82 FR 49550 - Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, St. Augustine, FL

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 206 (October 26, 2017)

The Coast Guard is withdrawing its advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) concerning the Bridge of Lions (SR A1A) across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 777.9, at St. Augustine, Florida. The City of St. Augustine proposed to modify the bridge operating schedule to alleviate vehicle traffic congestion. However, the Coast Guard has determined it would be inappropriate to move forward with a notice of proposed rulemaking. The Coast Guard believes placing additional restrictions to the bridge would add additional hazards to mariners and effect the safe navigation of vessels awaiting bridge openings.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 206 (Thursday, October 26, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 49550]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-23321]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2016-0723]
RIN 1625-AA09


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, 
St. Augustine, FL

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is withdrawing its advance notice of proposed 
rulemaking (ANPRM) concerning the Bridge of Lions (SR A1A) across the 
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 777.9, at St. Augustine, Florida. 
The City of St. Augustine proposed to modify the bridge operating 
schedule to alleviate vehicle traffic congestion. However, the Coast 
Guard has determined it would be inappropriate to move forward with a 
notice of proposed rulemaking. The Coast Guard believes placing 
additional restrictions to the bridge would add additional hazards to 
mariners and effect the safe navigation of vessels awaiting bridge 
openings.

DATES: The notice of proposed rulemaking published on March 15, 2017 
(82 FR 13785), is withdrawn on October 26, 2017.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this document, USCG-2016-0723 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 document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this 
document, call or email LT Allan Storm, Sector Jacksonville, Waterways 
Management Division, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 904-714-7616, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background Information and Regulatory History

    On March 15, 2017, the Coast Guard published an ANPRM entitled 
``Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, St. 
Augustine, FL'' in the Federal Register (82 FR 13785). The advance 
notice of proposed rulemaking sought comments and information 
concerning a request from the City of St. Augustine to change the 
operating schedule for the Bridge of Lions across the Atlantic 
Intracoastal Waterway, St. Augustine, Florida amending the twice an 
hour operating schedule to a 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. period. The City of St. 
Augustine was concerned that vehicle traffic was becoming exponentially 
worse with each passing season and that the current operating schedule 
was contributing to vehicle traffic backups.

Withdrawal

    The Coast Guard received 386 comments, of those, 62 comments were 
duplicate entries, 204 comments were in favor for the requested change 
and 120 were against the requested change. The comments in favor of the 
change generally felt the additional restrictions to the bridge would 
help alleviate vehicular traffic on or around the bridge and the 
surrounding area. For the comments that opposed the change, by and 
large, the main concern was safety of mariners due to strong tidal 
currents and the high level of vessel activities occurring in the 
waters near the bridge. Strong currents, the close proximity of mooring 
fields and marinas would hamper the ability to ``keep on station'' 
while waiting for a bridge opening. Also, sailing vessels waiting for 
bridge opening would be required to be moving constantly all the while 
avoiding other waiting vessel traffic. The requested change to the 
operating schedule would extend the twice an hour draw opening schedule 
by an additional three hours into the evening. Concern was expressed by 
having to wait for an opening in darkness, stating this would cause 
additional hazards due to vessels already underway, traffic lights 
against the city and vehicular lights adjacent to the waterway. The 
Coast Guard acknowledges all of the above safety concerns, and for that 
reason, we find that any benefits of the possible additional 
restrictions to the Bridge of Lions do not outweigh the additional 
hazards to vessels and mariners transiting the area around the bridge. 
The current regulation as written in 33 CFR 117.261(d) will remain in 
effect.

    Dated: October 5, 2017.
Peter J. Brown,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Seventh Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 2017-23321 Filed 10-25-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P