Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Oakland Inner Harbor Tidal Canal, CA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD11-95-003]

RIN 2115-AE47

Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Oakland Inner Harbor Tidal

Canal, CA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of reopening of comment period; notice of public

hearing.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In response to several requests for a public hearing, the

Coast Guard is reopening the comment period

[[Page 47318]]

and announcing a public hearing to be held October 5, 1995, on the

proposed change to the drawbridge operating regulations for four

drawbridges over the Oakland Inner Harbor Tidal Canal (Oakland

Estuary).

DATES: The public hearing will be held on October 5, 1995, commencing

at 7 p.m. Written comments must be received not later than October 31,

1995.

ADDRESSES: The hearing will be held at the Gresham Conference Center,

Building 4, Coast Guard Island, Alameda, CA. Written comments should be

mailed to Commander (oan-br), Eleventh Coast Guard District, Building

10, Room 214, Coast Guard Island, Alameda, CA 94501-5100, or may be

delivered to Room 214 at the same address between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30

p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jerry Olmes, Bridge Administrator, Eleventh Coast Guard District;

telephone (510) 437-3514.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory Background

On May 9, 1995 (60 FR 24599), the Coast Guard published a Notice of

Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), (CGD11-95-003), which proposed amending the

regulation for the draws of the Alameda County vehicular bridges

crossing the Oakland Inner Harbor Tidal Canal at the following

locations: Park Street, mile 7.3; Fruitvale Avenue, mile 7.7; High

Street, mile 8.1; and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers railroad bridge,

mile 7.7 at Fruitvale Avenue. Under the existing regulation, the draws

are attended 24 hours per day, and open upon signal except during

designated morning and afternoon commute periods. The proposed

amendment requires attended service 16 hours per day with a four hour

advance notice requirement for bridge openings during nighttime hours

when an operator is not in constant attendance. The proposed amendment

preserves the existing commute hour closures. This proposed amendment

will allow the bridge owner to reduce operating expenses and should

still provide for the reasonable needs of navigation. In addition, the

identifying waterway mileage designating the location of, and the call

sign for, each bridge would be revised to conform with the currently

utilized standard of measurement.

Discussion of Proposed Action

The Coast Guard received 18 letters in response to the NPRM, six of

which requested a public hearing. The Coast Guard has decided to reopen

the comment period and to hold a public hearing in order to provide all

interested parties with additional opportunity to present relevant

comments.

The hearing will be informal. Representatives of the Coast Guard

will preside, make brief opening statements and announce the procedures

to be followed at the hearing. Each person who wishes to make an oral

statement should contact Mr. Jerry Olmes at (510) 437-3514 before the

hearing date. Such notification should include the approximate time

needed to make the presentation. Comments previously submitted on this

rulemaking are a matter of record and need not be resubmitted at the

hearing. Speakers are encouraged to provide written copies of their

oral statement to the hearing officers at the hearing.

Interested persons who are unable to attend the hearing may also

participate in the consideration of the proposed amendment by

submitting their written comments to the Commander (oan-br), Eleventh

Coast Guard District at the address under ADDRESSES.

All written comments must be received no later than October 31,

1995. Each written comment should identify the proposed amendment and

clearly state the reason for any objections, comments or proposed

changes, and include the name and address of the person or organization

submitting the comment. Copies of all written communications will be

available for review by interested persons after the hearing at the

office of the Commander (oan-br), Eleventh Coast Guard District,

between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except

holidays. All comments received, whether in writing or presented orally

at the public hearing, will be fully considered before final agency

action is taken on the proposed amendment. The proposed amendment may

be changed in light of comments received.

The hearing will be recorded and a written summary will be

available for public review after October 16, 1995. All comments will

be made a part of the rulemaking docket.

Dated: August 30, 1995.

D.D. Polk,

Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard District,

Acting.

[FR Doc. 95-22527 Filed 9-11-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-14-M