E8-24513. Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Raritan River, Perth Amboy, NJ

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION:

Notice of temporary deviation from regulations.

SUMMARY:

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the NJTRO Bridge, across the Raritan River, mile 0.5, at Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Under this temporary deviation the draw may remain in the closed position for one weekend to facilitate scheduled bridge maintenance.

DATES:

This deviation is effective from 6 a.m. on October 18, 2008 through 5 p.m. on October 19, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

Documents indicated in this preamble as being available in the docket are part of docket USCG-2008-0951 and are available online at http://www.regulations.gov. They are also available for inspection or copying at two locations: the Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, and the First Coast Guard District, Bridge Branch Office, 408 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

If you have questions on the rule, call Joe Arca, Project Officer, First Coast Guard District, at 212-668-7165. If you have questions on viewing the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The NJTRO Bridge, across the Raritan River, mile 0.5, at Perth Amboy, New Jersey, has a vertical clearance in the closed position of 8 feet at mean high water and 13 feet at mean low water. The existing regulations are listed at 33 CFR 117.747.

The owner of the bridge, New Jersey Transit Rail Operations (NJTRO), requested a temporary deviation to facilitate scheduled mechanical maintenance at the bridge.

In order to perform the bridge maintenance the bridge must remain in the closed position.

Under this temporary deviation the NJTRO Bridge across the Raritan River, mile 0.5, at Perth Amboy, New Jersey, need not open for the passage of vessel traffic from 6 a.m. on October 18, 2008 through 5 p.m. on October 19, 2008, with a rain date of October 25, 2008 and October 26, 2008, in the event inclement weather prevents the bridge maintenance from being performed. Vessels that can pass under the draw without a bridge opening may do so at all times.

Should the bridge maintenance authorized by this temporary deviation be completed before the end of the effective period published in this notice, the Coast Guard will rescind the remainder of this temporary deviation, and the bridge shall be returned to its normal operating schedule. Notice of the above action shall be provided to the public in the Local Notice to Mariners and the Federal Register, where practicable.

In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(e), the bridge must return to its regular operating schedule immediately at the end of the designated time period. This deviation from the operating regulations is authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.

Dated: October 2, 2008.

Gary Kassof,

Bridge Program Manager, First Coast Guard District.