Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2006/06/07/E6-8847/drawbridge-operation-regulations-arkansas-waterway-ar
Timestamp: 2018-03-19 11:19:48
Document Index: 261169676

Matched Legal Cases: ['§\u2009117', '§\u2009117', '§\u2009117', '§\u2009117', '§\u2009117', '§\u2009117', '§\u2009117', '§\u2009117', '§\u2009117', '§\u2009117', '§\u2009117', '§\u2009117', '§\u2009117', '§\u2009117', '§\u2009117', '§\u2009117', '§\u2009117', '§\u2009165', '§\u2009163', '§\u2009117', '§\u2009117']

Federal Register :: Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Arkansas Waterway, AR
A Proposed Rule by the Coast Guard on 06/07/2006
Comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on or before August 7, 2006.
71 FR 32883
32883-32885 (3 pages)
CGD08-06-005
E6-8847
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E6-8847 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E6-8847
We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting comments and related material. If you do so, please include your name and address, identify the docket number for this rulemaking [CGD08-06-005], indicate the specific section of this document to which each comment applies, and give the reason for each comment. Please submit all comments and related material in an unbound format, no larger than 81/2 by 11 inches, suitable for copying. If you would like to know they reached us, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and material received during the comment period. We may change this proposed rule in view of them.
The Arkansas Waterway is a part of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System. The System rises in the vicinity of Catoosa, Oklahoma, and embraces improved natural waterways and a canal to empty into the Mississippi River in southeast Arkansas. The Arkansas Waterway Drawbridge Operation Regulations contained in § 117.123(a), state that the Cotton Belt Railroad (Rob Roy) Bridge, mile 67.4, requires the use of ship's horns and flashing lights on the bridge to communicate between mariners requesting openings and railroad dispatchers remotely operating the bridge. Although not stated in § 117.123(a), records indicate that the method of communication outlined in § 117.123(a) was to be used by mariners and the remote bridge operator as a back-up means of communications. The Coast Guard, however, has determined that the primary method of communications outlined in § 117.123(a) has not been used during the past 20 years. It is doubtful that the system of horns and flashing lights was ever used. Instead, mariners and remote bridge operators have communicated via VHF-FM radiotelephone for opening the Rob Roy Drawbridge. The Coast Guard also determined that editorial changes were needed to correct inaccuracies in the specific requirements for the Baring Cross Railroad Drawbridge and the Van Buren Railroad Drawbridge. Three bridges on the Arkansas Waterway: The Missouri Pacific Railroad Drawbridge (Benzal Railroad Drawbridge) at mile 7.6, the Rock Island Railroad Drawbridge at Mile 118.2, and the Junction Railroad Drawbridge at Mile 118.7, have all been removed from rail service. Meetings with the owners indicate that all three bridges have been permanently locked in the open-to-navigation position and that there are plans to convert them into fixed pedestrian bridges in the future. Therefore, they are considered fixed bridges and should not be included in the drawbridge regulations section of the CFR. Section (a) of § 117.139 references the § 117.123 cite for the Start Printed Page 32884Missouri Pacific Railroad Drawbridge (Benzal Railroad Drawbridge), mile 7.6, so section (a) also requires removal from the regulations. Therefore, sections (b) and (c) of § 117.139 will need to be re-alphabetized.
The proposed changes to § 117.123 and § 117.139 will correct inaccuracies as follows: (a) A complete rewrite of § 117.123(a) to show the proper operating procedures for the Rob Roy Bridge; (b) A deletion of two bridges (Rock Island Railroad Drawbridge and the Junction Railroad Drawbridge) from § 117.123(b) that are no longer drawbridges and a rewrite of this section to accurately reflect the remote operation of the remaining bridge, the Baring Cross Railroad Bridge; (c) Delete the Missouri Pacific Railroad Drawbridge (Benzal Railroad Drawbridge) from § 117.123(c) as it is no longer a drawbridge and make minor edits to § 117.123(c) for the Van Buren Railroad Drawbridge to make it consistent with the other drawbridges found in § 117.123; and (d) Remove § 117.139(a) in its entirety as it is no longer applicable because the subject bridge is no longer a drawbridge.
The Coast Guard expects that these changes will have a minimal economic impact on commercial traffic operating on the Arkansas Waterway. The procedures are already in place at the three active drawbridges, the other three drawbridges have been locked in the open-to-navigation position, and the changes to the CFR documents the procedures.
The Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. This proposed rule is neutral to all business entities since it affects only how the vessel operators request bridge openings.
The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) (15 U.S.C. 272 note) directs agencies to use voluntary consensus standards in their regulatory activities unless the agency provides Congress, through the Office of Management and Budget, with an explanation of why using these Start Printed Page 32885standards would be inconsistent with applicable law or otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards are technical standards (e.g., specifications of materials, performance, design, or operation; test methods; sampling procedures; and related management systems practices) that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies.
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 499; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1; 33 CFR 1.05-1(g); section 117.255 also issued under the authority of Public Law 102-587, 106 Stat. 5039.
2. Replace the current § 117.123 in full with an amended § 117.123 as follows:
Arkansas Waterway—Automated Railroad Bridges.
(a) Across the Arkansas Waterway, the draw of the Rob Roy Drawbridge, mile 67.4 at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, is maintained in the closed position and is remotely operated. Any vessel requiring an opening of the draw shall establish contact by radiotelephone with the remote drawbridge operator on VHF-FM Channel 12 in Omaha, Nebraska. The remote drawbridge operator will advise the vessel whether the bridge can be immediately opened and maintain constant contact with the vessel until the span has opened and the vessel passage has been completed. The bridge is equipped with a Photoelectric Boat Detection System to prevent the span from lowering if there is an obstruction under the span. If the drawbridge cannot be opened immediately, the remote drawbridge operator shall notify the calling vessel and provide an estimated time for opening.
(b) Across the Arkansas Waterway, the draw of the Baring Cross Railroad Drawbridge, mile 119.6 at Little Rock, Arkansas, is maintained in the closed position and is remotely operated. Use the following procedures to request an opening of this bridge when necessary for transit:
(1) Normal Flow Procedures. Any vessel which requires an opening of the draw of this bridge shall establish contact by radiotelephone with the remote drawbridge operator on VHF-FM Channel 13 in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The remote drawbridge operator will advise the vessel whether the requested span can be immediately opened and maintain constant contact with the vessel until the requested span has opened and the vessel passage has been completed. If the drawbridge cannot be opened immediately, the remote drawbridge operator will notify the calling vessel and provide an estimated time for a drawbridge opening.
(2) High Velocity Flow Procedures. The area from mile 118.2 to mile 125.4 is a regulated navigation area (RNA) as described in § 165.817. During periods of high velocity flow, which is defined as a flow rate of 70,000 cubic feet per second or greater at the Murray Lock and Dam, mile 125.4, downbound vessels which require that the draw of this bridge be opened for unimpeded passage shall contact the remote drawbridge operator on VHF-FM Channel 13 either before departing Murray Lock and Dam, or before departing the mooring cells at Mile 121.5 to ensure that the Baring Cross Railroad Drawbridge is opened. The remote drawbridge operator shall immediately respond to the vessel's call, ensure that the drawbridge is open for passage, and ensure that it remains in the open position until the downbound vessel has passed through. If it cannot be opened immediately for unimpeded passage in accordance with § 163.203, the remote drawbridge operator will immediately notify the downbound vessel and provide an estimated time for a drawbridge opening. Upbound vessels shall request openings in accordance with the normal flow procedures as set forth above. The remote drawbridge operator shall keep all approaching vessels informed of the position of the drawbridge span.
(c) Across the Arkansas Waterway, the draw of the Van Buren Railroad Drawbridge, mile 300.8 at Van Buren, Arkansas, is maintained in the open position except as follows:
(1) When a train approaches the bridge, amber lights attached to the bridge begin to flash and an audible signal on the bridge sounds. At the end of 10 minutes, the amber light continues to flash; however, the audible signal stops and the draw lowers and locks if the photoelectric boat detection system detects no obstruction under the span. If there is an obstruction, the draw opens to its full height until obstruction is cleared.
(2) After the train clears the bridge, the draw opens to its full height, the amber flashing light stops, and the mid channel lights change from red to green, indicating the navigation channel is open for the passage of vessels.
§ 117.139
3. In § 117.139(a) remove paragraph (a) and redesignate paragraphs (b) and (c) as paragraphs (a) and (b), respectively.
Ronald W. Branch,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, Acting.
[FR Doc. E6-8847 Filed 6-6-06; 8:45 am]