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Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Chicago River, IL Publication: Federal Register Agency: U.S. Coast Guard Byline: Paul J. Pluta Date: 18 May 1995 Subject: American Government  • Roads & Highways
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[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 96 (Thursday, May 18, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 26709-26710]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-12284]
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[[Page 26710]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[CGD09-95-004]
Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Chicago River, IL
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of establishment of negotiated rulemaking committee and
first meeting.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard establishes a negotiated rulemaking committee
to develop regulations governing the operation of Chicago owned
drawbridges over the Chicago River in Chicago, Illinois and the passage
of recreational vessels under those bridges. The committee is
established in accordance with the Negotiated Rulemaking Act of 1990
and the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
DATES: The first meeting of the negotiated rulemaking committee will be
held on June 5, 1995 between 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. Additional
meetings will be held on June 14, 1995, June 20, 1995, June 28, 1995
and July 12, 1995, at the same times and place, unless otherwise
scheduled by the committee.
ADDRESSES: The committee meetings will be held in room 326, Ralph H.
Metcalfe Federal Building, 77 West Jackson Street, Chicago, Illinois,
60604.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Carolyn Malone, Ninth District Bridge Branch, Ninth Coast Guard
District, 1240 East Ninth Street, room 2083, Cleveland, Ohio, (216)
522-3993 between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. Should the dates,
times or location of any subsequent committee meeting change, recorded
information will be provided at the above telephone number outside of
those hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Coast Guard published a notice of intent
(notice) to form a negotiated rulemaking committee on April 10, 1995
(60 FR 18061). The notice discussed the Coast Guard's intention to
proceed in accordance with the Negotiated Rulemaking Act of 1990 (Pub.
L. 101-648) and establish the Chicago Drawbridge Negotiated Rulemaking
Committee (committee) to develop regulations that provide a permanent
and acceptable resolution to the issues involved in drawbridge openings
for recreational vessels on the Chicago River. Regulations governing
the operation of the drawbridges are located at 33 CFR 117.391 and are
issued under the authority of 33 U.S.C. 499. The notice also identified
interests that would be affected by amendments to the current
regulations. The Coast Guard solicited comments on the issues raised in
the notice and nominations for membership on the committee. The closing
date for comments and nominations was May 8, 1995.
No comments were received on the issues to be considered by the
committee. Several nominations for membership were received. Separate
discussions were held by the neutral facilitator engaged by the Coast
Guard with each of the interests identified in the notice and with
others identified during the comment period. As a result, the Coast
Guard is establishing the committee and beginning the negotiation
process. As required by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C.
App.) (FACA), the committee charter has been approved by the Secretary
of Transportation and submitted to the General Services Administration.
The following interests are represented on the committee: the City of
Chicago, boatyard owners, boaters, commercial interests in Chicago, and
the Coast Guard.
The first meeting of the committee will be held in Chicago on June
5, 1995 at the time and location indicated at the beginning of this
notice. The purpose of the first meeting is to: (1) Discuss the
charter, goals, and mission of the committee; (2) present the issues to
be considered by the committee; and (3) approve the organizational
protocols by which the committee will operate. At the first session,
there will be discussion of the negotiation and rulemaking process and
an explanation of the statutory basis for the Coast Guard's drawbridge
regulations.
The schedule of additional meetings provided earlier in this notice
will be considered by the committee at its first meeting. In order for
new regulations to be effective for the Fall 1995 close of the boating
season, committee meetings must be concluded by 12 July 1995.
Therefore, this schedule may be changed and additional meetings may be
held on short notice. Announcements of these meetings will be published
in the Federal Register if time for meaningful advance notice is
available. Information on all meetings of the committee will be
available by calling (216) 522-3993 or from the contact person
indicated at the beginning of this notice.
Attendance at committee meetings is open to the public, subject to
space availability. Persons wishing to present oral statements at a
meeting should notify the contact person no later than the day before
the meeting. Any member of the public may submit written statements to
the committee at any time, also through the contact person.
Dated: May 11, 1995.
Paul J. Pluta,
Captain, United States Coast Guard, Commander, Ninth Coast Guard
District, Acting.
[FR Doc. 95-12284 Filed 5-17-95; 8:45 am]
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