Document ID: USCG-2014-0065-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Rule
Title: Drawbridge Operations: Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, Belle Chasse, LA (Federal Register Publication)
Posted Date: 2014-02-28T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 40 (Friday, February 28, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11320-11321]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-04354]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2014-0065]

Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, 
Belle Chasse, LA

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 State Route 23 (SR 23) vertical 
lift span bridge, also known as the Judge Perez Bridge, across the Gulf 
Intracoastal Waterway (Algiers Alternate Route), mile 3.8, at Belle 
Chasse, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. This deviation is necessary to 
provide

[[Page 11321]]

for the safe movement of vehicular traffic during major plant 
reconstruction on one side of the waterway and the resulting change in 
work schedule and increase in workforce transiting the bridge. This 
deviation allows the bridge to remain temporarily closed to navigation 
for an additional one hour in the evening during weekdays for two 
months.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 
5, 2014 through 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30, 2014.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2014-0065] 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 
temporary deviation, call or email David Frank, Bridge Administration 
Branch, Coast Guard; telephone 504-671-2128, email 
David.M.Frank@uscg.mil. If you have questions on viewing the docket, 
call Cheryl F. Collins, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 
202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A member of the Louisiana State Legislature 
requested a temporary deviation from the operating schedule on the SR 
23 vertical lift span bridge, also known as the Judge Perez Bridge, 
across the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (Algiers Alternate Route), mile 
3.8, at Belle Chasse, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. The deviation 
requested allows the bridge to remain closed to navigation for an 
additional one hour in the evening, Monday through Friday, for two 
months.
    The Louisiana Legislature makes this request to support and assist 
in the safe movement of increased vehicular traffic across the bridge 
during the evening hours, resulting from a change in the work schedule 
and increased work force related to a major plant reconstruction at the 
Conoco/Phillips Refinery in Alliance. This temporary deviation will 
also help to minimize the effects of the additional traffic on local 
residents.
    Presently, in accordance with 33 CFR 117.451(b), the draw shall 
open on signal; except that, from 6 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and from 3:30 
p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, the 
draw need not open for the passage of vessels.
    This temporary deviation allows the vertical lift bridge to remain 
closed to navigation for one additional hour in the afternoon to extend 
the afternoon curfew hours from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through 
Friday from Wednesday, March 5, 2014 through Wednesday, April 30, 2014. 
In case of an emergency, the bridge will be able to open for the 
passage of vessels.
    The SR 23 vertical lift span drawbridge across the Gulf 
Intracoastal Waterway (Algiers Alternate Route), mile 3.8, at Belle 
Chasse, Louisiana has a vertical clearance of 40 feet above mean high 
water in the closed-to-navigation position and 100 feet above mean high 
water in the open-to-navigation position. Navigation on the waterway 
consists primarily of tugs with tows, commercial fishing vessels, and 
occasional recreational craft. Mariners may use the Gulf Intracoastal 
Waterway (Harvey Canal) to avoid unnecessary delays. The Coast Guard 
has coordinated this closure with the Gulf Intracoastal Canal 
Association (GICA). The GICA representative indicated that the vessel 
operators will be able to schedule transits through the bridge such 
that operations will not significantly be hindered. Thus, it has been 
determined that this closure will not have a significant effect on 
these vessels.
    In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35, the draw bridge 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 13, 2014.
David M. Frank,
Bridge Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2014-04354 Filed 2-27-14; 8:45 am]
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