Rule2023-26850
Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Okeechobee Waterway, Stuart, FL
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
December 7, 2023
Effective
December 18, 2023
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentCoast Guard
Abstract
The Coast Guard is modifying a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Florida East Coast (FEC) Railroad Bridge, across the Okeechobee Waterway (OWW), mile 7.41, at Stuart, Florida. This modification extends the period the drawbridge may operate under the temporary deviation to the drawbridge operating schedule. This modification will allow the Coast Guard to review public comments and will provide continuity in the operation of the drawbridge until a determination is made if this temporary deviation will meet the reasonable needs of competing modes of transportation.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 234 (Thursday, December 7, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 234 (Thursday, December 7, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 85111-85112]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26850]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[Docket No. USCG-2022-0222]
Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Okeechobee Waterway, Stuart, FL
AGENCY: Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations; modification.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is modifying a temporary deviation from the
operating schedule that governs the Florida East Coast (FEC) Railroad
Bridge, across the Okeechobee Waterway (OWW), mile 7.41, at Stuart,
Florida. This modification extends the period the drawbridge may
operate under the temporary deviation to the drawbridge operating
schedule. This modification will allow the Coast Guard to review public
comments and will provide continuity in the operation of the drawbridge
until a determination is made if this temporary deviation will meet the
reasonable needs of competing modes of transportation.
DATES: This deviation is effective from 12:01 a.m. on December 18,
2023, through 11:59 p.m. on February 11, 2024.
ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being
available in the docket, go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, type the
docket number (USCG-2022-0222) in the ``SEARCH'' box and click
``SEARCH''. In the Document Type column, select ``Supporting & Related
Material''.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this
temporary deviation, call or email Ms. Jennifer Zercher, Bridge
Management Specialist, Seventh Coast Guard District; telephone 305-415-
6740, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#347e515a5a5d5251461a7a1a6e5146575c514674414757531a595d58"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4208272c2c2b2427306c0c6c182730212a273002373121256c2f2b2e">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Florida East Coast (FEC) Railroad Bridge
across the Okeechobee Waterway (OWW), mile 7.41, at Stuart, Florida, is
a single-leaf bascule bridge with a six-foot vertical clearance at mean
high water in the closed position. The normal operating schedule for
the bridge is found in 33 CFR 117.317(c).
On August 11, 2023, the Coast Guard published a temporary deviation
entitled ``Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Okeechobee Waterway,
Stuart, FL'' in the Federal Register (88 FR 54487). That temporary
deviation, effective from 12:01 a.m. on August 15, 2023, through 11:59
p.m. on December 17, 2023, allows the drawbridge to operate on a more
predictable schedule due to the significant increase in railway
activity.
On November 7, 2023, the Coast Guard published a notice reopening
the comment period until November 30, 2023, because service was delayed
on the passenger train (88 FR 76666).
The Coast Guard has determined an extension of the temporary
deviation is necessary to allow for the review of public comments,
while providing continuity in the operation of the drawbridge until a
determination is made if this temporary deviation will meet the
reasonable needs of competing modes of transportation.
Under this temporary deviation modification from 12:01 a.m. on
December 18, 2023, through 11:59 p.m. on February 11, 2024, the FEC
Railroad Bridge will be maintained in the fully open-to-navigation
position, except during periods when it is closed for the passage of
train traffic, to conduct inspections, and to perform maintenance and
repairs authorized by the Coast Guard. However, the bridge will not be
closed for more than 50 consecutive minutes in any given hour during
daytime operations (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and for more than 8 total hours
during daytime operations (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.).
Notwithstanding the above paragraph, the drawbridge will open and
remain open to navigation for a fixed 10-minute period at the top of
each hour from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. In addition, the drawbridge will open
and remain open to navigation for a fixed 15-minute period as outlined
in the table below:
Table 1
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Monday through Friday:
8:55 a.m. through 9:10 a.m.
Saturday and Sunday:
8:55 a.m. through 9:10 a.m.
9:55 a.m. through 10:10 a.m.
10:55 a.m. through 11:10 a.m.
12:55 p.m. through 1:10 p.m.
4:55 p.m. through 5:10 p.m.
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From 10:01 p.m. until 5:59 a.m. daily, the drawbridge will remain
in the fully open-to-navigation position, except during periods when it
is closed for the passage of train traffic, to conduct inspections, and
to perform maintenance and repairs authorized by the Coast Guard. The
drawbridge will not be closed more than 60 consecutive minutes.
If a train is in the track circuit at the start of a fixed opening
period, the opening may be delayed up to, but not more than, five
minutes. Once the train has cleared the circuit, the bridge must open
immediately for navigation to begin the fixed opening period.
In the event of a drawbridge operational failure, or other
emergency circumstances impacting normal drawbridge operations, the
drawbridge owner will immediately notify the Coast Guard Captain of the
Port Miami and provide an estimated time of repair and return to normal
operations.
The drawbridge will be tended from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., daily. The
bridge tender will monitor VHF-FM channels 9 and 16 and will provide
estimated times of drawbridge openings and closures, or any operational
information requested. Operational information will be provided 24
hours a day by telephone at (772) 403-1005.
The drawbridge owner will maintain a mobile application. The
drawbridge owner will publish drawbridge opening times, and the
drawbridge owner will provide timely updates to schedules, including
but not limited to, impacts due to emergency circumstances,
inspections, maintenance, and repairs authorized by the Coast Guard.
Signs will be posted and visible to marine traffic, displaying VHF
radio contact information, application information, and the telephone
number for the bridge tender.
A drawbridge logbook will be maintained including the date and time
of each closing and opening of the draw. The drawbridge logbook will
also include all maintenance opening, closings, malfunctions, or other
comments. During the temporary deviation, a copy of the drawbridge
logbook for the previous week will be provided to the Seventh Coast
Guard District Bridge Manager by 4:00 p.m. each Monday.
In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(e), the drawbridge must return to
its regular operating schedules immediately at the end of the effective
period of this temporary deviation. This deviation from the operating
regulation is authorized pursuant to 33 CFR 117.35(a).
[[Page 85112]]
Dated: December 3, 2023.
Douglas M. Schofield,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Coast Guard Seventh
District.
[FR Doc. 2023-26850 Filed 12-6-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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