Document ID: USCG-2012-0487-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Rule
Title: Drawbridge Operations: Lake Washington Ship Canal, Seattle, WA (Federal Register Publication) (Notice of temporary deviation from regulations.)
Posted Date: 2012-06-06T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 6, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 33307-33308]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-13741]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2012-0487]

Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Lake Washington Ship Canal, 
Seattle, WA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the 
operating schedule that governs the Montlake Bridge across the Lake 
Washington Ship Canal, mile 5.2, at Seattle, WA. This deviation is 
necessary to accommodate maintenance to the metro trolley system which 
crosses the bridge.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 10 p.m. on June 16, 2012 
through 8 a.m. June 24, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in 
the docket are part of docket USCG-2012-0487 and are available online 
by going to http://www.regulations.gov, inserting USCG-2012-0487 in the 
``Keyword'' box and then clicking ``Search''. They are also available 
for inspection or copying at the Docket Management Facility (M-30), 
U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 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 rule, 
call or email the Bridge Administrator, Coast Guard Thirteenth 
District; telephone 206-220-7282, email randall.d.overton@uscg.mil. If 
you have questions on viewing the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program 
Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Washington State Department of 
Transportation (WSDOT) has requested that the Montlake Bridge 
temporarily remain in the down or closed position to facilitate 
maintenance of the King County Metro Trolley system. The scheduled 
maintenance will take place on two separate nights in June 2012. The 
first maintenance period will be the night of June 16, 2012 starting at 
10 p.m. lasting until 8 a.m. June 17, 2012. The second maintenance 
period will be June 23, 2012 starting at 10 p.m. lasting until 8 a.m. 
June 24, 2012. During these maintenance periods WSDOT has requested 
that the Montlake Bridge remain in the closed position. King County 
Metro Transit will be replacing the electrical cables and installing 
new electrical switches for the Metro Trolley system. King County will 
have electrical equipment and associated maintenance vehicles staged on 
the Montlake Bridge during these maintenance periods. The Montlake 
Bridge crosses the Lake Washington Ship Canal at mile 5.2 and while in 
the closed position provides 30 feet of vertical clearance throughout 
the navigation channel and 46 feet of vertical clearance throughout the 
center 60-feet of the bridge; vertical clearance referenced to the Mean 
Water Level of Lake Washington. Vessels which do not require a bridge 
opening may continue to transit beneath the bridge during these closure 
periods. Under normal conditions this bridge operates in accordance 
with 33 CFR 117.1051(e) which requires the bridge to open on signal, 
except that the bridge need not open for vessels less than 1,000 gross 
tons between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Monday 
through Friday. This deviation period is from 10 p.m. June 16, 2012 
through 8 a.m. June 24, 2012. This deviation allows the bascule span of 
the Montlake Bridge to remain in the closed position and need not open 
for maritime traffic from 10 p.m. on June 16, 2012 until 8 a.m. on June 
17, 2012, and also from 10 p.m. on June 23, 2012 until 8 a.m. June 24, 
2012. The bridge shall operate in accordance to 33 CFR 117.1051(e) at 
all other times. Waterway usage on the Lake Washington Ship Canal 
ranges from commercial tug and barge to small pleasure craft. Mariners 
will be notified and kept informed of the bridge's operational status 
via the Coast Guard Notice to Mariners publication and Broadcast Notice 
to Mariners as appropriate. The draw span will be required to open, if 
needed, for vessels engaged in emergency response operations during the 
closure periods.
    In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(e), the drawbridge must return to 
its regular operating schedule immediately at the end of the designated 
time period. This deviation from the operating regulations is 
authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.

[[Page 33308]]

    Dated: May 24, 2012.
Randall D. Overton,
Bridge Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2012-13741 Filed 6-5-12; 8:45 am]
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