80 FR 35243 - Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Isle of Wight (Sinepuxent) Bay, Ocean City, MD

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 118 (June 19, 2015)

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the US Route 50 Bridge across the Isle of Wight (Sinepuxent) Bay, mile 0.5, at Ocean City, MD. The deviation is necessary to facilitate the Annual July 4th Fireworks show. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed to navigation to accommodate heavy volumes of vehicular traffic following the fireworks show.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 118 (Friday, June 19, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 35243-35244]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15082]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2015-0521]


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Isle of Wight (Sinepuxent) Bay, 
Ocean City, MD

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of deviation from drawbridge regulation.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the 
operating schedule that governs the US Route 50 Bridge across the Isle 
of Wight (Sinepuxent) Bay, mile 0.5, at Ocean City, MD. The deviation 
is necessary to facilitate the Annual July 4th Fireworks show. This 
deviation allows the bridge to remain closed to navigation to 
accommodate heavy volumes of vehicular traffic following the fireworks 
show.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on July 
4, 2015.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2015-0521] is available 
at http://www.regulations.gov. Type the docket number in the ``SEARCH'' 
box and click ``SEARCH.'' Click on Open Docket Folder on the line 
associated with this deviation. 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this 
temporary deviation, call or email Traci Whitfield, Bridge Management 
Assistant, Fifth Coast Guard District, telephone (757) 398-6629, email 
[email protected]. If you have questions on viewing the 
docket, call Cheryl Collins, Program Manager, Docket Operations, 
telephone (202) 366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Ocean City Police Department on behalf 
of the Maryland State Highway Administration, has requested a temporary 
deviation from the current operating regulation of the US Route 50 
Bridge across Isle of Wight (Sinepuxent) Bay, mile 0.5, at Ocean City, 
MD. This temporary deviation allows the US Route 50 Bridge to remain 
closed to navigation from 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on July 4, 2015. This 
is an additional 30 minutes before and after the normal operating 
schedule for this bridge during that time. This additional closure has 
been requested to ensure the safety of spectators that attend the 
annual Ocean City July 4th fireworks show and allow for the heavy 
volume of vehicular traffic that transit across the drawbridge. For 
these reasons, should inclement weather prevent the fireworks event 
from taking place as planned, this deviation permits the bridge to 
remain closed from 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on July 5th, 2015.
    The vertical clearance of this bascule bridge is 13 feet above mean 
high water in the closed position and unlimited in the open position. 
The current operating regulation is outlined at 33 CFR 117.559(c), 
which allows the bridge to remain closed to navigation from 10 p.m. to 
11 p.m. to accommodate the annual July 4th fireworks show
    Vessels able to pass under the bridge in the closed position may do 
so at any time. The bridge will be able to open for emergencies and the 
Atlantic Ocean can be used as an alternate route for vessels with mast 
heights greater than 13 feet. 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 
vessels 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.


[[Page 35244]]


    Dated: June 15, 2015.
Hal R. Pitts,
Bridge Program Manager, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2015-15082 Filed 6-18-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P