FTA Supplemental Fiscal Year 2008 Apportionments and Allocations and Program Information (Bus and Bus Facilities Program and Alternative Analysis Program Earmarks Designated in the Committee Reports Accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, Extended and Reprogrammed Earmarks and Corrections to Appendix A), 7789-7803 [08-593]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 28 / Monday, February 11, 2008 / Notices 0025) and may be submitted by any of the following methods: Web site: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Fax: 202–493–2251. Mail: Docket Operations Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., W12–140, Washington, DC 20590. Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Room W12–140, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays. Communications received within 45 days of the date of this notice will be considered by FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date will be considered as far as practicable. All written communications concerning these proceedings are available for examination during regular business hours (9 a.m.–5 p.m.) at the above facility. All documents in the public docket are also available for inspection and copying on the Internet at the docket facility’s Web site at https://www.regulations.gov. Anyone is able to search the electronic form of any written communications and comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT’s complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477–78). Issued in Washington, DC on February 4, 2008. Grady C. Cothen, Jr., Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program Development. [FR Doc. E8–2393 Filed 2–8–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–06–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES Petition for Waiver of Compliance In accordance with part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), notice is hereby given that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) received a request for a waiver of compliance with certain requirements of its safety standards. The individual petition is described below, including the party seeking relief, the regulatory provisions involved, the nature of the relief being requested, and the petitioner’s arguments in favor of relief. VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:44 Feb 08, 2008 Jkt 214001 BNSF Railway Company [Docket Number FRA–2007–28812] BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) seeks a waiver of compliance with certain requirements of 49 CFR part 232—Brake System Safety Standards for Freight and Other Non-Passenger Trains and Equipment; End-of Train Devices, and 49 CFR part 215—Railroad Freight Car Safety Standards. Specifically, BNSF seeks relief to permit trains received at the U.S./Mexico border at Eagle Pass, Texas (Eagle Pass), from the Ferrocarriles de Mexico, to move from the interchange point without performing the regulatory tests and inspections specified in CFR part 215 and § 232.205(a)(1) at that location. BNSF proposes moving the trains from the border at Milepost (MP) 34 on the Union Pacific Railroad Company’s Eagle Pass subdivision, to the Ryan’s Ruin Horan Siding at MP 20, a distance of 14 miles where required FRA inspections will be performed. BNSF claims that granting the waiver would expedite train movements and avoid blockages of crossings in Eagle Pass. Interested parties are invited to participate in these proceedings by submitting written views, data, or comments. FRA does not anticipate scheduling a public hearing in connection with these proceedings since the facts do not appear to warrant a hearing. If any interested party desires an opportunity for oral comment, they should notify FRA, in writing, before the end of the comment period and specify the basis for their request. All communications concerning these proceedings should identify the appropriate docket number (e.g., Waiver Petition Docket Number FRA–2007– 28812) and may be submitted by any of the following methods: Web site: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Fax: 202–493–2251. Mail: Docket Operations Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., W12–140, Washington, DC 20590. Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Room W12–140, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays. Communications received within 45 days of the date of this notice will be considered by FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date will be considered as far as practicable. All written communications concerning these proceedings are available for examination during regular business hours (9 a.m.–5 p.m.) at the PO 00000 Frm 00095 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 7789 above facility. All documents in the public docket are also available for inspection and copying on the Internet at the docket facility’s Web site at https://www.regulations.gov. Anyone is able to search the electronic form of any written communications and comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT’s complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477–78). Issued in Washington, DC, on February 4, 2008. Grady C. Cothen, Jr., Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program Development. [FR Doc. E8–2395 Filed 2–8–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–06–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Transit Administration FTA Supplemental Fiscal Year 2008 Apportionments and Allocations and Program Information (Bus and Bus Facilities Program and Alternative Analysis Program Earmarks Designated in the Committee Reports Accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, Extended and Reprogrammed Earmarks and Corrections to Appendix A) Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: Division K of the ‘‘Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008’’ (Pub. L. 110–161), signed into law by President Bush on December 26, 2007, made funds available for all of the surface transportation programs of the Department of Transportation (DOT) for the Fiscal Year (FY) ending September 30, 2008. This notice provides information on the FY 2008 earmarks in the Bus and Bus Facilities program and the Alternatives Analysis program that were in the committee reports that accompanied the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 and corrects Appendix A of the January 28, 2008, Federal Register notice. The notice also publishes prior year Bus and Bus Facilities and New Starts earmarks that were extended or reprogrammed in the committee reports. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information about this notice contact Henrika Buchanan-Smith, Office E:\FR\FM\11FEN1.SGM 11FEN1 7790 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 28 / Monday, February 11, 2008 / Notices of Transit Programs, at (202) 366–2053. Please contact the appropriate FTA regional office for any specific requests for information or technical assistance. Appendix A at the end of this notice includes contact information for FTA regional offices. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Table of Contents I. Overview II. FTA Programs A. Capital Investment Program (49 U.S.C. 5309)—Bus and Bus-Related Facilities B. Capital Investment Program (49 U.S.C. 5309)—New Starts C. Alternatives Analysis Program (49 U.S.C. 5339) Tables 11A. FTA FY 2008 Section 5309 Bus and Bus-related Allocations 12A. FTA Prior Year Unobligated Section 5309 Bus and Bus-related Facilities Allocations 14. Revised FTA Prior Year Unobligated Section 5309 New Starts Allocations 22. FTA FY 2008 Section 5339 Alternative Analysis Allocations Appendix A I. Overview This document allocates the FY 2008 funds designated for specific projects under the committee reports accompanying Division K of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 (Pub. L. 110–161, December 26, 2007), for the Bus and Bus Facilities program and the Alternatives Analysis Program. It also includes extended or redirected project funds identified in those reports, but it does not include extended or redirected project funds from the most recent congressional clarification letter dated December 19, 2007. FTA will issue directions regarding those projects not included at a later date. rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES II. FTA Programs This section of the notice covers FY 2008 funding that was allocated to projects under the Bus and Bus Facilities program and the Alternatives Analysis Program in the committee reports accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act. It also includes New Starts and Bus and Bus Facilities projects that were extended or reprogrammed in the committee reports. A. Capital Investment Program (49 U.S.C. 5309)—Bus and Bus-Related Facilities This program provides capital assistance for new and replacement buses and related facilities. Funds are allocated on a discretionary basis. Eligible purposes are acquisition of buses for fleet and service expansion, bus maintenance and administrative facilities, transfer facilities, bus malls, VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:44 Feb 08, 2008 Jkt 214001 transportation centers, intermodal terminals, park-and-ride stations, acquisition of replacement vehicles, bus rebuilds, bus preventive maintenance, passenger amenities such as passenger shelters and bus stop signs, accessory and miscellaneous equipment such as mobile radio units, supervisory vehicles, fare boxes, computers, and shop and garage equipment. Eligible applicants are State and local governmental authorities. Eligible subrecipients include other public agencies, private companies engaged in public transportation and private nonprofit organizations. The information in this section supplements the information that was included in the FTA Apportionment notice published in the Federal Register on January 28, 2008. For more information about Bus and Bus-Related Facilities contact Maria Wright, Office of Transit Programs, at (202) 366–2053. 1. FY 2008 Funding Availability The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, provides $823,052,962 for the bus and bus facilities program. The amount of funding for projects designated in Section 3044 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy For Users (SAFETEA–LU) for Bus and Bus-Related Facilities in FY 2008 is $497,670,593. The amount of funding for projects designated in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, is $220,599,862. The balance remains unallocated, as shown in the following table. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, included the proviso, ‘‘that funds available to carry out the bus program under section 5309 of title 49, United States Code, which are otherwise allocated under this act or under SAFETEA–LU, not more than 10 percent may be expended in furtherance of the Department of Transportation’s Congestion Initiative or any other new highway congestion initiative.’’ that were extended or reprogrammed in the committee reports are listed in Table 12A. 2. Basis for Allocations Funds are provided annually under Section 5309 for discretionary allocation for bus and bus facilities projects. There were 313 projects designated in the committee reports accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, and 32 that were extended or reprogrammed by the Act. 3. Requirements FTA honors Congressional earmarks for the purpose designated or for purposes eligible under the program. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, did not include the expanded eligibility of a ‘‘notwithstanding’’ provision. However, section 186 of that Act, in relevant part, states that funds provided within FTA’s accounts shall be made available for eligible programs, projects and activities at a level of 98 percent of the corresponding amounts identified in the explanatory statement accompanying the Act for Alternatives Analysis and Bus and Bus Facilities. Therefore, if an applicant wants to use FY 2008 funds identified under the Bus and Bus-Related Facilities Program for eligible project activities outside the scope of the project description included in report language, it must submit a request for a legislative change to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations. Also, grants made under the Bus and Bus-Related Facilities program must meet all eligibility requirements as outlined in Section 5309 unless otherwise specified in law. 4. Period of Availability The FY 2008 Bus and Bus-Related Facilities funds not obligated for their original purpose as of September 30, 2010, may be made available for other projects under 49 U.S.C. 5309. Projects that were reprogrammed in the committee reports are available until BUS AND BUS FACILITY PROGRAM September 30, 2010; however, projects Total Appropriation ........... $927,750,000 that were extended in the committee Ob lim. Reduction/Rescisreports are only available until sion ................................ ¥104,697,038 September 30, 2008. Oversight Deduction ......... Total Available for Allocation ................................ SAFETEA–LU Statutory Provisions Projects ....... Consolidated Appropriations Act Designations .. Unallocated ....................... ¥8,230,530 B. Capital Investment Program (49 U.S.C. 5309)—New Starts The information in this section 497,670,593 supplements the information that was 220,599,862 included in the FTA Apportionment 96,551,977 notice published in the Federal Register on January 28, 2008, and includes The Consolidated Appropriations Act, earmarks extended in report language. 2008, allocations for the Bus and BusFor more information contact Cheryl Related Facilities program are listed in Oliver, Office of Program Management, Table 11A. The prior years’ earmarks at (202) 366–2053. PO 00000 Frm 00096 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 814,822,432 E:\FR\FM\11FEN1.SGM 11FEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 28 / Monday, February 11, 2008 / Notices 1. FY 2008 Funding Availability The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, provides $1,569,091,997 for Capital Investment Grants. The total amount allocated for New Starts including Small Starts is $1,534,492,165, as shown in the table below. Congress in the report accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, remain available until September 30, 2008. 5. Other Program or Apportionment Related Information and Highlights Prior year unobligated allocations for New Starts in the amount of $361,829,170 remain available for NEW STARTS obligation in FY 2008. This amount includes $164,608,910 in FY 2005 and Total Appropriation ....... $1,569,091,997 prior years, $126,973,589 in FY 2006 Oversight Deduction ..... 15,690,920 and $70,246,671 in FY 2007 unobligated Total Funds to be Allocated ......................... 1,553,401,077 allocations. These unobligated amounts are displayed in Revised Table 14. Funds Allocated to Specific Projects in Table 13 .............................. Unallocated Funds ........ a 1,534,492,165 18,908,912 a Includes $20 million for the Denali Commission and Alaska and Hawaii Ferry projects. FY 2008 New Start project allocations are listed in Table 13 of the Federal Register published on January 28, 2008. The revised carryover project allocations are listed in Revised Table 14 of this notice. 2. Basis for Allocation Congress included authorizations for specific New Starts projects in SAFETEA–LU and included statutory takedowns from the program for Alaska and Hawaii Ferryboats and the Denali Commission. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, appropriated funds for specific projects and the statutory takedowns. Congress also extended several New Starts earmarks in the committee reports that accompanied the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008. The carryover New Starts funding is shown in Revised Table 14. 3. Requirements New Starts projects are subject to a series of approvals related to planning and project development set forth in 49 CFR Part 611. FTA has published a number of rulemakings and interim guidance documents related to the New Starts program since the passage of SAFETEA–LU. Grantees should reference the FTA Web site at www.fta.dot.gov for the most current program guidance about project development and management. rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES 4. Period of Availability New Starts funds remain available for three fiscal years (including the fiscal year the funds are made available or appropriated plus two additional years.) FY 2008 funds remain available through September 30, 2010. Funds extended by VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:44 Feb 08, 2008 Jkt 214001 C. Alternatives Analysis Program (49 U.S.C. 5339) The Alternatives Analysis Program provides grants to States, authorities of the States, metropolitan planning organizations, and local government authorities to develop studies as part of the transportation planning process. These studies include an assessment of a wide range of public transportation alternatives designed to address a transportation problem in a corridor or subarea; the development of sufficient information to enable the Secretary to make the findings of project justification and local financial commitment required; the selection of a locally preferred alternative; and the adoption of the locally preferred alternative as part of the state or regional long-range transportation plan. The information in this section supplements the information that was included in the FTA Apportionment notice published in the Federal Register on January 28, 2008. For more information about this program contact Ron Fisher, Office of Planning and Environment, at (202) 366–4033. 7791 of $24,691,100 derived from reducing the appropriated $25,000,000 by two percent. Projects funded using FY 2008 Alternative Analysis funding were designated in the committee reports that accompanied the Act. Alternative Analysis Program allocations are displayed in Table 22. 3. Requirements Section 186 of Consolidated Appropriations Act, in relevant part, states that funds provided within FTA’s accounts shall be made available for eligible programs, projects and activities at a level of 98 percent of the corresponding amounts identified in the explanatory statement accompanying the Act for Alternatives Analysis and Bus and Bus Facilities. Eligible projects include planning and corridor studies and the adoption of locally preferred alternatives within the fiscally constrained Metropolitan Transportation Plan for that area. Funds awarded under the Alternatives Analysis Program must be shown in the UPWP for MPO(s) with responsibility for that area. Pre-award authority applies to these funds after Congress appropriates funds for these projects. Unless otherwise specified in law, grants made under the Alternatives Analysis Program must meet all eligibility requirements as outlined in Section 5309. If an applicant wants to use FY 2008 funds identified under Alternatives Analysis for eligible project activities outside the scope of the project description included in report language, it must submit a request for a legislative change to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations. 1. FY 2008 Funding Availability The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, provides $24,691,100 to the Alternatives Analysis Program (49 U.S.C. 5339). 4. Period of Availability 2. Basis for Allocation of Funds The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, provided an obligation limitation James S. Simpson Administrator. Funds designated for specific Alternatives Analysis Program projects remain available for obligation for three fiscal years, the year of appropriation plus two additional fiscal years. The FY ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS PROGRAM 2008 funding for projects included in this notice remains available through Total Appropriation ....... $25,000,000 September 30, 2010. Alternatives Ob lim. Reduction/Rescission ..................... ¥308,900 Analysis funds not obligated in an FTA grant for their original purpose at the Total Available ....... 24,691,100 end of the period of availability will generally be made available for other The project allocations are listed in projects. Table 22. PO 00000 Frm 00097 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Appendix A E:\FR\FM\11FEN1.SGM 11FEN1 7792 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 28 / Monday, February 11, 2008 / Notices PTA REGIONAL OFFICES Richard H. Doyle, Regional Administrator, Region 1—Boston, Kendall Square, 55 Broadway, Suite 920, Cambridge, MA 02142–1093, Tel. 617 494–2055. States served: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Brigid Hynes-Cherin, Regional Administrator, Region 2—New York, One Bowling Green, Room 429, New York, NY 10004–1415, Tel. No. 212 668–2170. States served: New Jersey, New York Letitia Thompson, Regional Administrator, Region 3—Philadelphia, 1760 Market Street, Suite 500, Philadelphia, PA 19103–4124, Tel. 215 656–7100. States served: Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and District of Columbia. Yvette Taylor, Regional Administrator, Region 4—Atlanta, 230 Peachtree Street, NW, Suite 800, Atlanta, GA 30303, Tel. 404 865–5600. Robert C. Patrick, Regional Administrator, Region 6—Ft. Worth, 819 Taylor Street, Room 8A36, Ft. Worth, TX 76102, Tel. 817 978–0550. States served: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas. Mokhtee Ahmad, Regional Administrator, Region 7— Kansas City, MO, 901 Locust Street, Room 404, Kansas City, MO 64106, Tel. 816 329–3920. States served: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. Terry Rosapep, Regional Administrator, Region 8—Denver, 12300 West Dakota Ave., Suite 310, Lakewood, CO 80228–2583, Tel. 720– 963–3300. States served: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. Leslie T. Rogers, Regional Administrator, Region 9—San Francisco, 201 Mission Street, Room 1650, San Francisco, CA 94105–1926, Tel. 415 744–3133. States served: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North States served: American Samoa, Arizona, California, Guam Hawaii, Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virgin Islands. Nevada, and the Northern Mariana, Islands Marisol Simon, Regional Administrator, Region 5—Chicago, 200 West Rick Krochalis, Regional Administrator, Region 10—Seattle, Jackson Adams Street, Suite 320, Chicago, IL 60606, Tel. 312 353–2789. Federal Building, 915 Second Avenue, Suite 3142, Seattle, WA 98174–1002, Tel. 206 220–7954. States served: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wis- States served: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington consin. rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES BILLING CODE 4910–57–P VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:44 Feb 08, 2008 Jkt 214001 PO 00000 Frm 00098 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\11FEN1.SGM 11FEN1 VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:44 Feb 08, 2008 Jkt 214001 PO 00000 Frm 00099 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4725 E:\FR\FM\11FEN1.SGM 11FEN1 7793 EN11FE08.014</GPH> rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 28 / Monday, February 11, 2008 / Notices VerDate Aug<31>2005 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 28 / Monday, February 11, 2008 / Notices 16:44 Feb 08, 2008 Jkt 214001 PO 00000 Frm 00100 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4725 E:\FR\FM\11FEN1.SGM 11FEN1 EN11FE08.015</GPH> rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES 7794 VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:44 Feb 08, 2008 Jkt 214001 PO 00000 Frm 00101 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4725 E:\FR\FM\11FEN1.SGM 11FEN1 7795 EN11FE08.016</GPH> rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 28 / Monday, February 11, 2008 / Notices VerDate Aug<31>2005 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 28 / Monday, February 11, 2008 / Notices 16:44 Feb 08, 2008 Jkt 214001 PO 00000 Frm 00102 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4725 E:\FR\FM\11FEN1.SGM 11FEN1 EN11FE08.017</GPH> rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES 7796 VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:44 Feb 08, 2008 Jkt 214001 PO 00000 Frm 00103 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4725 E:\FR\FM\11FEN1.SGM 11FEN1 7797 EN11FE08.018</GPH> rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 28 / Monday, February 11, 2008 / Notices VerDate Aug<31>2005 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 28 / Monday, February 11, 2008 / Notices 16:44 Feb 08, 2008 Jkt 214001 PO 00000 Frm 00104 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4725 E:\FR\FM\11FEN1.SGM 11FEN1 EN11FE08.019</GPH> rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES 7798 VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:44 Feb 08, 2008 Jkt 214001 PO 00000 Frm 00105 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4725 E:\FR\FM\11FEN1.SGM 11FEN1 7799 EN11FE08.020</GPH> rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 28 / Monday, February 11, 2008 / Notices VerDate Aug<31>2005 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 28 / Monday, February 11, 2008 / Notices 16:44 Feb 08, 2008 Jkt 214001 PO 00000 Frm 00106 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4725 E:\FR\FM\11FEN1.SGM 11FEN1 EN11FE08.021</GPH> rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES 7800 VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:44 Feb 08, 2008 Jkt 214001 PO 00000 Frm 00107 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4725 E:\FR\FM\11FEN1.SGM 11FEN1 7801 EN11FE08.022</GPH> rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 28 / Monday, February 11, 2008 / Notices VerDate Aug<31>2005 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 28 / Monday, February 11, 2008 / Notices 16:44 Feb 08, 2008 Jkt 214001 PO 00000 Frm 00108 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\11FEN1.SGM 11FEN1 EN11FE08.023</GPH> rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES 7802 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 28 / Monday, February 11, 2008 / Notices [FR Doc. 08–593 Filed 2–8–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–57–C DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [Docket No. NHTSA–2008–0008 Notice 1] NHTSA’s Activities Under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe 1998 Global Agreement: Glazing National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT. ACTION: Request for comments. rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: NHTSA is publishing this notice to inform the public that there may be a vote to adopt the Global Technical Regulation (GTR) on Glazing at the March 2008 session of the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29). In anticipation of this vote, NHTSA is requesting comments on this GTR to inform its decision for the vote. Publication of this information is in accordance with NHTSA’s Statement of Policy regarding Agency Policy Goals and Public Participation in the Implementation of the 1998 Global Agreement on Global Technical Regulations. DATES: Written comments may be submitted to this agency by March 6, 2008. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments [identified by DOT Docket No. NHTSA– 2008–0008, Notice 1] by any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. • Mail: Docket Management Facility: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, Washington, DC, 20590–0001. • Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue S.E., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Telephone: 1–800–647–5527. • Fax: 202–493–2251 Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and docket number for this proposed collection of information. Note that all comments received will be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov including any personal information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading below. Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:44 Feb 08, 2008 Jkt 214001 received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT’s complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477–78) or you may visit https:// DocketInfo.dot.gov. Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to https:// www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions, or visit the Docket Management Facility at the street address listed above. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ezana Wondimneh, Division Chief, International Policy and Harmonization (NVS–133), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, 20590– 0001; Phone (202) 366–0846, Fax (202) 493–2280. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: At the March 2004 session of WP.29 the formal proposal to develop a GTR on safety glazing, sponsored by Germany, was adopted with a modification to restrict the scope of the GTR to glass-based safety glazing. An informal working group chaired by Germany was subsequently established to develop the GTR. In October 2004, NHTSA docketed the draft GTR proposed by Germany (69 FR 60460, 60462; October 8, 2004), but received no comments. At the November 2005 session of WP.29 AC.3 further agreed that the GTR would not include installation provisions and that the informal working group could consider possible approaches to including certification markings in the GTR. However, it was later decided by WP.29 that a separate informal working group would be tasked with examining the issue of markings for all GTRs. Therefore, the glazing GTR only specifies the required markings to identify the type of glazing material without reference to certification type markings. Contracting parties to the 1998 Agreement will be able to require additional markings for identification of manufacturer and the regulation(s) the glazing is manufactured to comply with. On October 10, 2006, NHTSA published a new notice that described the progress made on the agency’s GTR activities including the glazing GTR (docket number NHTSA–2003–14395). The notice included the draft GTR, provided discussions on several key issues, and requested public comments. A comment with regard to the GTR was submitted by Pilkington North America that sought to clarify an incorrect citing PO 00000 Frm 00109 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 7803 of the test procedures concerning light transmittance and optical distortion, which has since been addressed. The latest draft of the GTR specifies performance requirements for various types of glazing (i.e., laminated and toughened glass) intended for installation in Category 1 and 2 vehicles as defined in Special Resolution No. 1. The requirements apply to glazing as an item of equipment, and do not include installation requirements for vehicles. Performance requirements for some of the materials vary depending on whether the material is intended for installation as a windscreen or a pane. The draft includes requirements and tests to ensure the mechanical strength, optical qualities and environmental resistance of glazing. Four sets of tests and requirements for mechanical properties are under consideration in the GTR: a fragmentation test, a 227g steel ball impact test, a 2.26kg steel ball impact test and a 10kg headform impact test. Each of the first three of these tests was adopted from widely used procedures currently in effect, with small differences, in all three national regulations examined for this GTR (European, Japanese and U.S. safety regulations). The fragmentation test proposed in the draft GTR is based on the current European approach, except that it was modified to use two different impact forces depending on the design of glazing being evaluated. The 227g and 2.26kg steel ball impact tests are also very similar to the existing national regulations examined—with the exception of the drop height for the small ball test. Based upon analysis conducted by Japan, which determined that the force from a drop height of 2.0m replicated the force of a typical object that impacts a pane, it was decided that a drop height of 2.0m could be specified. The headform test (which is currently in the European and Japanese national regulations, but not in the U.S.) under consideration for the GTR specifies one drop height (1.5m), instead of retaining the two separate drop heights currently found in the European and Japanese regulations because the purpose of the second height drop was already addressed in other tests specified in the GTR. Also, the headform test is an optional requirement in the GTR. Each contracting party to the 1998 Agreement can decide whether or not to apply this provision in national/regional law. Three types of optical qualities are addressed in the GTR: light transmission, optical distortion and double imaging. The minimum light transmittance level for glazing requisite E:\FR\FM\11FEN1.SGM 11FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 28 (Monday, February 11, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7789-7803]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 08-593]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


FTA Supplemental Fiscal Year 2008 Apportionments and Allocations 
and Program Information (Bus and Bus Facilities Program and Alternative 
Analysis Program Earmarks Designated in the Committee Reports 
Accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, Extended and 
Reprogrammed Earmarks and Corrections to Appendix A)

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Division K of the ``Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008'' 
(Pub. L. 110-161), signed into law by President Bush on December 26, 
2007, made funds available for all of the surface transportation 
programs of the Department of Transportation (DOT) for the Fiscal Year 
(FY) ending September 30, 2008. This notice provides information on the 
FY 2008 earmarks in the Bus and Bus Facilities program and the 
Alternatives Analysis program that were in the committee reports that 
accompanied the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 and corrects 
Appendix A of the January 28, 2008, Federal Register notice. The notice 
also publishes prior year Bus and Bus Facilities and New Starts 
earmarks that were extended or reprogrammed in the committee reports.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information about this 
notice contact Henrika Buchanan-Smith, Office

[[Page 7790]]

of Transit Programs, at (202) 366-2053. Please contact the appropriate 
FTA regional office for any specific requests for information or 
technical assistance. Appendix A at the end of this notice includes 
contact information for FTA regional offices.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. Overview
II. FTA Programs
    A. Capital Investment Program (49 U.S.C. 5309)--Bus and Bus-
Related Facilities
    B. Capital Investment Program (49 U.S.C. 5309)--New Starts
    C. Alternatives Analysis Program (49 U.S.C. 5339)
Tables
    11A. FTA FY 2008 Section 5309 Bus and Bus-related Allocations
    12A. FTA Prior Year Unobligated Section 5309 Bus and Bus-related 
Facilities Allocations
    14. Revised FTA Prior Year Unobligated Section 5309 New Starts 
Allocations
    22. FTA FY 2008 Section 5339 Alternative Analysis Allocations
Appendix A

I. Overview

    This document allocates the FY 2008 funds designated for specific 
projects under the committee reports accompanying Division K of the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 (Pub. L. 110-161, December 26, 
2007), for the Bus and Bus Facilities program and the Alternatives 
Analysis Program. It also includes extended or redirected project funds 
identified in those reports, but it does not include extended or 
redirected project funds from the most recent congressional 
clarification letter dated December 19, 2007. FTA will issue directions 
regarding those projects not included at a later date.

II. FTA Programs

    This section of the notice covers FY 2008 funding that was 
allocated to projects under the Bus and Bus Facilities program and the 
Alternatives Analysis Program in the committee reports accompanying the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act. It also includes New Starts and Bus 
and Bus Facilities projects that were extended or reprogrammed in the 
committee reports.

A. Capital Investment Program (49 U.S.C. 5309)--Bus and Bus-Related 
Facilities

    This program provides capital assistance for new and replacement 
buses and related facilities. Funds are allocated on a discretionary 
basis. Eligible purposes are acquisition of buses for fleet and service 
expansion, bus maintenance and administrative facilities, transfer 
facilities, bus malls, transportation centers, intermodal terminals, 
park-and-ride stations, acquisition of replacement vehicles, bus 
rebuilds, bus preventive maintenance, passenger amenities such as 
passenger shelters and bus stop signs, accessory and miscellaneous 
equipment such as mobile radio units, supervisory vehicles, fare boxes, 
computers, and shop and garage equipment. Eligible applicants are State 
and local governmental authorities. Eligible subrecipients include 
other public agencies, private companies engaged in public 
transportation and private non-profit organizations.
    The information in this section supplements the information that 
was included in the FTA Apportionment notice published in the Federal 
Register on January 28, 2008.
    For more information about Bus and Bus-Related Facilities contact 
Maria Wright, Office of Transit Programs, at (202) 366-2053.
1. FY 2008 Funding Availability
    The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, provides $823,052,962 
for the bus and bus facilities program. The amount of funding for 
projects designated in Section 3044 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, 
Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy For Users (SAFETEA-LU) 
for Bus and Bus-Related Facilities in FY 2008 is $497,670,593. The 
amount of funding for projects designated in the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2008, is $220,599,862. The balance remains 
unallocated, as shown in the following table. The Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2008, included the proviso, ``that funds available 
to carry out the bus program under section 5309 of title 49, United 
States Code, which are otherwise allocated under this act or under 
SAFETEA-LU, not more than 10 percent may be expended in furtherance of 
the Department of Transportation's Congestion Initiative or any other 
new highway congestion initiative.''

                      Bus and Bus Facility Program
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Appropriation...................................      $927,750,000
Ob lim. Reduction/Rescission..........................      -104,697,038
Oversight Deduction...................................        -8,230,530
Total Available for Allocation........................       814,822,432
SAFETEA-LU Statutory Provisions Projects..............       497,670,593
Consolidated Appropriations Act Designations..........       220,599,862
Unallocated...........................................        96,551,977
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, allocations for the Bus and 
Bus-Related Facilities program are listed in Table 11A. The prior 
years' earmarks that were extended or reprogrammed in the committee 
reports are listed in Table 12A.
2. Basis for Allocations
    Funds are provided annually under Section 5309 for discretionary 
allocation for bus and bus facilities projects. There were 313 projects 
designated in the committee reports accompanying the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2008, and 32 that were extended or reprogrammed by 
the Act.
3. Requirements
    FTA honors Congressional earmarks for the purpose designated or for 
purposes eligible under the program. The Consolidated Appropriations 
Act, 2008, did not include the expanded eligibility of a 
``notwithstanding'' provision. However, section 186 of that Act, in 
relevant part, states that funds provided within FTA's accounts shall 
be made available for eligible programs, projects and activities at a 
level of 98 percent of the corresponding amounts identified in the 
explanatory statement accompanying the Act for Alternatives Analysis 
and Bus and Bus Facilities. Therefore, if an applicant wants to use FY 
2008 funds identified under the Bus and Bus-Related Facilities Program 
for eligible project activities outside the scope of the project 
description included in report language, it must submit a request for a 
legislative change to the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations.
    Also, grants made under the Bus and Bus-Related Facilities program 
must meet all eligibility requirements as outlined in Section 5309 
unless otherwise specified in law.
4. Period of Availability
    The FY 2008 Bus and Bus-Related Facilities funds not obligated for 
their original purpose as of September 30, 2010, may be made available 
for other projects under 49 U.S.C. 5309. Projects that were 
reprogrammed in the committee reports are available until September 30, 
2010; however, projects that were extended in the committee reports are 
only available until September 30, 2008.

B. Capital Investment Program (49 U.S.C. 5309)--New Starts

    The information in this section supplements the information that 
was included in the FTA Apportionment notice published in the Federal 
Register on January 28, 2008, and includes earmarks extended in report 
language. For more information contact Cheryl Oliver, Office of Program 
Management, at (202) 366-2053.

[[Page 7791]]

1. FY 2008 Funding Availability
    The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, provides $1,569,091,997 
for Capital Investment Grants. The total amount allocated for New 
Starts including Small Starts is $1,534,492,165, as shown in the table 
below.

                               New Starts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Appropriation.................................      $1,569,091,997
Oversight Deduction.................................          15,690,920
Total Funds to be Allocated.........................       1,553,401,077
Funds Allocated to Specific Projects in Table 13....   \a\ 1,534,492,165
Unallocated Funds...................................         18,908,912
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ Includes $20 million for the Denali Commission and Alaska and Hawaii
  Ferry projects.

FY 2008 New Start project allocations are listed in Table 13 of the 
Federal Register published on January 28, 2008. The revised carryover 
project allocations are listed in Revised Table 14 of this notice.
2. Basis for Allocation
    Congress included authorizations for specific New Starts projects 
in SAFETEA-LU and included statutory takedowns from the program for 
Alaska and Hawaii Ferryboats and the Denali Commission. The 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, appropriated funds for specific 
projects and the statutory takedowns. Congress also extended several 
New Starts earmarks in the committee reports that accompanied the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008. The carryover New Starts funding 
is shown in Revised Table 14.
3. Requirements
    New Starts projects are subject to a series of approvals related to 
planning and project development set forth in 49 CFR Part 611. FTA has 
published a number of rulemakings and interim guidance documents 
related to the New Starts program since the passage of SAFETEA-LU. 
Grantees should reference the FTA Web site at www.fta.dot.gov for the 
most current program guidance about project development and management.
4. Period of Availability
    New Starts funds remain available for three fiscal years (including 
the fiscal year the funds are made available or appropriated plus two 
additional years.) FY 2008 funds remain available through September 30, 
2010. Funds extended by Congress in the report accompanying the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, remain available until September 
30, 2008.
5. Other Program or Apportionment Related Information and Highlights
    Prior year unobligated allocations for New Starts in the amount of 
$361,829,170 remain available for obligation in FY 2008. This amount 
includes $164,608,910 in FY 2005 and prior years, $126,973,589 in FY 
2006 and $70,246,671 in FY 2007 unobligated allocations. These 
unobligated amounts are displayed in Revised Table 14.

C. Alternatives Analysis Program (49 U.S.C. 5339)

    The Alternatives Analysis Program provides grants to States, 
authorities of the States, metropolitan planning organizations, and 
local government authorities to develop studies as part of the 
transportation planning process. These studies include an assessment of 
a wide range of public transportation alternatives designed to address 
a transportation problem in a corridor or subarea; the development of 
sufficient information to enable the Secretary to make the findings of 
project justification and local financial commitment required; the 
selection of a locally preferred alternative; and the adoption of the 
locally preferred alternative as part of the state or regional long-
range transportation plan.
    The information in this section supplements the information that 
was included in the FTA Apportionment notice published in the Federal 
Register on January 28, 2008. For more information about this program 
contact Ron Fisher, Office of Planning and Environment, at (202) 366-
4033.
1. FY 2008 Funding Availability
    The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, provides $24,691,100 to 
the Alternatives Analysis Program (49 U.S.C. 5339).

                      Alternatives Analysis Program
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Appropriation.................................         $25,000,000
Ob lim. Reduction/Rescission........................            -308,900
                                                     -------------------
    Total Available.................................          24,691,100
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The project allocations are listed in Table 22.
2. Basis for Allocation of Funds
    The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, provided an obligation 
limitation of $24,691,100 derived from reducing the appropriated 
$25,000,000 by two percent. Projects funded using FY 2008 Alternative 
Analysis funding were designated in the committee reports that 
accompanied the Act. Alternative Analysis Program allocations are 
displayed in Table 22.
3. Requirements
    Section 186 of Consolidated Appropriations Act, in relevant part, 
states that funds provided within FTA's accounts shall be made 
available for eligible programs, projects and activities at a level of 
98 percent of the corresponding amounts identified in the explanatory 
statement accompanying the Act for Alternatives Analysis and Bus and 
Bus Facilities. Eligible projects include planning and corridor studies 
and the adoption of locally preferred alternatives within the fiscally 
constrained Metropolitan Transportation Plan for that area. Funds 
awarded under the Alternatives Analysis Program must be shown in the 
UPWP for MPO(s) with responsibility for that area. Pre-award authority 
applies to these funds after Congress appropriates funds for these 
projects. Unless otherwise specified in law, grants made under the 
Alternatives Analysis Program must meet all eligibility requirements as 
outlined in Section 5309. If an applicant wants to use FY 2008 funds 
identified under Alternatives Analysis for eligible project activities 
outside the scope of the project description included in report 
language, it must submit a request for a legislative change to the 
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations.
4. Period of Availability
    Funds designated for specific Alternatives Analysis Program 
projects remain available for obligation for three fiscal years, the 
year of appropriation plus two additional fiscal years. The FY 2008 
funding for projects included in this notice remains available through 
September 30, 2010. Alternatives Analysis funds not obligated in an FTA 
grant for their original purpose at the end of the period of 
availability will generally be made available for other projects.

James S. Simpson
Administrator.

Appendix A

[[Page 7792]]



                           PTA Regional Offices
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Richard H. Doyle, Regional              Robert C. Patrick, Regional
 Administrator, Region 1--Boston,         Administrator, Region 6--Ft.
 Kendall Square, 55 Broadway, Suite       Worth, 819 Taylor Street, Room
 920, Cambridge, MA 02142-1093, Tel.      8A36, Ft. Worth, TX 76102,
 617 494-2055.                            Tel. 817 978-0550.
 States served: Connecticut, Maine,      States served: Arkansas,
 Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode      Louisiana, Oklahoma, New
 Island, and Vermont.                     Mexico and Texas.
 Brigid Hynes-Cherin, Regional           Mokhtee Ahmad, Regional
 Administrator, Region 2--New York, One   Administrator, Region 7--
 Bowling Green, Room 429, New York, NY    Kansas City, MO, 901 Locust
 10004-1415, Tel. No. 212 668-2170.       Street, Room 404, Kansas City,
                                          MO 64106, Tel. 816 329-3920.
States served: New Jersey, New York      States served: Iowa, Kansas,
                                          Missouri, and Nebraska.
 Letitia Thompson, Regional              Terry Rosapep, Regional
 Administrator, Region 3--Philadelphia,   Administrator, Region 8--
 1760 Market Street, Suite 500,           Denver, 12300 West Dakota
 Philadelphia, PA 19103-4124, Tel. 215    Ave., Suite 310, Lakewood, CO
 656-7100.                                80228-2583, Tel. 720-963-3300.
 States served: Delaware, Maryland,      States served: Colorado,
 Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia,   Montana, North Dakota, South
 and District of Columbia.                Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.
 Yvette Taylor, Regional Administrator,  Leslie T. Rogers, Regional
 Region 4--Atlanta, 230 Peachtree         Administrator, Region 9--San
 Street, NW, Suite 800, Atlanta, GA       Francisco, 201 Mission Street,
 30303, Tel. 404 865-5600.                Room 1650, San Francisco, CA
                                          94105-1926, Tel. 415 744-3133.
 States served: Alabama, Florida,        States served: American Samoa,
 Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North    Arizona, California, Guam
 Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina,   Hawaii, Nevada, and the
 Tennessee, and Virgin Islands.           Northern Mariana, Islands
 Marisol Simon, Regional Administrator,  Rick Krochalis, Regional
 Region 5--Chicago, 200 West Adams        Administrator, Region 10--
 Street, Suite 320, Chicago, IL 60606,    Seattle, Jackson Federal
 Tel. 312 353-2789.                       Building, 915 Second Avenue,
                                          Suite 3142, Seattle, WA 98174-
                                          1002, Tel. 206 220-7954.
 States served: Illinois, Indiana,       States served: Alaska, Idaho,
 Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and           Oregon, and Washington
 Wisconsin.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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[FR Doc. 08-593 Filed 2-8-08; 8:45 am]
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