2012-15201. Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Trent River, New Bern, NC

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION:

Notice of temporary deviation from regulations.

SUMMARY:

The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Alfred C. Cunningham Bridge across the Trent River, mile 0.0, at New Bern, NC. The deviation allows the bridge draw span to remain in the closed to navigation position for 3 hours to accommodate the annual Neuse River Bridge Run.

DATES:

This deviation is effective from 6:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. on October 20, 2012.

ADDRESSES:

Documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket USCG-2012-0560 and are available online by going to http://www.regulations.gov,, inserting USCG-2012-0560 in the “Keywords” box, and then clicking “Search”. This material is also available for inspection or copying 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

If you have questions on this rule, call or email Mr. Jim Rousseau, Bridge Management Specialist, Fifth Coast Guard District, telephone [phone]. Email [e-mail]. If you have questions on reviewing the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Event Director for the Neuse River Bridge Run, with approval from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, owner of the drawbridge, has requested a temporary deviation from the current operating schedule to accommodate the Neuse River Bridge Run.

The Alfred C. Cunningham Bridge operating regulations are set out in 33 CFR 117.843(a). The Alfred C. Cunningham Bridge across the Trent River, mile 0.0, a double bascule lift Bridge, in New Bern, NC, has a vertical clearance in the closed position of 14 feet, above mean high water.

Under this temporary deviation, the drawbridge will be allowed to remain in the closed-to-navigation position from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 20, 2012 to accommodate the Neuse River Bridge Run.

Vessels able to pass under the closed span may transit under the drawbridge while it is in the closed position. Mariners are advised to proceed with caution. The Coast Guard will inform users of the waterway through our local and broadcast Notices to Mariners of the limited operating schedule for the drawbridge so that vessels can arrange their transits to minimize any impacts caused by the temporary deviation. There are no alternate routes for vessels and the bridge will be able to open in the event of an emergency.

In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(e), the drawbridge 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: June 12, 2012.

Waverly W. Gregory, Jr.,

Bridge Program Manager, Fifth Coast Guard District.