33 C.F.R. § 115.50 Application for bridge permits.
Title 33 - Navigation and Navigable Waters
(a) Approval of plans. An application for authorization to construct a bridge across navigable waters of the United States must show the name and address of the applicant; the waterway and location of the bridge; citation to the act of Congress or the State legislature authorizing the bridge; be accompanied by a map of the location and plans of the bridge showing the features which affect navigation; and papers to establish the identity of the applicant. (b) Prior authority necessary. Except as provided under paragraph (c) of this section, a bridge cannot lawfully be constructed across any navigable waterway of the United States until the location and plans have been approved by the Coast Guard. (c) Prior authority not necessary. Coast Guard approval of the location and plans for construction or modification of a bridge or causeway is not required for any bridge or causeway over waters which are not subject to the ebb and flow of the tide and which are not used and are not susceptible to use in their natural condition or by reasonable improvement as a means to transport interstate or foreign commerce, whether or not such waters were used or were susceptible to use, at some previous time, to transport commerce (historic use). This provision does not apply to bridges which connect the United States with any foreign country. (d) Form. The application for the approval of plans consists of a letter accompanied with maps and plans of the proposed structure. (e) Signature. In case of signature by an agent or by an official of a corporation, a duly authenticated copy of the authority for the action must accompany the application. (f) Identification. If the applicant is a corporation, it must furnish certified copies of the following papers, all properly authenticated: The charter or articles of incorporation; the minutes of organization; extract from minutes showing the names of the present officers of the corporation. (1) Where State laws vest in State or county officers, such as boards of supervisors and county courts, the power to authorize the construction of bridges, they must furnish with their application certified extracts from their proceedings showing their action authorizing the proposed structure. (g) Plans. Four sets of plans must be submitted with the application, on which the location of the work and the essential features covered by the application will be outlined in red. Each drawing must have a simple title, date and number, preferably in the lower righthand corner. (h) Size of sheets. The drawings will be on letter size sheets. As few sheets will be used as necessary to show clearly what is proposed. (i) Special instructions. (1) The scale will be shown graphically. The north and south line will be indicated by a meridian arrow. Soundings and elevations will be shown in feet and referred to the established Government datum plane at the locality. (2) The direction of currents will be indicated by an arrow, and the strength of currents, both ebb and flow, or low water and high water, will be shown close to the proposed location of the bridge, and at both ends of the waterway shown on the map of location. (3) The plans will show in figures the least clear height of the lowest part of the superstructure over navigation openings, with reference to the planes of mean high water and mean low water if the bridge is to cross tidal water. If the waters are nontidal, the least clear height will be shown with reference to the planes of extreme high water and mean low water. If records of river heights are available, the plane above which flood waters have not remained more than 2 percent of the time will be indicated. Reference will also be made to other datum planes if appropriate for the waterway in question. (4) If harbor lines have been established at the site of the bridge, their position will be shown on the plans. (j) Structural details. Only those should be shown which are needed to illustrate the effect of the proposed structure on navigation. If the bridge is to be equipped with a draw, the latter will be shown in two positions: closed and open. (k) To whom application should be presented. The application and the papers and plans accompanying it should be submitted to the District Commander having jurisdiction over the area in which the bridge site is located. [CGFR 67–46, 32 FR 17771, Dec. 12, 1967, as amended by CGD 75–046, 40 FR 24898, June 11, 1975; CGD 80–099, 46 FR 38354, July 27, 1981; CGD 82–102, 48 FR 54299, Dec. 2, 1982]
Title 33: Navigation and Navigable Waters
PART 115—BRIDGE LOCATIONS AND CLEARANCES; ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
§ 115.50 Application for bridge permits.
