Document ID: USCG-2018-1033-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Rule
Title: Drawbridge Operation Regulation; South Branch of the Elizabeth River, Chesapeake, VA
Posted Date: 2018-12-03T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 232 (Monday, December 3, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 62250-62251]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26112]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2018-1033]

Drawbridge Operation Regulation; South Branch of the Elizabeth 
River, Chesapeake, VA

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 Norfolk Southern #7 Railroad Bridge 
across the South Branch of the Elizabeth River, mile 5.8, at 
Chesapeake, VA. The deviation is necessary to facilitate maintenance. 
This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation 
position.

DATES: This deviation is effective without actual notice from December 
3, 2018 through 5 p.m. on December 13, 2018. For the purposes of 
enforcement, actual notice will be used from 7 a.m. on November 26, 
2018, until December 3, 2018.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2018-1033] 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. Martin Bridges, Bridge 
Administration Branch Fifth District, Coast Guard; telephone (757) 398-
6422, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Norfolk Southern Corporation, owner and 
operator of the Norfolk Southern #7 Railroad Bridge across the South 
Branch of the Elizabeth River, mile 5.8, at Chesapeake, VA, has 
requested a temporary deviation from the current operating schedule to 
accommodate bridge maintenance to perform a tie replacement project. 
The current operating regulation is set out in 33 CFR 117.997(d).
    Under this temporary deviation, the bridge will be maintained in 
the closed-to-navigation position from 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 
12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday, from November 26, 2018, 
through December 13, 2018. At all other times the bridge will operate 
per 33 CFR 117.997(d). The bridge has a vertical clearance of 7 feet 
above mean high water in the closed position.
    The South Branch of the Elizabeth River is used by a variety of 
vessels including deep draft ocean-going vessels, U.S. government 
vessels, small commercial vessels, recreational vessels and tug and 
barge traffic. The Coast Guard has carefully considered the nature and 
volume of vessel traffic on the waterway and coordinated with maritime 
stakeholders in publishing this temporary deviation.
    Vessels able to pass through the bridge in the closed position may 
do so, after providing 15 minutes notice to the project supervisor at 
the bridge on VHF-FM channel 13. The bridge will be able to open for 
emergencies if at least a 1-hour notice is given 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

[[Page 62251]]

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: November 27, 2018.
Hal R. Pitts,
Bridge Program Manager, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2018-26112 Filed 11-30-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P