[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 227 (Friday, November 22, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59396-59397]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-29952]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
33 CFR Part 117
[CGD08-96-048]
RIN 2115-AE47
Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Tchefuncta River, LA
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: At the request of the Louisiana Department of Transportation
and Development (LDOTD) and the Town of Madisonville, Louisiana, the
Coast Guard is proposing a change to the regulation governing the
operation of the swing span drawbridge across the Tchefuncta River,
mile 2.5, at Madisonville, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. The proposed
regulation would require that the draw will open on demand; except that
from 5 a.m. until 8 p.m. the draw would open only on the hour.
Presently, the draw is required to open on signal; except that, from 5
a.m. to 8 p.m. the draw opens only on the hour and half-hour. This
change of eliminating openings at the half-hour will allow for fewer
disruptions of vehicular traffic movement and still provide for the
reasonable needs of navigation.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 21, 1997.
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 8:00 a.m.
and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Phil Johnson, 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 is determined that the opportunity
for oral presentations will aid in 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.
Discussion of Proposed Rules
Extensive residential development in the Madisonville area has
significantly increased the amount of both vehicular traffic and vessel
traffic which use the bridge. Navigational openings, recorded by the
LDOTD, showed that the bridge had 313 openings for the month of April,
1996; 338 openings for May, 1996; 412 openings for June, 1996 and 407
openings for July, 1996. The vehicular traffic count taken for a two
week period in June 1996 by LDOTD showed that during the proposed
regulated period for bridge openings (5 a.m. to 8 p.m.), the average
daily traffic crossing the bridge was 9195 vehicles per day on
weekdays, 7793 vehicles on Saturdays and 7018 vehicles on Sundays. The
predominant waterway users of this drawbridge are recreational boaters.
While operators of these boats may be slightly inconvenienced by the
regulated openings, they will still have the opportunity to pass
through the bridge with knowledge of the schedule for openings and with
minimal planning. Most recreational boat owners that use the bridge for
vessel passage also use the bridge for vehicular passage. Therefore,
they too will benefit from the regulated bridge openings. The draw will
open on signal at any time for a vessel in distress, or for an
emergency aboard the vessel. Vertical clearance of the bridge in the
closed position is 6.2 feet above mean high water at the west rest pier
fender and 1.5 feet above mean high water at the pivot pier fender.
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. 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
[[Page 59397]]
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.(g)(5) 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); section
117.255 also issued under the authority of Pub. L. 102-587, 106
Stat. 5039.
2. Section 117.500 is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 117.500 Tchefuncta River.
The draw of the SR 22 bridge, mile 2.5, at Madisonville, shall open
on signal; except that, from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m., the draw need open only
on the hour. The draw shall open on signal at any time for a vessel in
distress or for an emergency aboard a vessel.
Dated: November 5, 1996.
T.W. Josiah,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 96-29952 Filed 11-21-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M
