2013-15805. Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Lake Washington Ship Canal at 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 three Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) bridges: The Ballard Bridge, mile 1.1, the Fremont Bridge, mile 2.6, and the University Bridge, mile 4.3, all crossing the Lake Washington Ship Canal at Seattle, WA. The deviation is necessary to accommodate heavier than normal roadway traffic associated with a fireworks display over Lake Union. This deviation allows the bridges to remain in the closed position immediately prior to until immediately after the fireworks display.

DATES:

This deviation is effective from 9 p.m. on July 4, 2013 to 1 a.m. on July 5, 2013.

ADDRESSES:

The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2013-0525] 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 Lieutenant Commander Steven Fischer, Thirteenth District Bridge Specialist, Coast Guard; telephone [phone], email [e-mail]. If you have questions on viewing the docket, call Barbara Hairston, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The SDOT has requested a temporary deviation from the operating schedule for the Ballard Bridge, mile 1.1, the Fremont Bridge, mile 2.6, and the University Bridge, mile 4.3, all crossing the Lake Washington Ship Canal at Seattle, WA. The requested deviation is to accommodate heavier than normal roadway traffic associated with the 4th of July fireworks display over Lake Union, Seattle, WA. To facilitate this event, the draws of the bridges will be maintained in the closed-to-navigation positions as follows: the Fremont Bridge, mile 2.6, need not open for vessel traffic from 9 p.m. July 4, 2013 until 12:30 a.m. July 5, 2013; the Ballard Bridge, mile 1.1, and the University Bridge, mile 4.3, need not open for vessel traffic from 10 p.m. July 4, 2013 until 1 a.m. July 5, 2013. Vessels which do not require bridge openings may continue to transit beneath these bridges during the closure periods. The Ballard Bridge, mile 1.1, provides a vertical clearance of 29 feet in the closed position, the Fremont Bridge, mile 2.6, provides a vertical clearance of 14 feet in the closed position, and the University Bridge, mile 4.3, provides a vertical clearance of 30 feet in the closed position; all clearances are referenced to the mean water elevation of Lake Washington. The current operating schedule for all three bridges is set out in 33 CFR 117.1051. The normal operating schedule for all three bridges state that the bridges need not open from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday for vessels less than 1000 tons. The normal operating schedule for these bridges also requires one hour advance notification for bridge openings between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. daily. 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 bridges' operational status via the Coast Guard Notice to Mariners publication and Broadcast Notice to Mariners as appropriate. The bridges 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 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 19, 2013.

Daryl R. Peloquin,

Acting Bridge Administrator.