2018-17800. Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Willamette River at Portland, OR

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION:

Notice of deviation from drawbridge regulation; modification.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard has modified a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Hawthorne Bridge crosses the Willamette River, mile 13.1, at Portland, OR. The deviation is necessary to accommodate a filming event for a movie. This modified deviation changes the period the bridge is authorized to remain in the closed-to-navigation position.

DATES:

This modified deviation is effective from 6 p.m. on September 8, 2018, to 12:01 a.m. on September 9, 2018.

ADDRESSES:

The docket for this deviation, USCG-2018-0676 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

If you have questions on this modification, call or email Mr. Steven Fischer, Bridge Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard District; telephone [phone], email [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

On July 19, 2018, we published a temporary deviation entitled “Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Willamette River at Portland, OR” in the Federal Register (83 FR 34041). That temporary deviation allowed the subject bridge to not open to marine vessels from 6 p.m. on September 1, 2018 to 12:01 a.m. on September 2, 2018. Multnomah County, the bridge owner, requested a modification of the current published deviation to the following times: 6 p.m. on September 8, 2018, to 12:01 a.m. on September 9, 2018. This change is due to scheduling issues with the filming crew for a movie.

The Hawthorne Bridge provides a vertical clearance of 49 feet in the closed-to-navigation position referenced to the vertical clearance above Columbia River Datum 0.0. The subject bridge operates per 33 CFR 117.897(c)(3)(v). Waterway usage on this part of the Willamette River includes vessels ranging from commercial tug and barge to small pleasure craft. The Coast Guard requested objections to this modification from local mariners via email. No objections were submitted to us. Waterway usage on this part of the Willamette River includes vessels ranging from commercial tug and barge to small pleasure craft.

Vessels able to pass through the bridge in the closed-to-navigation position 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 inform the users of the waterway, through our Local and Broadcast Notices to Mariners, of the change in operating schedule for the bridge so that vessel operators can arrange their transits to minimize any impact caused by the temporary deviation.

In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(e), the drawbridge must return to its regular operating schedule immediately at the end of the effective period of this temporary deviation. This deviation from the operating regulations is authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.

Dated: August 9, 2018.

Steven M. Fischer,

Bridge Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard District.