Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Cerritos Channel, Long Beach, CA

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION:

Notice of deviation from drawbridge regulation.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Commodore Schuyler F. Heim highway bridge across the Cerritos Channel, mile 4.9 at Long Beach, CA. The deviation is necessary to allow Southern California Edison Company to temporarily disconnect electric service to the bridge while performing circuit switching. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position during the deviation period.

DATES:

This deviation is effective without actual notice from March 20, 2015 to 2 a.m. on March 23, 2015. For the purposes of enforcement, actual notice will be used from 10 p.m. on March 15, 2015, until March 20, 2015.

ADDRESSES:

The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2015-0157], 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 David H. Sulouff, Chief, Bridge Section, Eleventh Coast Guard District; telephone 510-437-3516, email David.H.Sulouff@uscg.mil. If you have questions on viewing the docket, call Cheryl Collins, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

California Department of Transportation has requested a temporary change to the operation of the Commodore Schuyler F. Heim highway bridge, mile 4.9, over Cerritos Channel, at Long Beach, CA. The drawbridge navigation span provides a vertical clearance of 37 feet above Mean High Water in the closed-to-navigation position and a maximum of 43 feet due to construction falsework over the channel at the bridge. The draw opens on signal; except that, from 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday except Federal holidays, the draw need not be opened for the passage of vessels, as required by 33 CFR 117.147(a). Navigation on the waterway is commercial and recreational.

The drawspan will be secured in the closed-to-navigation position from 10 p.m. on March 15, 2015 to 2 a.m. on March 16, 2015; and from 10 p.m. on March 22, 2015 to 2 a.m. on March 23, 2015 to allow Southern California Edison Company to switch electrical power for the bridge to another source. This temporary deviation has been coordinated with the waterway users. No objections to the proposed temporary deviation were raised.

Vessels able to pass through the bridge in the closed position may do so at anytime. The bridge will not be able to open for emergencies and there is an alternate route around Terminal Island for routine and emergency navigation. The Coast Guard will also inform the users of the waterway through our Local and Broadcast Notices to Mariners of the change in operating schedule for the bridge so 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.