Document ID: USCG-2015-0849-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Rule
Title: Drawbridge Operations: New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway, Atlantic City, NJ and Delaware River, Delair, NJ (Federal Register Publication)
Posted Date: 2015-09-17T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 180 (Thursday, September 17, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55761-55762]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-23342]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2015-0849]

Drawbridge Operation Regulations; New Jersey Intracoastal 
Waterway, Atlantic City, NJ and Delaware River, Delair, NJ

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of deviation from drawbridge regulations.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the 
operating schedules that govern the AMTRAK Bridge over Beach Thorofare, 
New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway, mile 68.9, at Atlantic City, NJ, and 
the AMTRAK Bridge over Delaware River, mile 104.6, at Delair, NJ. This 
deviation allows the bridges to remain in the closed-to-navigation 
position to facilitate the 2015 Papal Visit to Philadelphia, PA.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 5 a.m. on September 26, 2015, 
to 3 a.m. on September 28, 2015.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2015-0849], 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. Hal R. Pitts, Bridge 
Administration Branch Fifth District, Coast Guard; telephone (757) 398-
6222, email Hal.R.Pitts@uscg.mil. If you have questions on viewing the 
docket, call Cheryl Collins, Program Manager, Docket Operations, 
telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The New Jersey Transit, who owns and 
operates the AMTRAK Bridge over Beach Thorofare and AMTRAK Bridge over 
Delaware River, has requested a temporary deviation from the current 
operating regulations set out in 33 CFR 117.733(d) and 117.716, 
respectively, to facilitate movement of trains during the 2015 Papal 
Visit to Philadelphia, PA.
    Under the normal operating schedule for the AMTRAK Bridge over 
Beach

[[Page 55762]]

Thorofare, New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway, mile 68.9, at Atlantic 
City, NJ; the bridge shall open on signal from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.; from 
6 a.m. to 11 p.m., open on signal from 20 minutes to 30 minutes after 
each hour and remain open for all waiting vessels; opening of the draw 
may be delayed for ten minutes except as provide in 33 CFR 117.31(b); 
However, if a train is moving toward the bridge and has crossed the 
home signal for the bridge before the signal requesting the opening of 
the bridge is given, that train may continue across the bridge and must 
clear the bridge interlocks before stopping. Under the normal operating 
schedule for the AMTRAK Bridge over Delaware River, mile 104.6, at 
Delair, NJ, the bridgeneed not open when there is a train in the bridge 
block approaching the bridge with the intention of crossing, or within 
five minutes of the known time of the passage of a scheduled passenger 
train; the opening of a bridge may not be delayed for more than 10 
minutes, after the signal to open is given. The vertical clearances in 
the closed-to-navigation position of the AMTRAK Bridge over Beach 
Thorofare and AMTRAK Bridge over Delaware River are 5 feet and 49 feet, 
respectively, above mean high water.
    Under this temporary deviation, the bridges will not be required to 
open on signal or within ten minutes of a signal from 5 a.m. on 
September 26, 2015, to 3 a.m. on September 28, 2015. Mariners 
requesting an opening shall provide at least one hour notice and may be 
required to adjust their voyage plan to transit through the bridge at a 
specified time. Beach Thorofare, New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway is 
used by a variety of vessels including small commercial fishing 
vessels, recreational vessels and tug and barge traffic. The Delaware 
River is used by a variety of vessels including deep draft ocean-going 
vessels, small commercial fishing vessels, recreational vessels and tug 
and barge traffic. The Coast Guard has carefully coordinated the 
restrictions with commercial and recreational waterway users.
    Vessels able to pass through the bridges in the closed position may 
do so at anytime. The bridges will be able to open for emergencies and 
there is no alternate route for vessels unable to pass through the 
bridges in the closed position. The Coast Guard will also inform the 
users of the waterways through our Local and Broadcast Notice to 
Mariners of the change in operating schedules for these bridges so that 
vessels can arrange their transits to minimize any impacts caused by 
this 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 
effective period of this temporary deviation. This deviation from the 
operating regulations is authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.

    Dated: September 10, 2015.
Hal R. Pitts,
Bridge Program Manager, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2015-23342 Filed 9-16-15; 8:45 am]
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