Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Wishkah River, Aberdeen, WA

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The Coast Guard is changing the operating schedule that governs the Puget Sound and Pacific railroad bridge (PS&P) across the Wishkah River, mile 0.1 in Aberdeen, WA. This rule will change the PS&P railroad bridge draw position to the fully closed-to-navigation position. Furthermore, this rule requires 24-hour notice for all drawbridge openings and a bridge operator will no longer be required to be on site.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 214 (Friday, November 6, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 214 (Friday, November 6, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 70011-70013]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-22677]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2026-0562]
RIN 1625-AA09


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Wishkah River, Aberdeen, WA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is changing the operating schedule that 
governs the Puget Sound and Pacific railroad bridge (PS&P) across the 
Wishkah River, mile 0.1 in Aberdeen, WA. This rule will change the PS&P 
railroad bridge draw position to the fully closed-to-navigation 
position. Furthermore, this rule requires 24-hour notice for all 
drawbridge openings and a bridge operator will no longer be required to 
be on site.

DATES: This rule is effective December 7, 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-2026-0562) in the ``SEARCH'' box and click 
``SEARCH''. In

[[Page 70012]]

the Document Type column, select ``Supporting & Related Material.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this rule, 
call or email Danny McReynolds, Bridge Management Specialist, Northwest 
Coast Guard District Bridge Office; telephone 571-607-1520, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#76051b145b1511125b18015b14041f121113053603051511581b1f1a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="81f2ece3ace2e6e5aceff6ace3f3e8e5e6e4f2c1f4f2e2e6afece8ed">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
OMB Office of Management and Budget
NPRM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Advance, Supplemental)
Sec.  Section
U.S.C. United States Code
GWRR Genesee & Wyoming Inc.
PS&P Puget Sound and Pacific railroad

II. Background Information and Regulatory History

    On June 16, 2026, the Coast Guard published a Notice of Proposed 
Rule Making, with a request for comments, entitled ``Drawbridge 
Operation Regulation; Wishkah River, Aberdeen, WA'' in the Federal 
Register (91 FR 36105). There we stated why we issued the NPRM and 
invited comments on our proposed regulatory action related to this 
regulatory change. We received one unrelated comment during the comment 
period that ended July 16, 2026.

III. Legal Authority and Need for Rule

    The Coast Guard is issuing this rule under authority 33 U.S.C. 499. 
The PS&P railroad bridge across the Wishkah River, mile 0.1, at 
Aberdeen, WA operates in accordance with 33 CFR 117.1065(b). Bridge 
logs have shown a significant reduction in bridge opening requests for 
ten years and the bridge is mostly cycled for maintenance. This rule is 
necessary to balance the needs of the railroad by reducing the need to 
frequently cycle the draw closed for rail traffic and back open for 
marine traffic while maintaining the reasonable needs of navigation.
    This regulatory action is based on the ability for the PS&P 
railroad bridge to open on signal after the GWRR has received at least 
24-hour notice by telephone or VHF radio. This rule allows any vessel 
that needs a draw opening to transit through the subject bridge with 
the proper advance notice during clear visibility or reduced 
visibility.

IV. Discussion of Comments, Changes and the Final Rule

    The Coast Guard provided a comment period of 31 days and received 
one unrelated comment regarding sea lions in California. No changes 
were made to the content of the rule since publication of the NPRM.
    This rule amends the operating schedule of the PS&P railroad bridge 
found in 33 CFR 117.1065(b) by allowing the bridge to be maintained in 
the closed-to-navigation position and requiring GWRR to fully open the 
swing span with a minimum of 24-hours' notice. When the draw is to be 
opened or closed the drawtender must sound one prolonged blast followed 
by one short blast. We will remove the text in 33 CFR 117.1065(b), 
``When the draw of the bridge is closed and the visibility at the 
drawtender' s station is less than one mile up or down the channel, the 
drawtender shall sound two prolonged blasts every minute.''

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 no 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. While 
some owners or operators of vessels intending to transit the bridge may 
be small entities, the Coast Guard has not identified any vessel 
operators that will be caused significant economic impact as result of 
the proposed rule change. As noted earlier, only one or two vessels 
required openings of the drawbridge annually over the last 10 years. 
They would be able to continue to request openings of the drawbridge 
with a 24-hour notice.
    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 affects 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 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.

[[Page 70013]]

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 117.1065 by revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:


Sec.  117.1065  Wishkah River.

* * * * *
    (b) The draw of the Puget Sound and Pacific railroad bridge, mile 
0.1 at Aberdeen, shall be maintained in the closed-to-navigation 
position. Vessels requesting the bridge's draw to be opened for 
navigation shall make a request at least 24 hours in advance by 
telephone or VHF radio channel 13. Please refer to the Coast Pilot in 
the Grays Harbor, Washington section for updated contact requirements. 
When the draw is to be opened or closed the drawtender shall sound one 
prolonged blast followed by one short blast.
* * * * *

Michael E. Campbell,
Rear Admiral, U. S. Coast Guard,Commander, Northwest Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 2026-22677 Filed 11-5-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P


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