2014-13755. Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Lake Washington Ship Canal, Seattle, WA

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION:

Notice of deviation from drawbridge regulation.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Montlake Bridge across the Lake Washington Ship Canal, mile 5.2, at Seattle, WA. This deviation is necessary to accommodate the University of Washington, and University of Washington Bothell commencement ceremony traffic. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed position to allow timely movement of commencement traffic.

DATES:

This deviation is effective from 9:30 a.m. on June 14, 2014 to 6 p.m. on June 15, 2014.

ADDRESSES:

The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2014-0438] is available at http://www.regulations.gov. Type the docket number in the “SEARCH” box and click “SEARCH.” Click on Open Docket Folder on the line associated with this deviation. You may also visit the Docket Management Facility in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the Department of Transportation West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

If you have questions on this temporary deviation, call or email Mr. Steven Fischer, Bridge Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard District; telephone [phone], email [e-mail]. If you have questions on viewing the docket, call Cheryl Collins, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The University of Washington through the Washington Department of Transportation has requested that the Montlake Bridge bascule span remain closed and need not open to vessel traffic to facilitate timely movement of Commencement traffic. The Montlake Bridge crosses the Lake Washington Ship Canal at mile 5.2 and while in the closed position provides 30 feet of vertical clearance throughout the navigation channel and 46 feet of vertical clearance throughout the center 60-feet of the bridge; vertical clearance referenced to the Mean Water Level of Lake Washington. Vessels which do not require a bridge opening may continue to transit beneath the bridge during this closure period. Under normal conditions this bridge opens on signal, subject to the list of exceptions provided in 33 CFR 117.1051(e).

This deviation period is from 9:30 a.m. on June 14, 2014 to 6 p.m. on June 15, 2014. The deviation allows the bascule span of the Montlake Bridge to remain in the closed position and need not open for maritime traffic from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on June 14, 2014 and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 15, 2014. The bridge shall operate in accordance to 33 CFR 117.1051(e) at all other times. Waterway usage on the Lake Washington Ship Canal ranges from commercial tug and barge to small pleasure craft. Mariners will be notified and kept informed of the bridge's operational status via the Coast Guard Notice to Mariners publication and Broadcast Notice to Mariners as appropriate. The draw span will be required to open, if needed, for vessels engaged in emergency response operations during this closure period.

In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(e), the drawbridges 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: May 30, 2014.

Steven M. Fischer,

Bridge Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard District.