Federal Highway Administration November 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FHWA and the State of California acting by and through its Department of Transportation (Caltrans), propose an amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) authorizing the State's participation in the 23 U.S.C. 326 program. This program allows FHWA to assign to States its authority and responsibility for determining whether certain designated activities within the geographic boundaries of the State are categorically excluded from preparation of an Environmental Assessment or an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act. The parties propose to amend the MOU to make the litigation provisions consistent with the 23 U.S.C. 327 program MOU and to allow a 90 day suspension of the program, giving the State an opportunity to renew its waiver of sovereign immunity and acceptance of Federal court jurisdiction. The program will resume upon the State's recertification that the sovereign immunity waiver and acceptance of Federal court jurisdiction is in place.

The Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program allows a State to assume FHWA's environmental responsibilities for review, consultation, and compliance for Federal highway projects. When a State assumes these Federal responsibilities, the State becomes solely responsible and liable for carrying out the responsibilities it has assumed, in lieu of FHWA. Prior to the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act of 2015, the Program required semiannual audits during each of the first 2 years of State participation to ensure compliance by each State participating in the Program. This notice announces and solicits comments on the third audit report for the Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT) participation in accordance to these pre-FAST Act requirements.

This notice provides information regarding FHWA's finding that a Buy America waiver is appropriate for the use of non-domestic iron and steel components in four rolling elements of bearing units with 17.3'' inner diameter and radial load capacity of 816,000 lb. each for I-5 trunnion shaft replacement project in the State of Oregon.

Section 1422 of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act directs the Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to commission the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study on the performance of bridges that received funding under the Innovative Bridge Research and Construction program in meeting the goals of that program. Section 1422 also directs the Administrator of FHWA to provide an opportunity for public comment on the study proposal before commissioning the study. This notice provides the study proposal and the opportunity for public comment.

This document announces meetings four and five of the Tribal Transportation Self-Governance Program (TTSPG) Negotiated Rulemaking Committee. Dates and Addresses: All meetings are scheduled to take place from 8:00 a.m. until 5 p.m. on the following dates and locations:

This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to the widening of Interstate 64 for approximately eight miles between the I- 464 Interchange and the I-664/I-264 Interchange in the City of Chesapeake, Virginia. The widening project includes the replacement of the High Rise Bridge over the Elizabeth River. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

This notice announces that FHWA has received and reviewed an application from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) requesting participation in the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program (Program). This Program allows for FHWA to assign, and States to assume, responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), and all or part of FHWA's responsibilities for environmental review, consultation, or other actions required under any Federal environmental law with respect to one or more Federal-aid highway projects within the State. The FHWA has determined that the application is complete, and developed a draft MOU with FDOT outlining how the State would implement the program with FHWA oversight. The FHWA invites the public to comment on FDOT's request, including its application, and the proposed MOU, which includes the proposed assignments and assumptions of environmental review, consultation, and other activities.