2014-20004. 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. The deviation continues to allow the Washington State Department of Transportation to accommodate vehicular traffic attending football games, and maintain the bridge in the closed to navigation position. This deviation modifies the previously approved deviation under the same docket number.

DATES:

This deviation is effective from September 6, 2014 through November 22, 2014.

ADDRESSES:

The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2014-0670] 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 Steven M. Fischer, Bridge Administrator, Thirteenth District, Coast Guard; telephone [phone], email [e-mail]. If you have questions on viewing the docket, call Cheryl Collins, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This temporary deviation supersedes the previous deviation of the same docket number published on August 5, 2014 (79 FR 45344) with respect to the closer times from September 6, 2014 to November 22, 2014. The Washington State Department of Transportation, on behalf of the University of Washington Police Department, has requested that 30 additional minutes be added to the requested time periods published on August 5, 2014 to facilitate timely movement of pre-game and post-game football traffic. The Montlake Bridge bascule span will remain closed and need not open to vessel traffic from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on September 6, 2014; from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on September 13, 2014. The times for the closures on September 20, 2014, September 27, 2014, October 25, 2014, November 8, 2014, and November 22, 2014 will be determined and announced in the Coast Guard's Local Notice to Mariners and Broadcast Notice to Mariners as they become available. Due to NCAA television scheduling, the times for the games are not currently available. The bridge shall operate in accordance to 33 CFR 117.1051(e) at all other times.

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. These vertical clearance measurements are made in reference to the Mean Water Level of Lake Washington. The normal operating schedule for the Montlake Bridge states that the bridge opens on signal, subject to the list of exceptions provided in 33 CFR 117.1051(e).

Waterway usage on the Lake Washington Ship Canal ranges from commercial tug and barge to small pleasure craft. Vessels able to pass through the bridge in the closed positions may do so at any time. The bridge will be able to open for emergencies and there is no immediate alternate route for vessels to pass. The Coast Guard will also inform the users of the waterways through our Local and Broadcast Notices to Mariners of the change in operating schedule for the bridge so that vessels can arrange their transits to minimize any impact caused by the temporary deviation.

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: August 11, 2014.

Steven M. Fischer,

Bridge Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard District.