Document ID: USCG-2018-0080-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Rule
Title: Drawbridge Operations: Hampton River, Hampton, NH
Posted Date: 2018-02-15T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 32 (Thursday, February 15, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6795-6796]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-03177]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2018-0080]

Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Hampton River, Hampton, NH

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

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 SR1A Bridge across the Hampton 
River, mile 0.0, at Hampton, NH. The deviation is necessary to allow 
the replacement of couplers on the bridge. This deviation allows the 
bridge to be closed to navigation.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 6:30 a.m. on February 19, 2018 
to 11:59 p.m. on March 23, 2018.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, USCG-2018-0080 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. Jeffrey Stieb, First Coast Guard 
District Bridge Branch, Coast Guard; telephone 617-223-8364, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The owner of the bridge, the New Hampshire 
Department of Transportation (NH DOT), requested a temporary deviation 
to replace the failed couplings to the operating machinery of the 
bridge. The SR1A Bridge across the Hampton River, mile 0.0, at Hampton, 
New Hampshire, has a vertical clearance in the closed position of 18 
feet at mean high water and 26.5 feet at mean low water. The existing 
bridge operating regulations are found at 33 CFR 117.697.
    This temporary deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed 
to navigation position from 6:30 a.m. on February 19, 2018, through 
11:59 p.m. on March 23, 2018. The deviation will have negligible effect 
on vessel navigation. The waterway is transited primarily by seasonal 
recreational vessels and small commercial fishing vessels. In 2016 and 
in 2017 there were only three openings in the month of March.
    NH DOT has met and maintained frequent communication with waterway 
users, the harbormaster and town officials through direct contact and 
public meetings. No objections to the proposed closure were received. 
Vessels that can pass through the bridge in the closed position may do 
so. 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 inform waterway users of 
the closure through Local and Broadcast Notices to Mariners in order 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.

[[Page 6796]]

    Dated: February 1, 2018.
Christopher J. Bisignano,
Supervisory Bridge Management Specialist, First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2018-03177 Filed 2-14-18; 8:45 am]
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