Rule2026-00931
Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, North Myrtle Beach, SC
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
January 20, 2026
Effective
February 19, 2026
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentCoast Guard
Abstract
The Coast Guard is changing the operating schedule that governs the Little River Bridge, across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW) (Upper Little River), mile 347.3, at North Myrtle Beach, SC. This action will assist with vehicle congestion during weekday rush hour periods by placing the swing bridge on scheduled openings.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 12 (Tuesday, January 20, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 20, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2306-2308]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-00931]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[Docket No. USCG-2025-0152]
RIN 1625-AA09
Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway,
North Myrtle Beach, SC
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is changing the operating schedule that
governs the Little River Bridge, across the Atlantic Intracoastal
Waterway (AICW) (Upper Little River), mile 347.3, at North Myrtle
Beach, SC. This action will assist with vehicle congestion during
weekday rush hour periods by placing the swing bridge on scheduled
openings.
DATES: This rule is effective February 19, 2026.
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-2025-0152) 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 rule,
call or email Ms. Jennifer Zercher, Bridge Management Specialist, Coast
Guard District Southeast; telephone 571-607-5951, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#99d3fcf7f7f0fffcebb7d7b7c3fcebfaf1fcebd9eceafafeb7f4f0f5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e8a28d8686818e8d9ac6a6c6b28d9a8b808d9aa89d9b8b8fc6858184">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Table of Abbreviations
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
[[Page 2307]]
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
OMB Office of Management and Budget
NPRM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
Sec. Section
U.S.C. United States Code
SC South Carolina
U.S. United States
SCDOT South Carolina Department of Transportation
AICW Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway
II. Background Information and Regulatory History
On May 13, 2025, the Coast Guard published a temporary deviation
entitled ``Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Atlantic Intracoastal
Waterway, North Myrtle Beach, SC'' in the Federal Register (90 FR
20235), to test this operating schedule for the Little River Bridge.
Zero comments were received during the test period.
On September 9, 2025, the Coast Guard published a Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking entitled ``Drawbridge Operation Regulation;
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, North Myrtle Beach, SC'' in the Federal
Register (90 FR 43402). There we stated why we issued the NPRM and
invited comments on our proposed regulatory action related to this
regulatory change. During the comment period that ended October 9,
2025, we received 51 comments, and those comments are addressed in
Section IV. of this Final Rule.
III. Legal Authority and Need for Rule
The Coast Guard is issuing this rule under authority 33 U.S.C. 499.
The Little River Bridge across the AICW (Upper Little River), mile
347.3, at North Myrtle Beach, SC, is a swing bridge with a 7-foot
vertical clearance at mean high water in the closed position. The
normal operating schedule for the swing bridge is set forth in 33 CFR
117.5.
South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) requested the
Coast Guard consider scheduled weekday openings during rush hour to
assist with vehicle congestion. The swing bridge opens on demand for
navigation. This change places the swing bridge on scheduled weekday
openings during rush hour.
IV. Discussion of Comments, Changes and the Final Rule
The Coast Guard provided a 30-day comment period during the NPRM
and received a total of 51 comments. Twenty-one comments were in favor
of the proposed changes. The commenters felt allowing the swing bridge
to operate on scheduled openings during designated rush hour has
assisted with vehicle congestion. It was suggested that traffic lights
should be synchronized with scheduled openings and warning signage
should be installed on connecting roadways providing vehicle traffic
with the bridge status. These recommendations will be passed on to the
appropriate agencies as they are outside the jurisdiction and authority
of the Coast Guard.
Alternate operating schedules were suggested by 17 commenters. The
alternate schedules included having the swing bridge open only once an
hour, allowing the swing bridge to remain in the closed position during
designated rush hour and extend designated rush hour times. The swing
bridge provides very restrictive navigational clearances. The swing
bridge provides only 7 feet of vertical clearance when the swing bridge
is in the closed position. This waterway is utilized by commercial and
recreational vessels. When the adjacent high-level fixed bridge, the
U.S. 17 Highway Bridge, was constructed in 1997, the Coast Guard
required the swing bridge be permanently removed from the waterway due
to its restrictive nature. SCDOT requested the swing bridge remain for
local traffic use. The Coast Guard allowed the swing bridge to remain
in place and required it to operate on demand. The swing bridge has a
vehicle weight restriction limiting usage, making it a secondary
roadway. The Coast Guard acknowledges the population has increased in
the North Myrtle Beach area, however, there are two high-level fixed
bridges within two-mile radius of the swing bridge providing access
across the AICW. Allowing the swing bridge to operate in a manner other
than the proposed change is not reasonable for navigation given its
restrictive nature and the alternate routes available for roadway
traffic. The AICW is a Federal Project Waterway that extends over 1,500
miles from Boston to Florida Bay. It is the main waterway artery for
all commercial and recreational marine traffic that are unable to
safely transit offshore.
There were three duplicate comments and three comments that were
outside the scope of the proposed rule. Seven comments were against the
proposed change. The commenters stated that either the swing bridge
should remain on demand or be permanently removed from the waterway.
They felt that given the restrictive nature, adjacent high-level fixed
bridge and the narrow waterway, marine traffic should be unrestricted.
The Coast Guard understands their concerns, however, allowing the swing
bridge to open per the proposed change via an authorized temporary
deviation has not had a negative impact on navigation and has assisted
with vehicle congestion during rush hour.
The current operating schedule allows the Little River Bridge to
open on demand for marine traffic. Under this rule, the swing bridge
will continue to open on demand, except that on weekdays, the swing
bridge will open at the top and bottom of each hour from 7 a.m. to 9
a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. At all other times the swing bridge will
open on demand. Vessels that can pass beneath the swing bridge without
an opening may do so at any time. Vessels exempted from specific
requirements can still request an opening any time.
V. Regulatory Analyses
We developed this rule after considering numerous statutes and
Executive Orders related to rulemaking. Below we summarize our analyses
based on a number of these statutes and Executive Orders.
A. Impact on Small Entities
The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, 5 U.S.C. 601-612, as
amended, requires federal agencies to consider the potential impact of
regulations on small entities during rulemaking. The term ``small
entities'' comprises small businesses, not-for-profit organizations
that are independently owned and operated and are not dominant in their
fields, and governmental jurisdictions with populations of less than
50,000. The Coast Guard received zero comments from the Small Business
Administration on this rule. The Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C.
605(b) that this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities for the following reasons. This
regulatory action determination is based on the ability that vessels
can still transit the bridge during the scheduled times and vessels
able to pass without an opening may do so at any time.
Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), we want to assist small
entities in understanding this rule. If the rule will affect your small
business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction and you have
questions concerning its provisions or options for compliance, please
contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
section.
Small businesses may send comments on the actions of Federal
employees who enforce, or otherwise determine compliance with, Federal
regulations to the Small Business and Agriculture Regulatory
Enforcement Ombudsman
[[Page 2308]]
and the Regional Small Business Regulatory Fairness Boards. The
Ombudsman evaluates these actions annually and rates each agency's
responsiveness to small business. If you wish to comment on actions by
employees of the Coast Guard, call 1-888-REG-FAIR (1-888-734-3247). The
Coast Guard will not retaliate against small entities that question or
complain about this rule or any policy or action of the Coast Guard.
B. Collection of Information
This rule calls for no new collection of information under the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).
C. Federalism and Indian Tribal Government
A rule has implications for federalism under Executive Order 13132,
Federalism, if it has a substantial direct effect on the States, on the
relationship between the National Government and the States, or on the
distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of
government. We have analyzed this rule under that Order and have
determined that it is consistent with the fundamental federalism
principles and preemption requirements described in Executive Order
13132.
Also, this rule does not have tribal implications under Executive
Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal
Governments, because it does not have a substantial direct effect on
one or more Indian tribes, on the relationship between the Federal
Government and Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power and
responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian tribes.
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531-1538)
requires Federal agencies to assess the effects of their discretionary
regulatory actions. In particular, the Act addresses actions that may
result in the expenditure by a State, local, or tribal government, in
the aggregate, or by the private sector of $100,000,000 (adjusted for
inflation) or more in any one year. Though this rule will not result in
such an expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this rule elsewhere
in this preamble.
E. Environment
We have analyzed this rule under Department of Homeland Security
Management Directive 023-01, Rev.1, associated implementing
instructions, and Environmental Planning Policy COMDTINST 5090.1
(series) which guide the Coast Guard in complying with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f). The
Coast Guard has determined that this action is one of a category of
actions that do not individually or cumulatively have a significant
effect on the human environment. This rule promulgates the operating
regulations or procedures for drawbridges and is categorically excluded
from further review, under paragraph L49, of Appendix A, Table 1 of DHS
Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01, Rev. 1.
Neither a Record of Environmental Consideration nor a Memorandum
for the Record are required for this rule.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117
Bridges.
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends
33 CFR part 117 as follows:
PART 117--DRAWBRIDGE OPERATION REGULATIONS
0
1. The authority citation for part 117 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 499; 33 CFR 1.05-1; and DHS Delegation No.
00170.1, Revision No. 01.4.
0
2. Amend Sec. 117.911 by adding paragraph (b) to read as follows:
Sec. 117.911 Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Little River to Savannah
River.
* * * * *
(b) Little River Bridge across Upper Litte River, mile 347.3, at
North Myrtle Beach. The draw shall open on signal, except that from 7
a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays, the draw will open on the hour and half-hour.
* * * * *
Dated: January 14, 2026.
Adam A. Chamie,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Coast Guard Southeast
District.
[FR Doc. 2026-00931 Filed 1-16-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on January 20, 2026.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.