Document ID: USCG-2013-0806-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Rule
Title: Drawbridge Operations: New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway, Atlantic City, NJ (Federal Register Publication) (Notice of temporary deviation from drawbridge regulation.)
Posted Date: 2013-09-10T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 175 (Tuesday, September 10, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55215-55216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-21952]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2013-0806]

Drawbridge Operation Regulation; New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway 
(NJICW), Atlantic City, NJ

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from drawbridge regulation.

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SUMMARY: The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has issued a 
temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Route 
30/Absecon Boulevard Bridge across Beach Thorofare, NJICW mile 67.2, 
and the US40-322 (Albany Avenue) across Inside Thorofare, NJICW mile 
70.0, both at Atlantic City, NJ. The deviation is necessary to ensure 
the safety of the heavy volumes of vehicular and pedestrian traffic 
that would be transiting over the bridges for the Miss America Pageant 
Parade. This deviation allows the drawbridges to remain closed to 
navigation to accommodate a crowd of 200,000 to 300,000 following the 
conclusion of the Miss America Pageant Parade.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 8:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. on 
Saturday, September 14, 2013.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2013-0806] 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. You may also visit the Docket 
Management Facility in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the 
Department of Transportation West Building, 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 Kashanda Booker, Bridge

[[Page 55216]]

Management Specialist, Fifth Coast Guard District; telephone 757-398-
6587, email Kashanda.l.booker@uscg.mil. If you have questions on 
viewing the docket, call Barbara Hairston, Program Manager, Docket 
Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The New Jersey Department of Transportation 
requested a temporary deviation from the current operating regulations 
of the Route 30/Absecon Boulevard Bridge across Beach Thorofare, NJICW 
mile 67.2, and the US40-322 (Albany Avenue) across Inside Thorofare, 
NJICW mile 70.0, both at Atlantic City, NJ. The temporary deviation has 
been requested to ensure the safety of the heavy volumes of vehicular 
traffic that would be transiting over the bridges for the Miss America 
Pageant Parade. Due to security concerns, the NJDOT would like to have 
the capability to clear the city as quick as possible if necessary. 
Under this temporary deviation, on Saturday, September 14, 2013, the 
draws for both bridges need not open from 8:30 p.m. until 10 p.m.

Route 30/Absecon Boulevard Bridge

    The current operating regulation for the Route 30/Absecon Boulevard 
Bridge across Beach Thorofare is outlined at 33 CFR 117.733(e) which 
requires that the bridge shall open on signal if at least four hours of 
notice is given; except that from April 1 through October 31, from 7 
a.m. to 11 p.m., the draw need only open on the hour; on July 4, the 
draw need not open from 9:40 p.m. until 11:15 p.m. to accommodate the 
annual July 4th fireworks show. Should inclement weather prevent the 
fireworks event from taking place as planned, the draw need not open 
from 9:40 p.m. until 11:15 p.m. on July 5th to accommodate the annual 
July 4th fireworks show; on the third or fourth Wednesday of August the 
draw will open every two hours on the hour from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. 
and need not open from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. to accommodate the annual 
Air Show. In the closed position to vessels, the vertical clearance for 
this bascule-type bridge is 20 feet above mean high water.

US40-322 (Albany Avenue) Bridge

    The current operating regulation for the US40-322 (Albany Avenue) 
Bridge across Inside Thorofare is outlined at 33 CFR 117.733(f) shall 
open on signal except that year-round, from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.; and from 
November 1 through March 31 from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., the draw need only 
open if at least four hours notice is given; from June 1 through 
September 30, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., the draw 
need only open on the hour and half hour; and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., 
the draw need not open; on July 4, the draw need not open from 9:40 
p.m. until 11:15 p.m., to accommodate the annual July 4th fireworks 
show. Should inclement weather prevent the fireworks event from taking 
place as planned, the draw need not open from 9:40 p.m. until 11:15 
p.m. on July 5th to accommodate the annual July 4th fireworks show; and 
on the third or fourth Wednesday of August, the draw will open every 
two hours on the hour from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and need not open from 
4 p.m. until 8 p.m. to accommodate the annual Air Show. In the closed 
position to vessels, the vertical clearance for this bascule-type 
bridge is 10 feet above mean high water.
    The majority of the vessels that transit the bridges this time of 
the year are recreational boats. Vessels able to pass through the 
bridges in the closed positions may do so at anytime. Both bridges will 
be able to open for emergencies.
    The Atlantic Ocean is an alternate route for vessels unable to pass 
through the bridges in closed positions. The Coast Guard will also 
inform the users of the waterways through our Local and Broadcast 
Notices to Mariners of the closure periods for the bridge so that 
vessels can arrange their transits to minimize any impact caused by the 
temporary deviation.
    In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(e), the drawbridges must return to 
their regular operating schedules immediately at the end of the 
designated time period. This deviation from the operating regulations 
is authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.

    Dated: August 27, 2013.
Waverly W. Gregory, Jr.,
Bridge Program Manager, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2013-21952 Filed 9-9-13; 8:45 am]
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