Drawbridge Operation Regulations: Mystic River, CT

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION:

Notice of temporary deviation from regulations; request for comment.

SUMMARY:

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the drawbridge operation regulations for the U.S. 1 Bridge, mile 2.8, across the Mystic River at Mystic, Connecticut. This temporary deviation will test a proposed change to the drawbridge operation regulations to determine if a permanent change to the regulations is reasonable. It is expected that this change to the regulations will better meet the needs of navigation and vehicular traffic.

DATES:

Comments must reach the Coast Guard on or before November 15, 2003. This deviation is effective from June 15, 2003 through August 31, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

You may mail comments to Commander (obr), First Coast Guard District, Bridge Branch, at 408 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02110-3350, or deliver them to the same address between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is (617) 223-8364. The First Coast Guard District, Bridge Branch, maintains the public docket for this rulemaking. Comments and material received from the public, as well as documents indicated in this preamble as being available in the docket, will become part of this docket and will be available for inspection or copying at the First Coast Guard District, Bridge Branch, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Joseph Schmied, Project Officer, First Coast Guard District, at (212) 668-7195.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting comments or related material. If you do so, please include your name and address, identify the docket number for this rulemaking (CGD01-03-047), 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 if they reached us, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and material received during the comment period.

Background and Purpose

The U.S. 1 Bridge has a vertical clearance of 4 feet at mean high water and 7 feet at mean low water in the closed position.

The existing regulations, listed at 33 CFR 117.211(b), require the bridge to open on signal with a maximum delay of up to 20 minutes; except that: from May 1 through October 31, from 7:15 a.m. to 7:15 p.m., the draw need only open once an hour, at quarter past the hour. From November 1 through April 30, from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., the draw shall open on signal after a six-hour advance notice is given.

The Mystic Connecticut Chamber of Commerce and Marine Affairs Committee requested that the U.S. 1 Bridge opening schedule be changed.

Under this temporary deviation the draw of the U.S. 1 Bridge shall open on signal; except that, from 7:40 a.m. to 7:40 p.m., daily, the draw need only open at 7:40 a.m., 8:40 a.m., 9:40 a.m., 10:40 a.m., 11:40 a.m., 1:10 p.m., 1:40 p.m., 2:40 p.m., 3:40 p.m., 4:40 p.m., 5:40 p.m., 6:40 p.m., and 7:40 p.m.

This temporary deviation eliminates the provision that permits openings to be delayed up to 20 minutes after a request is given. Under this temporary deviation, the bridge must open promptly and fully upon request, in accordance with 33 CFR 117.5.

This deviation from the operating regulations is authorized under 33 CFR 117.43, and comments and information gathered during the comment period will assist the Coast Guard in determining if this test operating schedule is reasonable and should be made a permanent change to the drawbridge operation regulations.