Bridge Administration Manual
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Commandant 2100 Second Street, S.W. United States Coast Guard Washington, DC 20593-0001 Staff Symbol: G-OPT/35 Phone: (202) 267-0368 Fax: (202) 267-4046 COMDTINST M16590.5C COMMANDANT INSTRUCTION M16590.5C MAR 26 2004 Subj: BRIDGE ADMINISTRATION MANUAL 1. PURPOSE. This Manual prescribes updated policy guidance on Bridge Administration, based on 33 U.S.C. 401, 491 through 535 and 33 CFR 114 through 118. All personnel involved in the administration of bridges should use this Manual. 2. ACTION. Area and district commanders shall ensure that all bridge actions are conducted in compliance with this Manual. This Manual shall not be posted on the Coast Guard Internet site. 3. DIRECTIVES AFFECTED. This Manual supersedes the previous Bridge Administration Manual, COMDTINST M15690.5B. 4. DISCUSSION. Amendments have been made to this Manual to reflect the change from the Department of Transportation to the Department of Homeland Security, provide policy guidance and clarification on program implementing procedures and numerous editorial and format changes. 5. ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS AND IMPACT CONSIDERATION. Environmental considerations were examined in the development of this Manual and have been determined to be not applicable. 6. FORMS/REPORTS. The Bridge Administration Program Quarterly Activities Report (RCN 16590-1) Chapter 1.I and the Bridges Over Navigable Waters of the United States Completion Report (RCN 16590-2) Chapter 4.I. DISTRIBUTION – SDL No. 140 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z A B 1* C D E F G H NON-STANDARD DISTRIBUTION: B:c dl (1), (obr) Boston (1), New York (6); (Aowb) Portsmouth (6); (oan) Miami (7), Honolulu (1), Juneau (1); (obc) New Orleans (4); (obr) St Louis (7), Cleveland (3); (oan-2) Alameda (4); (ob) Seattle (2) COMDTINST M16590.5C TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 – GENERAL A. POLICY............................................................................................................................. 1-1 B. MISSION ........................................................................................................................... 1-1 C. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS ....................................................................................... 1-2 D. ALTERING THE CHARACTER OF BRIDGES AND CAUSEWAYS................................ 1-7 E. STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF BRIDGES AND THEIR APPURTENANT FENDERING SYSTEM ........................................................................................................................... 1-8 F. CLOSURE OF WATERWAYS AND RESTRICTION OF PASSAGE THROUGH OR UNDER BRIDGES ............................................................................................................ 1-9 G. INTERAGENCY COORDINATION ................................................................................. 1-10 H. INSPECTION OF BRIDGES ........................................................................................... 1-10 I. BRIDGE ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM QUARTERLY ACTIVITIES REPORT........... 1-11 J. BRIDGE PERMIT CONDITIONS AND DRAWBRIDGE REGULATIONS FOR IMPROPER PURPOSES ................................................................................................ 1-17 K. INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE ACT OF 1972..................................................................... 1-17 L. VIOLATION OF LAW...................................................................................................... 1-18 M. CASE RECORDS ........................................................................................................... 1-19 N. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES................................................................................ 1-19 O. ASSISTANCE TO OVERSIGHT BAP FIELD OPERATIONS......................................... 1-20 CHAPTER 2 – NAVIGATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS A. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................... 2-1 B. LEGAL AUTHORITIES..................................................................................................... 2-1 C. BACKGROUND................................................................................................................ 2-1 D. DEFINITIONS ................................................................................................................... 2-2 E. POLICY............................................................................................................................. 2-4 F. NAVIGATIONAL CONCEPTS AND BRIDGE CLEARANCES......................................... 2-5 G. WATERWAY DESIGN...................................................................................................... 2-8 H. DETERMINING HORIZONTAL CLEARANCE REQUIRMENTS...................................... 2-9 I. DETERMINING VERTICAL CLEARANCE REQUIRMENTS ......................................... 2-11 J. SPECIAL CONDITIONS WHEN DETERMINING BRIDGE CLEARANCES FOR INLAND RIVER SYSTEMS............................................................................................. 2-12 K. GUIDE CLEARANCES................................................................................................... 2-14 L. BRIDGE REPAIRS ......................................................................................................... 2-15 M. NAVIGATION CONSIDERATIONS WHEN EVALUATING PROPOSED CHANGES TO DRAWBRIDGE REGULATIONS .................................................................................... 2-15 N. NAVIGATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS WHEN DEVELOPING ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS IN SUPPORT OF BRIDGE PERMITTING ACTIONS ............................. 2-18 O. NAVIGATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS WHEN EVALUATING POTENTIALLY UNREASONABLY OBSTRUCTIVE BRIDGES .............................................................. 2-18 P. COORDINATION WITH OTHER COAST GUARD ACTIVITIES .................................... 2-20 i COMDTINST M16590.5C CHAPTER 3 – ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT CONSIDERATIONS A. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................... 3-1 B. POLICY............................................................................................................................. 3-1 C. NEPA ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTATION ............................................................... 3-1 D. AGENCY AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ....................................................................... 3-12 E. MIGRATORY BIRD TREATY ACT................................................................................. 3-13 F. HISTORIC PROPERTIES ............................................................................................... 3-14 G. COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT (CZM)...................................................................... 3-16 H. WETLANDS....................................................................................................................3-16 I. FLOODPLAINS .............................................................................................................. 3-17 J. WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION (WQC).................................................................. 3-18 K. FISH AND WILDLIFE ..................................................................................................... 3-20 L. WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS ......................................................................................... 3-21 M. PRIME AND UNIQUE FARMLANDS.............................................................................. 3-21 N. AIR QUALITY .................................................................................................................3-22 O. NOISE............................................................................................................................. 3-24 P. RELOCATION ASSISTANCE ........................................................................................ 3-24 Q. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE – E.O. 12898................................................................... 3-25 R. ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT .......................................................................................... 3-26 S. MEMORANDUMS OF UNDERSTANDING/AGREEMENT............................................. 3-27 T. SECTION 1205 OF THE TRANSPORTATION EQUITY ACT FOR THE 21ST CENTURY (TEA-21) ......................................................................................................................... 3-27 U. OTHER............................................................................................................................ 3-28 CHAPTER 4 – BRIDGE PERMITS A. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................... 4-1 B. LEGAL AUTHORITIES..................................................................................................... 4-1 C. DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY TO DISTRICT COMMANDERS .................................... 4-2 D. BRIDGE PERMITS ........................................................................................................... 4-3 E. LIMITING DATE IN PERMITS .......................................................................................... 4-4 F. BRIDGE PERMIT EXEMPTIONS ..................................................................................... 4-5 G. PROCEDURES............................................................................................................... 4-10 H. CONSTRUCTION OF TEMPORARY BRIDGES ............................................................ 4-21 I. BRIDGE COMPLETION REPORT.................................................................................