80 FR 16280 - Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Snake Creek, Islamorada, FL

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 59 (March 27, 2015)

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Snake Creek Bridge across Snake Creek, at Islamorada, FL. This deviation will test a change to the drawbridge operation schedule to determine whether a permanent change to the schedule is needed. This deviation will allow Snake Creek Bridge to open once an hour between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Local officials are requesting this action to assist in reducing traffic caused by bridge openings.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 59 (Friday, March 27, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16280-16281]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06949]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2015-0046]


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Snake Creek, Islamorada, FL

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 schedule that governs the Snake Creek Bridge across Snake 
Creek, at Islamorada, FL. This deviation will test a change to the 
drawbridge operation schedule to determine whether a permanent change 
to the schedule is needed. This deviation will allow Snake Creek Bridge 
to open once an hour between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Local officials are 
requesting this action to assist in reducing traffic caused by bridge 
openings.

DATES: This deviation is effective without actual notice from March 27, 
2015 to 6 p.m. on July 14, 2015. For the purposes of enforcement, 
actual notice will be used from 8 a.m. on March 16, 2015, until March 
27, 2015.
    Comments and related material must be received by the Coast Guard 
on or before September 14, 2015. Requests for public meetings must be 
received by the Coast Guard on or before July 14, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2015-0046 using any one of the following methods:
    (1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
    (2) Fax: 202-493-2251.
    (3) Mail or Delivery: Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. 
Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001. Deliveries 
accepted between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329.
    See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion 
of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for instructions on 
submitting comments. To avoid duplication, please use only one of these 
three methods.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this 
temporary deviation, call or email Coast Guard Sector Key West 
Waterways Management Division; telephone 305-292-8772, email [email protected]. If you have questions on viewing or 
submitting material to the docket, call Cheryl Collins, Program 
Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

A. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting 
comments and related materials. All comments received will be posted, 
without change, to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided.

1. Submitting Comments

    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
rulemaking (USCG-2015-0046), indicate the specific section of this 
document to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for each 
suggestion or recommendation. You may submit your comments and material 
online (http://www.regulations.gov), or by fax, mail or hand delivery, 
but please use only one of these means. If you submit a comment online 
via http://www.regulations.gov, it will be considered received by the 
Coast Guard when you successfully transmit the comment. If you fax, 
hand deliver, or mail your comment, it will be considered as having 
been received by

[[Page 16281]]

the Coast Guard when it is received at the Docket Management Facility. 
We recommend that you include your name and a mailing address, an email 
address, or a phone number in the body of your document so that we can 
contact you if we have questions regarding your submission.
    To submit your comment online, type the docket number [USCG-2015-
0046] in the ``SEARCH'' box and click ``SEARCH.'' Click on ``Submit a 
Comment'' on the line associated with this rulemaking. If you submit 
your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an unbound 
format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for copying and 
electronic filing. If you submit them by mail and would like to know 
that they reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped, self-
addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and 
material received during the comment period and may change the rule 
based on your comments.

2. Viewing Comments and Documents

    To view comments, as well as documents mentioned in this preamble 
as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, 
type the docket number (USCG-2015-0046) in the ``SEARCH'' box and click 
``SEARCH.'' Click on Open Docket Folder on the line associated with 
this rulemaking. You may also visit the Docket Management Facility in 
Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the Department of Transportation 
West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.

3. Privacy Act

    Anyone can search the electronic form of comments received into any 
of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or 
signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, 
business, labor union, etc.). You may review a Privacy Act notice 
regarding our public dockets in the January 17, 2008, issue of the 
Federal Register (73 FR 3316).

4. Public Meeting

    As of now, we do not plan to hold a public meeting. You may submit 
a request for one using one of the three methods specified under 
ADDRESSES. Please explain why one would be beneficial. If we determine 
that one would aid this rulemaking, we will hold one at a time and 
place announced by a later notice in the Federal Register.

B. Basis and Purpose

    The Snake Creek Bridge in Islamorada, Florida, owned by the Florida 
Department of Transportation, has a vertical clearance of 27 feet in 
the closed position. The normal operating schedule as published in 33 
CFR 117.331 is--``The draw of the Snake Creek bridge, at Islamorada, 
Florida, shall open on signal, except that from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., the 
draw need open only on the hour and half-hour.'' This schedule has been 
in effect since 2001.
    For the following reasons the Coast Guard is testing a new schedule 
for the Snake Creek Bridge:
    1. As reported by village and city councils, vessel traffic has 
negatively impacted Islamorada and surrounding communities. This 
temporary deviation is intended to test a new bridge operation schedule 
to reduce vehicular traffic caused by bridge openings during peak 
travel times.
    2. On January 8-10, 2013, the Florida Department of Transportation 
conducted a traffic monitoring study 1400 feet south of the Snake Creek 
Bridge on US-1. The study found peak traffic volumes occurring at 08:45 
a.m. and between 12:15 p.m. and 15:15 p.m.
    The types of vessels navigating Snake Creek include sport fishing 
vessels and catamaran sailboats.
    This deviation is effective from 8 a.m. on March 16, 2015 until 6 
p.m. on July 14, 2015. This deviation will allow the Snake Creek Bridge 
in Islamorada, Florida to open on the top of the hour from 8 a.m. to 6 
p.m.
    During the test deviation, vessels may signal the bridge to open on 
the top of the hour from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    Any vessel that can safely transit under the Snake Creek Bridge 
while closed may continue to navigate under the bridge during this 
deviation.
    As an alternate route, vessel operators may consider the use of 
Channel Five, a navigable channel above Long Key, Florida 5.7 nautical 
miles southwest of Snake Creek Bridge. The fixed US-1 bridge has a 
vertical clearance of 65 feet.
    In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(e), the drawbridge must return to 
its regular operating schedule immediately at the end of this temporary 
deviation's effective period. This deviation from the operating 
regulations is authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.

    Dated: March 6, 2015.
Barry Dragon,
U.S. Coast Guard, Bridge Administrator, Seventh Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2015-06949 Filed 3-26-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P