    In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(e), the drawbridge must return to 
its regular operating schedule immediately at the end of this effective 
period of this temporary deviation. This deviation from the operating 
regulations is authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.

    Dated: June 14, 2018.
Hal R. Pitts,
Bridge Program Manager, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2018-13386 Filed 6-21-18; 8:45 am]
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