Document ID: USCG-2015-0050-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Rule
Title: Drawbridge Operations: Willamette River, Portland, OR (Federal Register Publication)
Posted Date: 2015-02-09T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 26 (Monday, February 9, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6906-6907]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-02475]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2015-0050]

Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Willamette River, Portland, OR

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from drawbridge regulation.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the 
operating schedule that governs the Burlington Northern Santa Fe 
Railway Bridge, also known as the St. Johns RR Bridge, across the 
Willamette River, mile 6.9, at Portland, OR. The deviation is necessary 
to facilitate installation of new rail joints. This deviation allows 
the bridge to remain in the closed to navigation position during 
maintenance activities.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 7 a.m. on February 12, 2015 to 
noon on February 13, 2015.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2015-0050] 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 Mr. Steven Fischer, Bridge 
Administrator, Coast Guard Thirteenth District; telephone 206-220-7282, 
email d13-pf-d13bridges@uscg.mil. If you have questions on viewing the 
docket, call Cheryl Collins, Program Manager, Docket Operations, 
telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway

[[Page 6907]]

requested this deviation to facilitate the installation of new rail 
joints on the bridge. The bridge, also known as the St. Johns Railway 
Bridge, crosses the Willamette River at mile 6.9 and provides 54 feet 
of vertical clearance above Columbia River Datum 0.0 while in the 
closed position. Under normal operations, this bridge opens on signal 
as required by 33 CFR 117.5. The deviation period is from 7 a.m. to 
noon on February 12, 2015; from 7 a.m. to noon on February 13, 2015. 
This deviation allows the lift span of the BNSF Railway Bridge across 
the Willamette River, mile 6.9, to remain in the closed to navigation 
position, and need not open for maritime traffic during the periods 
listed above. The bridge shall operate in accordance with 33 CFR 117.5 
at all other times. BNSF will entertain requests from mariners to 
change the above listed schedule for emergent vessel arrivals or 
departures that are dependent on water level, given 72 hours advanced 
notice. The BNSF contact is Jeff Swanson, who can be reached at (701) 
412-6593. Waterway usage on this part of the Willamette River includes 
vessels ranging from commercial tug and barge to small pleasure craft.
    Vessels able to pass through the bridge in the closed positions may 
do so at any time. The BNSF Railway Bridge will not be able to open for 
emergencies, and there is no immediate alternate route for vessels to 
pass. The Coast Guard will also inform the users of the waterways 
through our Local and Broadcast Notices to Mariners of the change in 
operating schedule 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 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.

    Dated: January 27, 2015.
Steven M. Fischer,
Bridge Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2015-02475 Filed 2-6-15; 8:45 am]
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