Federal Highway Administration 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA and other Federal agencies that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to the proposed Aroostook County Transportation Study Tier II Presque Isle Bypass FEIS located in the Town of Presque Isle, Aroostook County, Maine. Those actions grant approvals for the project.

The FHWA, on behalf of Caltrans, is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by Caltrans, that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to a Locally Administered federal aid project (RPSTPLE 5914 (042) and (043)) being carried out by Lake County with NEPA oversight being conducted by the State of California. The project takes place in Lake County, immediately adjacent to the town of Lakeport on South Main Street and Soda Bay Rd. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for the proposed transportation project (State Route 20) located in Cherokee and Forsyth Counties, Georgia.

This notice announces that FHWA and the State of California, acting by and through its Department of Transportation (State), propose to renew and amend an MOU between the parties dated June 7, 2010, pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 326. The MOU would extend the duration of the agreement by three years, continuing the assignment to the State of the FHWA's authority and responsibility for determining whether certain designated activities within the geographic boundaries of the State, as specified in the proposed MOU, are categorically excluded from preparation of an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (NEPA). Aside from editorial changes to the MOU, the following minor changes would also be incorporated: (1) The State would be required to submit a list of CE determinations semi-annually as opposed to quarterly, including Section 4(f) decisions; (2) the Federal Register notice of availability and comment period would be modified from 45 days to 30 days, where applicable; (3) language would be included clarifying that the presence of unusual circumstances and significant environmental impacts must be considered in CE findings; (4) inclusion of language to clarify that the State coordinate with the Department of Justice and FHWA in the event of litigation, (5) FHWA program reviews would be at no sooner than the 19th month and no later than the 31st month in order to give the State adequate time to implement corrective action plans; (6) future changes to 23 CFR 771.117(c) and (d), in addition to Appendix A resulting from rulemaking would be automatically incorporated into the MOU; (7) the termination provisions of the MOU would be changed to comply with the provisions of Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21).

This notice provides information regarding the FHWA's finding that a Buy America waiver is appropriate for the use of non-domestic iron and steel products in GenSet diesel engine and air compressor for a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) project in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for a new information collection, which is summarized below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that we are rescinding the Notice of Intent (NOI) and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for proposed Loop 9 from US 287 to IH 20. A NOI to prepare an EIS for proposed Loop 9 was published in the Federal Register on August 2, 2002 (Volume 67, No. 149, Page 50504), with a subsequent revision to the project limits published in the Federal Register on January 20, 2004 (Vol. 69, No. 12, Page 2809).

The FHWA, on behalf of Caltrans, is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by Caltrans that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to a proposed highway project, Palo Comado Canyon Road Interchange, along U.S. 101 from postmile 33.0 to 34.4 in the County of Los Angeles, State of California. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

This notice provides information regarding the FHWA's finding that a Buy America waiver is appropriate for the use of non-domestic iron and steel products in (1) Auxiliary two speed motor, (2) Auxiliary back up drive clutch, (3) Main span and backup span motor, and (4) Brakes for the Memorial Bridge project in the State of New Hampshire.

FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for a new information collection, which is summarized below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. We published a Federal Register Notice with a 60-day public comment period on this information collection on November 23, 2012. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

This final rule amends the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) joint procedures that implement the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by enacting a new categorical exclusion (CE) for emergency actions as required by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). The final rule modifies the existing lists of FHWA and FTA CEs and expands the existing CE for emergencies to include emergency actions as described in MAP-21 and pursuant to this rulemaking.

The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for a new information collection, which is summarized below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The FHWA, on behalf of Caltrans, is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by Caltrans, that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to a proposed highway project on Georgia Street Bridge over University Avenue in the City of San Diego, State of California. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

This notice provides information regarding the FHWA's finding that a Buy America waiver is appropriate for the use of non-domestic 35', 45', and 55' Pre-stressed Spun Concrete Transmission and Distribution Power Poles in the Territory of Guam for synchronization of the existing system. This waiver is a general standing waiver that is applicable to the Territory of Guam.

This notice invites existing and potential multistate organizations, coalitions, or other arrangements or entities engaged in corridor transportation activities to apply for participation in the Multistate Corridor Operations and Management Program authorized by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). The purpose of this program is to promote regional cooperation, planning, and shared project implementation for programs and projects to improve multimodal transportation system management and operations. This notice seeks applications for available fiscal year (FY) 2012 funding ($7 million) for this program, which will be provided to cover a maximum of 80 percent of proposed program/project costs. Multiple awards are possible, but not guaranteed.

Section 1525 of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) requires the Secretary of Transportation to modify FHWA regulations to ensure that States shall have the autonomy to determine culvert and storm sewer material types to be included in the construction of a project on a Federal-aid highway. This final rule is intended to implement this legislative requirement.

The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is incorporated in our regulations, approved by the Federal Highway Administration, and recognized as the national standard for traffic control devices used on all streets, highways, bikeways, and private roads open to public travel. Consistent with Executive Order 13563, and in particular its emphasis on burden-reduction and on retrospective analysis of existing rules, this document requests comments on potential formats for restructuring the MUTCD into two documents, one that would be subject to rulemaking and one that would contain supplemental information that is not subject to rulemaking. This document asks for responses to a series of questions regarding formats, types of material to be included in each document, implications on agency acceptance of the MUTCD, ease of use, and effects on future MUTCD updates.

The USDOT/FHWA is tasked by MAP-21 to develop ``standard public-private partnership transaction model contracts for the most popular types of public-private partnerships for the development, financing, construction and operation of transportation facilities.'' We invite the public to provide ideas and comments on what should be included or excluded from such model public-private partnership (P3) contracts. The comments can be made to the docket or at a Listening Session in the District of Columbia.