Federal Highway Administration February 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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, Interstate 5 from the cities of San Clemente to San Juan Capistrano in Orange County, California. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval to renew two information collections, which are 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 proposes to establish a process for the development of a State asset management plan in accordance with section 1106 of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), to improve or preserve the condition of the assets and the performance of the National Highway System (NHS) as they relate to physical assets. In this document ``asset management plan'' and ``risk-based asset management plan'' are used interchangeably. An asset management plan is a key management tool for highway infrastructure owners. State departments of transportation (State DOT) increasingly use asset management plans to make decisions about where and when to invest State and Federal funds in highway infrastructure improvements to achieve and sustain a desired state of good repair over the life cycle of the assets at minimum practicable cost. The development and implementation of an asset management plan also is an important part of the overall MAP-21 framework for enhancing the management and performance of transportation highway infrastructure funded through the Federal-aid highway program (FAHP). The asset management plan required by section 1106 of MAP-21 will provide States with critical data and identify investment and management strategies to improve or preserve the condition of the assets and the performance of the NHS. Under section 1106, the plan must include strategies leading to a program of projects that would make progress toward achievement of the State targets for asset condition and performance of the NHS in accordance with section 1203(a) of MAP-21, and supporting progress toward the achievement of the national goals identified in section 1203(a). While the primary purpose of this proposed rule is to address asset management plan requirements in section 1106, this proposed rule also would address other MAP-21 requirements that relate to asset management. The proposed rule defines the minimum standards that States would use in developing and operating highway bridge and pavement management systems as required by section 1203(a) of MAP-21. Also, this proposed rule would address the requirements in section 1315(b) of MAP- 21 by requiring States to conduct statewide evaluations to determine if reasonable alternatives exist to roads, highways, or bridges that repeatedly require repair and reconstruction activities from emergency events. The proposed rule would require State DOTs to take these evaluations into account in their asset management plans for facilities that are included in the plans.

The FHWA is extending the comment period for a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) and request for comments, which was published on January 5, 2015, at 80 FR 326. The original comment period is set to close on April 6, 2015. The extension is based on concern expressed by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the Oregon Department of Transportation (Oregon DOT) that as a result of the scope and complexity of the NPRM the April 6 closing date does not provide sufficient time to review and provide comprehensive comments. The FHWA recognizes that others interested in commenting may have similar concerns and agrees that the comment period should be extended. Therefore, the closing date for comments is changed to May 8, 2015, which will provide AASHTO, the Oregon DOT, and others interested in commenting additional time to discuss, evaluate, and submit responses to the docket.

This notice provides information regarding the FHWA's finding that a Buy America waiver is appropriate for the use of non-domestic 4 in. and 12 in. trunnion mounted steel ball valves with maximum allowable operating pressure of 60 psi as part of natural gas distribution facility involved in replacement of Kosciuszko Bridge over Newton Creek in New York City, NY.

This notice announces actions taken by FHWA and other Federal agencies that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to a proposed highway project on Interstate 5 (I-5) from postmile R28.4 to R55.4 in the County of San Diego, State of California. 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 a proposed highway interchange improvement project in the City of Payson, Utah County, Utah.