[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 99 (Thursday, May 22, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 27962-27963]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-13509]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[CGD09-97-014]
RIN 2115-AE47
Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Manistee River, MI
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations; request for
comments.
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SUMMARY: Commander, Ninth Coast Guard District has authorized a
temporary 90-day deviation from the current bridge operating
regulations for the Maple Street bridge, mile 1.1, and the U.S. Route
31 bridge, mile 1.4, both over the Manistee River in Manistee, MI. The
temporary deviation was issued at the request of the City of Manistee,
MI, to test a proposed change to the times that both bridges are
required to open on signal. The deviation changes the current hours of
6 a.m. to 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
DATES: The effective date of this temporary deviation is May 31, 1997
and it will expire on August 31, 1997. Comments must be received July
21, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed or delivered to Commander (obr),
Ninth Coast Guard District, 1240 E. Ninth St., Room 2019, Cleveland, OH
44199-2060, between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays. The telephone number is (216) 902-6084.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Scot M. Striffler, Project
Manager, at (216) 902-6084.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Requests for Comments
The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to submit comments on
the operating schedule during the temporary deviation. Persons
submitting comments should include their name, address, identify this
notice (CGD09-97-014), and the reason(s) for each comment. The Coast
Guard requests that all comments and attachments be submitted in an
8\1/2\'' x 11'' unbound format suitable for copying and electronic
filing. If that is not practical, a second copy of any bound material
is requested. Persons wanting acknowledgement of receipt of comments
should enclose a stamped self-addressed post card or envelope. Persons
may submit comment by writing to the Commander (obr), Ninth Coast Guard
District, listed under ADDRESSES.
Background and Purpose
The City of Manistee, MI, on behalf of the marina owners in
Manistee, requested the Coast Guard approve a change to the operating
regulations pertaining to the Maple Street bridge and U.S. Route 31
bridge over the Manistee River. The City of Manistee owns and operates
the Maple Street bridge. The Michigan Department of Transportation
(MDOT) owns the U.S. Route 31 bridge and contracts the City of Manistee
to operate the bridge. The marine owners and operators on Manistee Lake
requested the hours which the bridges are required to open on signal be
revised to allow longer evening sailing times for the vessels using the
marinas above the bridges.
The Coast Guard has proposed a revision to the operating schedule,
published elsewhere in today's Federal Register.
Commander, Ninth Coast Guard District, has approved a temporary
deviation from the regulations for the bridges to test the proposed
schedule before making a permanent change to the regulations. This
temporary deviation will allow the revised bridge schedule to be tested
for a 90-day period while still soliciting comments from the public on
the proposed permanent change. The Coast Guard will evaluate the
effectiveness of the revised schedule at the end of the test period to
determine whether to permanently change the regulations.
During the deviation period, the bridges will only be required to
open on signal between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. Between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.,
the bridges will open if at least a 2-hour advance
[[Page 27963]]
notice is provided by vessels intending to transit the draws.
Dated: May 7, 1997.
G.F. Woolever,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Commander, Ninth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 97-13509 Filed 5-21-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M
