Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Lafourche Bayou, LA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD08-94-032]

RIN 2115-AE47

Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Lafourche Bayou, LA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: At the request of the Greater Lafourche Port Commission, the

Coast Guard is considering a change to the regulation governing the

operation of the following two drawbridges across Lafourche Bayou, in

Lafourche Parish, Louisiana:

The State Route 1 (Galliano-Tarpon) vertical lift span bridge, mile

30.6 at Cutoff, Louisiana; and

The State Route 1 (Cote Blanche) pontoon bridge, mile 33.9 at

Cutoff, Louisiana.

The proposed regulation would require that the bridges open on

signal; except that from 2 to 3 p.m. and from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Monday

through Friday, other than Federal holidays, the bridges would be

permitted to remain closed to navigation for the uninterrupted crossing

of peak vehicular and school bus traffic.

Presently, the draws of the bridges are required to open on signal

at all times.

This action would relieve traffic congestion on the bridges during

these periods and permit the timely return of school children to their

homes while still providing for the reasonable needs of navigation.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 13, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to Commander (ob), Eighth Coast

Guard District, 501 Magazine Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130-3396,

or may be delivered to Room 1313 at the same address between 8 a.m. and

3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone

number is (504) 589-2965.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. John Wachter, Bridge Administration Branch, at the address given

above, telephone (504) 589-2965.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

Interested parties are invited to participate in the proposed

rulemaking by submitting written views, comments, or arguments. Persons

submitting comments should include their names and addresses, identify

the bridge and give reasons for concurrence with or any recommended

change in this proposal. Persons desiring acknowledgment that their

comments have been received should enclose a stamped, self-addressed

postcard or envelope.

The Coast Guard plans no public hearing. Persons may request a

public hearing by writing to the Eighth Coast Guard District at the

address under ADDRESSES. The request should include reasons why a

hearing would be beneficial. If it determines that the opportunity for

oral presentations will aid this rulemaking, the Coast Guard will hold

a public hearing at a time and place announced by a later notice in the

Federal Register.

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, will evaluate all

communications received and determine a course of final action on this

proposal. The proposed regulation may be changed in the light of

comments received.

Drafting Information

The drafters of this regulation are Mr. John Wachter, project

officer, and LT Elisa Holland, project attorney.

Background and Purpose

The Greater Lafourche Port Commission has requested the regulation

because vehicular traffic crossing the bridges during the proposed

closure periods has increased dramatically during recent years and

school children are delayed from returning home from their classes in a

timely manner. The new proposed regulation would allow for the free

flow of vehicular traffic, while still serving the reasonable needs of

navigational interest.

Discussion of Proposed Rules

The Galliano ``Tarpon'' bridge is a vertical lift span structure.

Navigational clearances provided by the bridge are 3.0 feet vertical

above mean high water in the closed to navigation position and 73 feet

above mean high water in the open to navigation position. Horizontal

clearance is 80.0 feet. Navigation on the waterway consists of tugs

with tows, fishing vessels, occasional small oil field work boats and

recreational craft. Data provided by the Greater Lafourche Port

Commission show that from August 1993 through August 1994, the number

of vessels that passed the bridge totaled 1141 for the year. This

breaks down to about 95 vessels per month or 3.1 vessels per 24-hour

period. Vehicular traffic that passes over the bridge during the

proposed closure period from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. averages about 750

vehicles including 4 school busses. An additional 4 school busses cross

the bridge between 3 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. and these busses will be able

to adjust their schedule to arrange to cross the bridge during the 2

p.m. to 3 p.m. closure. Vehicular traffic that crosses the bridge

during the proposed closure period of 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. averages

approximately 780.

The Cote Blanche bridge is a pontoon bridge. There is no vertical

clearance in the closed to navigation position and unlimited clearance

in the open to navigation position. The same type of navigation that

passes the Galliano ``Tarpon'' bridge, also passes the Cote Blanche

bridge. The average vessel passage per 24 hour period is 3.1. Vehicular

traffic that passes over the Cote Blanche Bridge during the proposed

closure period from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. average about 380, including 3

school busses. An additional 10 school busses cross the bridge between

3 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. and these busses will be able to adjust their

schedule to cross during the 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. closure. Vehicular

traffic that crosses the bridge during the proposed closure period of

4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. averages approximately 485.

Regulatory Evaluation

This proposal is not a significant regulatory action under section

3(f) of Executive Order 12866 and does not require an assessment of

potential cost and benefits under section 6(a)(3) of that order. It has

not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget under that

order. It is not significant under the regulatory policies and

procedures of the Department of Transportation (DOT) (44 FR 11040;

February 26, 1979).

The Coast Guard expects the economic impact of this proposal to be

so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph 10e of the

regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is unnecessary.

Small Entities

Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the

Coast Guard must consider whether this proposal, if adopted, will have

a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small

entities. ``Small entities'' may include (1) small businesses and not-

for-profit organizations that are independently owned and operated and

are not dominant in their fields and (2) governmental jurisdictions

with populations of less than 50,000.

Since the proposed rule also considers the needs of local

commercial fishing vessels, the economic impact is expected to be

minimal. Therefore, the Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b)

that this proposal, if adopted, will not have a significant economic

impact on a substantial number of small entities.

Collection of Information

This proposal contains no collection-of-information requirements

under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Federalism Implications

This action has been analyzed in accordance with the principles and

criteria contained in Executive Order 12612, and it has been determined

that the proposed rulemaking does not have sufficient federalism

implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

Environment

The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this

proposal and concluded that under paragraph 2.B.2. of Commandant

Instruction M16475.1B, this proposal is categorically excluded from

further environmental documentation. A ``Categorical Exclusion

Determination'' is available in the docket for inspection or copying

where indicated under ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117

Bridges.

For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes

to amend Part 117 of Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, as follows:

PART 117--DRAWBRIDGE OPERATION REGULATIONS

1. The authority citation for Part 117 continues to read as

follows:

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 499; 49 CFR 1.46; 33 CFR 1.05-1(g).

2. In section 117.465 paragraphs (a) through (e) are redesignated

as (b) through (f) and a new paragraph (a) is added to read as follows:

Sec. 117.465 LaFourche Bayou.

(a) The draws of the SR1 bridge, mile 30.6 and the SR1 bridge, mile

33.9, both near Cutoff, shall open on signal; except that, from 2 p.m.

to 3 p.m. and from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday except

Federal holidays, the draws need not be opened for the passage of

vessels.

* * * * *

Dated: November 7, 1994.

R.C. North,

Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District.

[FR Doc. 94-30583 Filed 12-12-94; 8:45 am]

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