Major Project Financial Plan Guidance, 54949 [2013-21738]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 173 / Friday, September 6, 2013 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration [FHWA Docket No. FHWA–2013–0042] Major Project Financial Plan Guidance Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT. ACTION: Notice; Request for comments. AGENCY: This notice requests comments on draft Major Project Financial Plan Guidance outlining the procedures the FHWA will follow when reviewing and approving Financial Plans. The proposed Major Project Financial Plan Guidance incorporates changes required by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP–21) and adopts a recommendation from a 2009 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report titled ‘‘Federal-Aid Highways: FHWA Has Improved Its Risk Management Approach, but Needs to Improve Its Oversight of Project Costs.’’ DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 7, 2013. ADDRESSES: To ensure that you do not duplicate your docket submissions, please submit all comments by only one of the following means: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for submitting comments. • Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., W12–140, Washington, DC 20590–0001. • Hand Delivery: West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is (202) 366–9329. • Instructions: You must include the agency name and docket number at the beginning of your comments. All comments received will be posted without change to https:// www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about this notice contact Mr. James Sinnette, Project Delivery Team Leader, FHWA Office of Innovative Program Delivery, (202) 366–1561, Federal Highway Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Washington, DC 20590–0001, or via email at james.sinnette@dot.gov. For legal questions, please contact Mr. Michael Harkins, Senior Attorney Advisor, FHWA Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 366–4928, Federal Highway Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:05 Sep 05, 2013 Jkt 229001 SE., Washington, DC 20590–0001, or via email at michael.harkins@dot.gov. Business hours for the FHWA are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Electronic Access and Filing A copy of the proposed Major Project Financial Plan Guidance is available for download and public inspection under the docket number noted above at the Federal eRulemaking portal at: https:// www.regulations.gov. You may submit or retrieve comments online through the Federal eRulemaking portal at: https:// www.regulations.gov. The Web site is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. Electronic submission and retrieval help and guidelines are available under the help section of the Web site. An electronic copy of this document may also be downloaded from Office of the Federal Register’s home page at: https://www.archives.gov/federal_register and the Government Printing Office’s Web page at: https://www.fdsys.gov. Late comments will be considered to the extent practicable. Background Major projects are defined in section 106(h) of title 23, United States Code (U.S.C.), as projects receiving Federal financial assistance with an estimated total cost of $500,000,000, or other projects as may be identified by the Secretary. Major projects are typically large, complex projects designed to address major highway needs and require the investment of significant financial resources. The preparation of the annual financial plan, as required by 23 U.S.C. 106(h)(3), ensures that the necessary financial resources are identified, available, and monitored throughout the life of the project. The proposed Major Project Financial Plan Guidance replaces the existing January 2007 Major Project Financial Plan Guidance. Section 106 of title 23 U.S.C., as amended by section 1503 of MAP–21, allows Financial Plans to include a phasing plan when there are insufficient financial resources to complete the entire project. In addition, 23 U.S.C. 106 now requires recipients of Federal financial assistance to assess the appropriateness of a public-private partnership to deliver the project. In addition to these MAP–21 changes, the proposed Major Project Financial Plan Guidance also incorporates a recommendation included in a 2009 GAO report titled, ‘‘Federal-Aid Highway: FHWA Has Improved Its Risk Management Approach, but Needs to Improve Its Oversight of Project Costs’’ PO 00000 Frm 00088 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 54949 (GA–090–751). That report recommended that Financial Plans include the cost of financing the project. Comments on the proposed Major Project Financial Plan Guidance are welcome from any interested party, including Federal, State, and local agencies; industry groups; and the general public. A copy of the proposed Major Project Financial Plan Guidance is available for download and public inspection under the docket number noted above at the Federal eRulemaking portal at: https://www.regulations.gov. The FHWA requests that commenters cite the page number of the Guidance for which each specific comment to the docket is concerned, to help make the FHWA’s docket comment review process more efficient. The FHWA will consider all comments received during the comment period prior to finalizing the Major Project Financial Plan Guidance. Issued on: August 20, 2013. Victor M. Mendez, FHWA Administrator. [FR Doc. 2013–21738 Filed 9–5–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–22–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration [Docket Number FRA–2013–0075] Petition for Waiver of Compliance In accordance with Part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this document provides the public notice that by a document received on July 8, 2013, the Medina Railroad Museum (MRRM) has petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety regulations contained at 49 CFR Part 223. FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA–2013–0075. MRRM petitioned FRA to grant a waiver of compliance from the safety glazing provisions of 49 CFR 223.15, Requirements for existing passenger ´ cars. MRRM seeks relief for a 1954 cafe lounge car, Number RPCX 761, which was purchased from a private owner, Dr. Harry Phills. MRRM intends to use RPCX 761 in excursion service on tracks owned by Genesee Valley Transportation’s Falls Road Railroad (FRR). RPCX 761 will be operated at a maximum timetable track speed authorized by MRRM, but not to exceed 30 mph. RPCX 761 has 15 side windows and 4 end windows located in the entry doors (2 panes per door). Each window is two-pane glass with the inner pane E:\FR\FM\06SEN1.SGM 06SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 173 (Friday, September 6, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 54949]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-21738]



[[Page 54949]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[FHWA Docket No. FHWA-2013-0042]


 Major Project Financial Plan Guidance

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice; Request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: This notice requests comments on draft Major Project Financial 
Plan Guidance outlining the procedures the FHWA will follow when 
reviewing and approving Financial Plans. The proposed Major Project 
Financial Plan Guidance incorporates changes required by the Moving 
Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) and adopts a 
recommendation from a 2009 Government Accountability Office (GAO) 
report titled ``Federal-Aid Highways: FHWA Has Improved Its Risk 
Management Approach, but Needs to Improve Its Oversight of Project 
Costs.''

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 7, 2013.

ADDRESSES: To ensure that you do not duplicate your docket submissions, 
please submit all comments by only one of the following means:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., W12-140, Washington, DC 
20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 
1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is (202) 366-
9329.
     Instructions: You must include the agency name and docket 
number at the beginning of your comments. All comments received will be 
posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov, including any 
personal information provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about this notice 
contact Mr. James Sinnette, Project Delivery Team Leader, FHWA Office 
of Innovative Program Delivery, (202) 366-1561, Federal Highway 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001, or 
via email at james.sinnette@dot.gov. For legal questions, please 
contact Mr. Michael Harkins, Senior Attorney Advisor, FHWA Office of 
the Chief Counsel, (202) 366-4928, Federal Highway Administration, 1200 
New Jersey Ave. SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001, or via email at 
michael.harkins@dot.gov. Business hours for the FHWA are from 8:00 a.m. 
to 4:30 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access and Filing

    A copy of the proposed Major Project Financial Plan Guidance is 
available for download and public inspection under the docket number 
noted above at the Federal eRulemaking portal at: https://www.regulations.gov. You may submit or retrieve comments online through 
the Federal eRulemaking portal at: https://www.regulations.gov. The Web 
site is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. Electronic 
submission and retrieval help and guidelines are available under the 
help section of the Web site.
    An electronic copy of this document may also be downloaded from 
Office of the Federal Register's home page at: https://www.archives.gov/federal_register and the Government Printing Office's Web page at: 
https://www.fdsys.gov. Late comments will be considered to the extent 
practicable.

Background

    Major projects are defined in section 106(h) of title 23, United 
States Code (U.S.C.), as projects receiving Federal financial 
assistance with an estimated total cost of $500,000,000, or other 
projects as may be identified by the Secretary. Major projects are 
typically large, complex projects designed to address major highway 
needs and require the investment of significant financial resources. 
The preparation of the annual financial plan, as required by 23 U.S.C. 
106(h)(3), ensures that the necessary financial resources are 
identified, available, and monitored throughout the life of the 
project.
    The proposed Major Project Financial Plan Guidance replaces the 
existing January 2007 Major Project Financial Plan Guidance. Section 
106 of title 23 U.S.C., as amended by section 1503 of MAP-21, allows 
Financial Plans to include a phasing plan when there are insufficient 
financial resources to complete the entire project. In addition, 23 
U.S.C. 106 now requires recipients of Federal financial assistance to 
assess the appropriateness of a public-private partnership to deliver 
the project. In addition to these MAP-21 changes, the proposed Major 
Project Financial Plan Guidance also incorporates a recommendation 
included in a 2009 GAO report titled, ``Federal-Aid Highway: FHWA Has 
Improved Its Risk Management Approach, but Needs to Improve Its 
Oversight of Project Costs'' (GA-090-751). That report recommended that 
Financial Plans include the cost of financing the project.
    Comments on the proposed Major Project Financial Plan Guidance are 
welcome from any interested party, including Federal, State, and local 
agencies; industry groups; and the general public. A copy of the 
proposed Major Project Financial Plan Guidance is available for 
download and public inspection under the docket number noted above at 
the Federal eRulemaking portal at: https://www.regulations.gov. The FHWA 
requests that commenters cite the page number of the Guidance for which 
each specific comment to the docket is concerned, to help make the 
FHWA's docket comment review process more efficient. The FHWA will 
consider all comments received during the comment period prior to 
finalizing the Major Project Financial Plan Guidance.

    Issued on: August 20, 2013.
Victor M. Mendez,
FHWA Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-21738 Filed 9-5-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.