Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2006/06/29/E6-10249/drawbridge-operation-regulations-new-jersey-intracoastal-waterway-njicw-grassy-sound-channel-great
Timestamp: 2018-02-24 14:37:56
Document Index: 457835720

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

Federal Register :: Drawbridge Operation Regulations; New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway (NJICW), Grassy Sound Channel, Great Channel, and Townsend Inlet, NJ
Drawbridge Operation Regulations; New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway (NJICW), Grassy Sound Channel, Great Channel, and Townsend Inlet, NJ
37022-37024 (3 pages)
CGD05-06-045
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E6-10249 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E6-10249
Start Preamble Start Printed Page 37022
The Coast Guard proposes to change the drawbridge operation regulations of four Cape May County Bridge Commission (CMCBC) bridges: the Townsend Inlet Bridge, at mile 0.3 in Avalon; the County of Cape May Bridge, at mile 0.7, across Great Channel between Stone Harbor and Nummy Island; the Ocean Drive Bridge, at mile 1.0, across Grassy Sound Channel in North Wildwood; and the Two-Mile Bridge, at NJICW mile 112.2, across Middle Thorofare in Wildwood Crest, in NJ. This proposal will allow the bridges to remain in the closed position at particular dates and times to accommodate the Ocean Drive Marathon. Vessels that can pass under the bridges without a bridge opening may do so at all times.
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, CGD05-06-045, 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 a return receipt, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all submittals received during the comment period. We may change this proposed rule in view of them.
On behalf of the Ocean Drive Run Club, Inc., (Ocean Drive RC), CMCBC requested changes to the operating drawbridge regulations to accommodate the Ocean Drive Marathon. The race is an annual event sponsored by the Ocean Drive RC, attracting spectators and participants from the surrounding cities and states.
CMCBC who owns and operates the Townsend Inlet Bridge, at mile 0.3 in Avalon; the County of Cape May Bridge, at mile 0.7, across Great Channel between Stone Harbor and Nummy Island; the Grassy Sound Channel Bridge, at mile 1.0 in North Wildwood; and the Two-Mile Bridge, at NJICW mile 112.2, across Middle Thorofare in Wildwood Crest, requested the following drawbridge changes:
The County of Cape May Bridge, at mile 0.7, across Great Channel between Stone Harbor and Nummy Island has a vertical clearance of 15 feet above mean high water (MHW) and 19 feet above mean low water (MLW) in the closed position to vessels. The existing regulation is listed at 33 CFR 117.720.
The Ocean Drive Marathon is held on the fourth Sunday in March of every year with the third Sunday used as the alternate day, if the fourth Sunday falls on a religious holiday. To facilitate the race, the proposal will maintain the bridge in the closed-to-navigation position from 9:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the fourth Sunday in March of every year.
The Grassy Sound Channel Bridge, at mile 1.0 in Middle Township, has a vertical clearance of 15 feet above MHW and 19 feet above MLW in the closed position to vessels. The existing regulation is listed at 33 CFR 117.721.
The Two-Mile Bridge, at NJICW mile 112.2 at Wildwood Crest, has a vertical clearance of 23 feet above MHW and 27 feet above MLW in the closed position to vessels. The existing operating regulations are set out in 33 CFR 117.5 which requires the bridge to open on signal.
The Ocean Drive Marathon is held on the fourth Sunday in March of every year with the third Sunday used as the alternate day, if the fourth Sunday falls on a religious holiday. To facilitate the race, the proposal will maintain the bridge in the closed-to-navigation position from 9:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on the fourth Sunday in March of every year.
The Townsend Inlet Bridge, at mile 0.3 in Avalon, has a vertical clearance of 23 feet above MHW and 26 feet above MLW in the closed position to vessels. The existing regulation is listed at 33 CFR 117.5, which requires the bridge to open on signal.
The Coast Guard believes that the proposed changes are reasonable due to the short duration the drawbridges will be maintained in the closed position to vessels and because this event has been observed in past years with little or no Start Printed Page 37023impact to marine or vehicular traffic. This is also a necessary measure to facilitate public safety and allow for the orderly movement of participants and vehicular traffic before, during and after the race.
This proposed rule amends 33 CFR 117.720 which details the operating regulations for the County of Cape May Bridge.
A new paragraph (c) will be added to § 117.720, which allows the County of Cape May Bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position from 9:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the fourth Sunday in March of every year with the third Sunday used as the alternate day, if the fourth Sunday falls on a religious holiday.
This proposed rule amends 33 CFR 117.721 which details the operating regulations for the Grassy Sound Channel Bridge. Section 117.721 will be revised to allow the Grassy Sound Channel Bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position from 9:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the fourth Sunday in March of every year with the third Sunday used as the alternate day, if the fourth Sunday falls on a religious holiday.
This proposed rule amends 33 CFR 117.733 by redesignating paragraph (k) as paragraph (m) and adding new paragraph (k) which details the operating regulations for the Two-Mile Bridge, at mile 112.2, across Middle Thorofare in Wildwood Crest.
A new paragraph (k) will be added to § 117.733, which allows the Two-Mile Bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position from 9:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on the fourth Sunday in March of every year with the third Sunday used as the alternate day, if the fourth Sunday falls on a religious holiday.
Section 117.757 Tuckahoe River will be redesignated as § 117.758 to allow alphabetical placement and codification of Townsend Inlet at § 117.757.
Townsend Inlet will be added at new § 117.757, detailing the operating regulations and allowing the Townsend Inlet Bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position from 9:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the fourth Sunday in March of every year with the third Sunday used as the alternate day, if the fourth Sunday falls on a religious holiday.
We expect the economic impact of this proposed rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under the regulatory policies and procedures of DHS is unnecessary. We reached this conclusion based on the fact that the proposed changes have only a minimal impact on maritime traffic transiting the bridge. Mariners can plan their trips in accordance with the scheduled bridge openings to minimize delays.
This proposed rule meets applicable standards in sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform, to minimize litigation, eliminate ambiguity, and reduce burden. Start Printed Page 37024
We have analyzed this proposed rule under Commandant Instruction M16475.lD and Department of Homeland Security Management Directive 5100.1, which guide the Coast Guard in complying with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), and have made a preliminary determination that there are no factors in this case that would limit the use of a categorical exclusion under section 2.B.2 of the Instruction. Therefore, we believe that this proposed rule should be categorically excluded, under figure 2-1, paragraph (32)(e) of the Instruction, from further environmental documentation. Under figure 2-1, paragraph (32)(e), of the Instruction, an “Environmental Analysis Check List” is not required for this rule. Comments on this section will be considered before we make the final decision on whether to categorically exclude this rule from further environmental review.
2. Section 117.720 is amended by adding a new paragraph (c) to read as follows:
(c) From 9:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the fourth Sunday in March of every year, the draw need not open for vessels. If the fourth Sunday falls on a religious holiday, the draw need not open from 9:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the third Sunday of March of every year.
3. Section 117.721 is revised to read as follows:
§ 117.721
Grassy Sound Channel.
The draw of the Grassy Sound Channel Bridge, mile 1.0 in Middle Township, shall open on signal from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. from May 15 through September 30. From 9:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the fourth Sunday in March of every year, the draw need not open for vessels. If the fourth Sunday falls on a religious holiday, the draw need not open from 9:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the third Sunday of March of every year. Two hours advance notice is required for all other openings by calling (609) 368-4591.
4. Section 117.733 is amended by redesignating paragraph (k) as paragraph (m) and adding a new paragraph (k) to read as follows:
(k) The draw of Two-Mile Bridge, mile 112.2, across Middle Thorofare in Wildwood Crest, shall open on signal; except from 9:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on the fourth Sunday in March of every year, the draw need not open for vessels. If the fourth Sunday falls on a religious holiday, the draw need not open for vessels from 9:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on the third Sunday of March of every year.
§ 117.757
5. Redesignate § 117.757 as § 117.758.
6. Add new § 117.757 to read as follows:
Townsend Inlet.
The draw of Townsend Inlet Bridge, mile 0.3 in Avalon, shall open on signal; except from 9:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the fourth Sunday in March of every year, the draw need not open for vessels. If the fourth Sunday falls on a religious holiday, the draw need not open from 9:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the third Sunday of March of every year.
[FR Doc. E6-10249 Filed 6-28-06; 8:45 am]