Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Mullica River, New Jersey

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD05-99-034]

Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Mullica River, New Jersey

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations; request for

comments.

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SUMMARY: The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District has issued a

temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the

Green Bank drawbridge across Mullica River, Mile 18.0, at Atlantic

County and Burlington County, New Jersey. Beginning at 6 a.m. August

15, 1999, and continuing until 6 p.m. November 13, 1999, the bridge

will only open for the passage of recreational and commercial vessels

on the hour and half hour. This temporary deviation is needed to test

the effects of such a schedule on navigation and vehicular traffic

transiting over and under the bridge.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 6 a.m. August 15, 1999, until 6

p.m. November 13, 1999. Comments must be received by December 13, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to Commander (Aowb), Fifth Coast

Guard District, Federal Building, 4th Floor, 431 Crawford Street,

Portsmouth, Virginia 23704-5004, or may be hand delivered to the same

address between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays. Comments will become a part of this docket and will

be available for inspection and copying at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann B. Deaton, Bridge Administrator,

Fifth Coast Guard District, at 757-398-6222.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 36570]]

Request for Comments

The Coast Guard encourages interested parties to comment on this

temporary deviation. You may submit written data, views, or arguments

relating this schedule during the test period. Persons submitting

comments should include their names and addresses, identify this

temporary deviation (CGD05-99-034) and the particular part of this

deviation to which each comment applies, and the reason for each

comment. The Coast Guard requests that all comments and attachments be

submitted in an unbound format suitable for copying and electronic

filing. Persons wanting acknowledgment of receipt of comments should

enclose a stamped self-addressed postcard or envelope.

The Coast Guard will consider all comments received during the

comment period. The Coast Guard plans no public hearing. You may

request a public hearing by writing to the Commander, Fifth Coast Guard

District, at the address under ADDRESSES. The request should include

reasons why a hearing would be helpful. If the Coast Guard decides to

hold a public hearing, we will announce the hearing in a separate

notice in the Federal Register.

The drawbridge across Mullica River is owned and operated by

Atlantic County, New Jersey. On September 3, 1998, the Coast Guard

received a letter from Atlantic County requesting a temporary deviation

from the normal operation of the bridge. They wanted to test a proposed

change to the current regulations for the Green Bank Drawbridge by

changing the opening schedule to openings on the hour and half hour for

recreational and commercial vessels. The current regulation at Title

33, Code of Federal Regulations Section 117.731a(b), requires the draw

to open on signal, except from April 1 through November 30, from 11

p.m. to 7 a.m., and from December 1 through March 31, at all times, a

four-hour notice is required.

The temporary deviation will change the periods of opening on

signal to openings on the hour and half hour for a period of 90 days.

The temporary deviation will not alter sections 117.731a (b) and (c),

of the Code of Federal Regulations, which states that the draw need not

open unless at least a four-hour notice is given from April 1, through

November 30, 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. and December 1 through March 31, at all

times. The draws shall open as soon as possible during periods when

four-hour notice is required for vessels in distress, public vessels of

the United States, and state and local vessels used for public safety

purposes.

Following the temporary deviation, the Coast Guard will review

drawbridge logs and vehicular traffic counts to determination how the

opening schedule met the needs of navigation and vehicular traffic.

Beginning August 15, 1999, and continuing until November 13, 1999,

this deviation requires the bridge to open for recreational and

commercial vessels on the hour and half hour, 24 hours a day. The four

hour minimum notification period for vessels seeking to transit between

the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. remains in effect during the deviation

period.

Dated: June 24, 1999.

Thomas E. Bernard,

Captain, Coast Guard, Fifth Coast Guard District, Acting District

Commander.

[FR Doc. 99-17188 Filed 7-6-99; 8:45 am]

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