Rule2026-02373
Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Old Brazos River, Brazoria County, Texas
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
February 6, 2026
Effective
February 6, 2026
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentCoast Guard
Abstract
The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating regulation that governs the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) drawbridge that crosses the Old Brazos River, mile 5.3, near Brazoria, TX. UPRR is requesting to remotely operate the drawbridge from their train yard located in Freeport, TX. This deviation will test a change to the drawbridge operation schedule to determine whether a permanent change to the schedule is needed. The Coast Guard is seeking comments from the public regarding this deviation.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 25 (Friday, February 6, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 25 (Friday, February 6, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5317-5318]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-02373]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[Docket No. USCG-2025-0309]
Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Old Brazos River, Brazoria
County, Texas
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations; request for
comments.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the
operating regulation that governs the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR)
drawbridge that crosses the Old Brazos River, mile 5.3, near Brazoria,
TX. UPRR is requesting to remotely operate the drawbridge from their
train yard located in Freeport, TX. This deviation will test a change
to the drawbridge operation schedule to determine whether a permanent
change to the schedule is needed. The Coast Guard is seeking comments
from the public regarding this deviation.
DATES: This deviation is effective from February 6, 2026 through April
7, 2026.
Comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on or
before April 7, 2026.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2025-0309 using Federal Decision Making Portal at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion
of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for instructions on
submitting comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this test
deviation, call or email Douglas Blakemore, Bridge Management Branch
Chief, Coast Guard Heartland District at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1c5873697b707d6f325d325e707d777971736e795c696f7f7b32717570"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f4b09b8193989587dab5dab698959f91999b8691b481879793da999d98">[email protected]</span></a>,
504-671-2127.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background, Purpose and Legal Basis
The Union Pacific Railroad vertical lift drawbridge crosses the Old
Brazos River, mile 5.3, near Freeport, TX. The bridge is maintained in
the open-to-boat position and is lowered to allow trains to pass. This
bridge at mean high water has a vertical clearance of 10 feet in the
closed to boat position, a vertical clearance of 71 feet in the open to
boat position and a 228 foot horizontal clearance. The bridge operates
according to 33 CFR 117.975. The Old Brazos River is used primarily by
small recreational. The bridge lowers about 12 times per day to allow
trains to pass.
UPRR has requested to operate this drawbridge from their railroad
yard located next to the bridge. UPRR has installed a remote operation
system at the bridge and at the railroad yard. Six cameras have been
installed at the bridge; one per tower at each corner of the bridge
that can be moved to look upriver, downriver and beneath the bridge and
2 cameras that look at the east and west rail tracks. The cameras are
equipped with thermal imaging to assist with visibility during
inclement weather. There are two sets of sensors that are installed to
detect vessels under the bridge: 1 microwave sensor and 1 light
detecting and ranging sensor. The remote control station monitors the
cameras, sensor systems and communicates to boats with VHF radio and
telephone.
During this test, the bridge will be operated by a bridge tender
located in the UPRR Train Dispatch Center. A bridge tender will also be
stationed at the bridge site to open and close the bridge if needed.
Boats and vessels will contact the remote bridge operator to open
the draw
[[Page 5318]]
on VHF-FM channel 9 or at the phone number posted on the bridge.
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 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.
II. Public Participation and Request for Comments
We view public participation as essential to effective rulemaking
and will consider all comments and material received during the comment
period. Your comment can help shape the outcome of this rulemaking. If
you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this
rulemaking, indicate the specific section of this document to which
each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or
recommendation.
Submitting comments. We encourage you to submit comments through
the Federal Decision Making Portal at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. To
do so, go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, type USCG-2025-0309 in the
search box and click ``Search.'' Next, look for this document in the
Search Results column, and click on it. Then click on the Comment
option. If your material cannot be submitted using <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, contact the person in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section of this document for alternate instructions.
View material in the docket. To view documents mentioned in this
deviation as being available in the docket, find the docket as
described in the previous paragraph, and then select ``Supporting &
Related Material'' in the Document Type column. Public comments will
also be placed in our online docket and can be viewed by following
instructions on the <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> Frequently Asked
Questions web page. Also, if you go to the online docket and sign up
for email alerts, you will be notified when comments are posted, or a
final rule is published of any posting or updates to the docket.
We review all comments received, but we will only post comments
that address the topic of this deviation. We may choose not to post
off-topic, inappropriate, or duplicate comments that we receive.
We accept anonymous comments. Comments we post to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> will include any personal information you have
provided. For more about privacy and submissions in response to this
document, see DHS's eRulemaking System of Records notice (85 FR 14226,
March 11, 2020).
Dated: January 30, 2026.
Douglas A. Blakemore,
U.S. Coast Guard, Coast Guard Heartland District. Bridge Administration
Branch Chief.
[FR Doc. 2026-02373 Filed 2-5-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on February 6, 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.