Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Technical Amendment; Removal of Obsolete Drawbridge Operating Regulations

<RULE> DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY <SUBAGY>Coast Guard</SUBAGY> <CFR>33 CFR Part 117</CFR> <DEPDOC>[Docket No. USCG-2025-1113]</DEPDOC> <RIN>RIN 1625-AA09</RIN> <SUBJECT>Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Technical Amendment; Removal of Obsolete Drawbridge Operating Regulations</SUBJECT> <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD> Coast Guard, DHS. <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD> Final rule. <SUM> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD> The Coast Guard is removing 81 special drawbridge operating regulations that previously operated over various waterways throughout the United States. In some cases, these 81 drawbridge regulations have either been replaced with a fixed bridge, removed from the waterway, or altered in such a manner that the drawspan is no longer moveable. Alternatively, the rail lines or roadways are no longer in service, leaving the drawspan inoperable, abandoned, and open to navigation. The drawbridges are, in some form, no longer operational and the regulations are no longer applicable or necessary. </SUM> <EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD> This rule is effective January 26, 2026. </EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD> To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket, go to <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov.</E> Type the docket number (USCG-2025-1113) in the “SEARCH” box and click “SEARCH”. In the Document Type column, select “Supporting & Related Material.” <FURINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD> If you have questions on this rule, call or email Mr. James Rousseau, Office of Bridge Programs; United States Coast Guard Headquarters; telephone 206-815-2101, email <E T="03">James.L.Rousseau2@uscg.mil.</E> </FURINF> <SUPLINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD> <HD SOURCE="HD1">I. Table of Abbreviations</HD> <EXTRACT> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CFR Code of Federal Regulations</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">DHS Department of Homeland Security</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">FR Federal Register</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">OMB Office of Management and Budget</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NPRM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">§ Section </FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">U.S.C. United States Code</FP> </EXTRACT> <HD SOURCE="HD1">II. Background Information and Regulatory History</HD> Generally, rulemaking requires notice and comment under 5 U.S.C. 553. However, an agency can bypass the notice and comment process if the agency for good cause finds that those procedures are “impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.” Under 5 U.S.C. 553(b), the Coast Guard finds that good cause exists for not publishing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) with respect to this rule because the drawbridges identified in the 81 effected citations either do not exist or no longer function as a drawbridge. Therefore, their regulations are no longer applicable and need to be removed. It is unnecessary to publish an NPRM because these bridges are no longer operational and the removal of these drawbridge regulations will have no impact on the public. Removing the obsolete drawbridge regulations ensures that our regulations only list drawbridge regulations that have an operational span intended to be opened for the passage of waterway traffic. Under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the Coast Guard finds that good cause exists for making this rule effective in less than 30 days after publication in the <E T="04">Federal Register</E> . For the same reasons stated in the preceding paragraph, the bridges removed by this rule no longer have an operational drawspan and therefore have no need for any operating regulation. The modification or abandonment of these bridges has already taken place and the removal of the regulation will not affect any mariners that may currently transit on these waterways. Therefore, a delayed effective date is unnecessary. <HD SOURCE="HD1">III. Legal Authority and Need for Rule</HD> The Coast Guard is issuing this rule under authority 33 U.S.C. 499. This authority authorizes the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to issue regulations that govern the opening of drawbridges for the passage of vessels and other water crafts. This authority is delegated to the Coast Guard by DHS Delegation No. 00170.1(II)(65), Rev. 01.4. This rule removes operating schedules of several bridges listed in 33 CFR part 117, subpart B that no longer function as drawbridges. <HD SOURCE="HD1">IV. Discussion of Final Rule</HD> This final rule will update 33 CFR part 117, subpart B by removing language that governs the operating schedule of the aforementioned bridges, which in fact, in their current state, are no longer drawbridges. The removal of these obsolete regulations will not affect waterway or land traffic. This rule conforms our regulations to reflect the current use of these bridges. In the preamble and regulatory sections of this final rule, the bridges are presented numerically based on their section number and, if applicable, paragraph lettering under 33 CFR part 117, subpart B. The following bridges remain across their respective waterways and remain in use in their transportation function, however; have been converted to or replaced with a fixed bridge: <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.115(a) Three Mile Creek; Mobile, AL; US43 bridge, mile 1.0; Heartland District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.115(b) Three Mile Creek; Mobile, AL; Norfolk Southern railroad bridge, mile 1.1; Heartland District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.137 St. Francis River; Madison, AR; Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad bridge, mile 59.7; Heartland District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.139(b) White River; Batesville, AR; Arkansas highway bridge, mile 300.1; Heartland District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.253(a) Anacostia River; Frederick Douglass Memorial (South Capitol Street) bridge, mile 1.2; East District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.317(b) Okeechobee Waterway; Stuart, FL; Evans Crary (SR A1A) bridge, mile 3.4; Southeast District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.333 Suwannee River; Old Town, FL; Suwannee River bridge, mile 35; Southeast District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.353 Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Savannah River to St. Marys River; Savannah, GA; Skidaway Bridge, SR 204, mile 592.9; Southeast District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.365 Oconee River; Soperton, GA; SR46 bridge, mile 44.3; Southeast District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.389 Calumet River; Chicago, IL; Norfolk Southern railroad bridges, miles 1.36.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.447 Grand Cabahanosse Bayou; Paincourtsville, LA; S70 bridge, mile 7.6; Heartland District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.479 Macon Bayou; Winnsboro, LA; S4 bridge, mile 44.8; Heartland District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.482 Nezpique Bayou; Jennings, LA; S97 bridge, mile 7.0; Heartland District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.485 Patout Bayou; Weeks, LA; S83 bridge, mile 0.4; Heartland District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.493(b) Sabine River; Starks, LA; S12 Bridge, mile 40.8; Heartland District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.495 Superior Oil Canal; Cameron Parish, LA; S82 bridge, mile 6.3; Heartland District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.555 College Creek; Annapolis, MD; Naval Academy highway bridge, mile 0.3and the Maryland highway bridge, mile 0.4; East District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.677 Big Sunflower River; Baird, MS; Columbus and Greenville railroad bridge, mile 96.1; Heartland District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.689 Osage River; Osage City, MO; Missouri Pacific Railroad bridge, mile 5.6; Heartland District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.701(b) Alloway Creek; Quinton, NJ; S49 bridge, mile 9.5; East District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.703 Bass River; New Gretna, NJ; U.S. 9 bridge, mile 2.6; East District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.711 Cohansey River; Bridgeton, NJ; Broad Street bridge, mile 18.2; East District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.713(a) Cooper River; Camden, NJ; State Street Drawbridge, mile 0.3; Conrail Drawbridge at North River Avenue, mile 0.9; East District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.713(b) Cooper River; Camden, NJ: Admiral Wilson Boulevard bridge, mile 1.1; East District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.722 Great Egg Harbor Bay; U.S. Route 9/Beesleys Point Bridge, mile 3.5; East District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.725 Manantico Creek; Milleville, NJ; highway bridge, mile 0.5; East District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.730 Maurice River; Mauricetown, NJ; Cumberland County bridge, mile 12.1; East District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.732(a) Nacote Creek; Route 9 bridge, mile 1.5; East District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.732(b) Nacote Creek Port Republic, NJ; Atlantic County (Rte. 575) bridge, mile 3.5; East District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.739(m) Passaic River; Garfield, NJ; West Eighth Street Bridge, mile 15.3; East District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.741(a) Raccoon Creek; Bridgeport, NJ; Route 130 highway bridge, mile 1.8; East District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.749 Salem River; Salem, NJ; S49 bridge, mile 3.5; East District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.758 Tuckahoe River; Tuckahoe, NJ; State highway bridge, mile 8.0; East District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1"> —§ 117.791(d) Hudson River; between Troy and Menands, NY; Troy- Menands Bridge, mile 150.2; Northeast District. </FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.797(d) Lake Champlain; East Alburg, NY; SR78 bridge, mile 105.9; Northeast District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.821(a)(2) Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Albermarle Sound to Sunset Beach; Surf City, NC; S.R. 50 Bridge, mile 260.7; East District.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.821(a)(5) Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Albermarle Sound to Sunset Beach; Sunset Beach, NC; S.R. 1172 Bridge, mile 337.9</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">—§ 117.823 Gallants Channel; Beaufort, NC; US 70 bridge, mile 0.1; East District.</FP> <FP SOURC ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Preview showing 10k of 46k characters. 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