Rule
Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Fort Pierce, FL
The full text was pulled automatically from the official source and is not Threadline News reporting; the annotations alongside it are.
Agency
Coast Guard, DHS.
Action
Final rule.
Summary
The Coast Guard is removing the existing drawbridge operation regulation for the A1A North Causeway bridge, across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 964.8, near Fort Pierce, FL. The drawbridge is under demolition, and the bascule spans have been permanently removed from the waterway in August 2026. The operating regulation is no longer applicable or necessary.
Dates
This rule is effective September 9, 2026.
Addresses
To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov. Type the docket number (USCG-2026-1140) in the "SEARCH" box and click "SEARCH". In the Document Type column, select "Supporting & Related Material."
For further information contact
If you have questions on this rule, call or email Mr. Juan C. Martinez, Bridge Management Specialist, Southeast Coast Guard District; telephone 571-608-9442, email [email protected].
I. Table of Abbreviations
CFR Code of Federal Regulations DHS Department of Homeland Security FR Federal Register OMB Office of Management and Budget NPRM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Sec. Section U.S.C. United States Code FL Florida
II. Background Information and Regulatory History
The Coast Guard is issuing this final rule under the authority in 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B). This provision authorizes an agency to issue a rule without prior notice and opportunity to comment when 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 A1A North Causeway bridge, that once required draw operations in 33 CFR 117.261, is under demolition and the bascule spans were permanently removed from the waterway in August 2026. Therefore, the regulation is no longer applicable and shall be removed from publication. It is unnecessary to publish an NPRM because this regulatory action is inconsequential to the industry and does not have any impact on the public. 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 Federal Register. The bridge is under demolition and the bridge's bascule spans were permanently removed from the waterway, and this rule merely requires an administrative change to the Federal Register, in order to remove a regulatory requirement that is no longer applicable or necessary. The removal of the bascule spans has already taken place, and the removal of the regulation will not affect mariners currently operating on this waterway. Therefore, a delayed effective date is unnecessary.
IV. Discussion of Final Rule
The Coast Guard is removing the regulation in 33 CFR 117.261 related to the draw operations for A1A North Causeway bridge since it is under demolition and no longer a drawbridge. The change removes the paragraph of the regulation governing the A1A North Causeway bridge since the bascule spans were permanently removed from the waterway. This Final Rule seeks to update the Code of Federal Regulations by removing language that governs the operation of the A1A North Causeway bridge, which is under demolition and no longer a drawbridge. This change does not affect waterway or land traffic. This change does not affect, nor does it alter the operating schedules in 33 CFR 117.261 that govern the remaining active drawbridges on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.