33 CFR § 116.20 - Detailed investigation.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t33/s116.20"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "33 CFR § 116.20 - Detailed investigation."
title_number: 33
title_name: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
section_number: "116.20"
section_name: "Detailed investigation."
chapter_name: "COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "J"
subchapter_name: "BRIDGES"
part_number: "116"
part_name: "ALTERATION OF UNREASONABLY OBSTRUCTIVE BRIDGES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "33 U.S.C. 401, 521."
regulatory_source: "CGD 91-063, 60 FR 20902, Apr. 28, 1995, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "116"
---


# 116.20 Detailed investigation.

(a) When the Chief, Office of Bridge Programs determines that a Detailed Investigation should be conducted, the District Commander will initiate an investigation that addresses all of the pertinent data regarding the bridge, including information obtained at a public meeting held under § 116.25. As part of the investigation, the District Commander will develop a comprehensive report, termed the “Detailed Investigation Report”, which will discuss: the obstructive character of the bridge in question; the impact of that bridge upon navigation; navigational benefits derived; whether an alteration is needed to meet the needs of navigation; and, if alteration is recommended, what type.

(b) The District Commander will forward the completed Detailed Investigation Report to the Chief, Office of Bridge Programs for review together with a recommendation of whether the bridge should be declared an unreasonable obstruction to navigation and, if so, whether an Order to Alter should be issued.

[CGD 91-063, 60 FR 20902, Apr. 28, 1995, as amended by CGD 96-026, 61 FR 33663, June 28, 1996; USCG-2013-0397, 78 FR 39174, July 1, 2013]