Federal Highway Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 published a Federal Register Notice with a 60-day public comment period on this information collection on October 30, 2008. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

This notice announces actions taken by the USACE that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C.139(l)(1). The actions relate to a proposed highway project, I-15 Corridor, from the South Payson Interchange in Utah County, to the 12300 South Interchange in Salt Lake County, State of Utah. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

This notice clarifies the role of the DVD contained in the back cover of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Detroit River International Crossing Study (DRIC). The back cover of the FEIS contains a DVD that is not part of the FEIS and should be disregarded. It has no role in FHWA's NEPA process; and has not and will not be used in FHWA's decision-making process. This action is pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., as amended and the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508).

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 proposed Mountain View Corridor project in Salt Lake and Utah Counties in the State of Utah. Those actions grant approvals for the project. The project includes both highway and transit components. FHWA has approval authority over the highway components of the project.

This notice announces the availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Section 4(f) Evaluation for the Detroit River International Crossing Study (DRIC). This action is pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., as amended and the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508). The FEIS identifies the Preferred Alternative for a new border crossing between Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario; describes the environmental impacts of the proposed project and proposed mitigation; and addresses comments received on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Section 4(f) Evaluation issued in February 2008.

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 various proposed highway projects in the State of Texas. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the projects.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is issuing this revised notice to advise the public that FHWA will not be preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed relocation of railroad lines in Knox County, Indiana and Lawrence County, Illinois. A ``Notice of Intent'' to prepare an EIS was published in the Federal Register on March 16, 2007.

The FHWA is revising its regulations to address safety concerns raised by the firefighting community regarding high-visibility safety apparel. Due to imminent safety implications to firefighters, the FHWA has determined that there is good cause under the Administrative Procedure Act to dispense with notice and opportunity for comment as it would be contrary to the public interest. Therefore, we are issuing an Interim Final Rule, effective immediately, pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act, and revising FHWA regulations accordingly.

The FHWA is soliciting comments concerning the creation of a regulation establishing National Tunnel Inspection Standards (NTIS). The FHWA is considering the establishment of NTIS by adding Subpart E to 23 CFR Part 650. The NTIS would set minimum tunnel inspection standards that apply to all Federal-aid highway tunnels on public roads. The FHWA anticipates that NTIS could be modeled after the existing National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS) regulation, found at 23 CFR Part 650, Subpart C, as applicable. The NTIS likely would include requirements for inspection procedures for structural, mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and ventilation systems, and other major elements specific to tunnels such as tunnel finishes; the qualification and training of inspectors; and a National Tunnel Inventory.

The FHWA is re-opening the comment period for the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) and request for comments, which was published on October 8, 2008, at 73 FR 58908. That NPRM proposes to amend existing regulations to clarify that fair market value must be negotiated for and received under a concession agreement, and to amend the design-build regulations to allow contracting agencies to incorporate unsuccessful proposers' ideas into a contract upon payment of a stipend. The original comment period closed on November 7, 2008. The extension is based on the FHWA's desire to receive the fullest and most comprehensive comments possible from the broadest group of stakeholders. During the comment period, the FHWA received requests for additional time to analyze and submit comments regarding the rulemaking. The FHWA recognizes that those interested in commenting on this important program may not have had the opportunity to provide comments and that the comment period should be reopened. Therefore, the comment period is being reopened until November 21, 2008, which will provide those interested in commenting additional time to discuss, evaluate, and submit responses to the docket.

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 South Stockton Six-Lane Project on State Route 99 beginning at the Arch Road Interchange at post mile 15.0 to the State Route 4 (Crosstown Freeway) Interchange at post mile 18.6 located in the eastern edge of the city of Stockton, in San Joaquin County, State of California. Those actions grant approvals for the project.

The FHWA, on behalf of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the General Services Administration (GSA) is issuing this notice to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for Tier II of a proposed highway project, international port of entry (POE), and possible Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility (CVEF) in the East Otay Mesa area of San Diego County, California.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement is being prepared for a proposed highway improvement project on State Trunk Highway 15 in Outagamie County, Wisconsin, to be conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The Notice of Intent (NOI) was originally prepared in 2003 but was inadvertently overlooked for submittal to the Federal Register for publication. Environmental activities, including involvement of state and federal agencies and other stakeholders, proceeded since the initiation of the project in 2003. Over five years have passed, and the process is now at the final Environmental Impact Statement stage. FHWA acknowledges the oversight and has now begun activities to recover from the inadvertent omission. The Environmental process will be brought up to date and made compliant with the 2005 SAFETEA-LU Environmental Review process, including development of a coordination plan and impact assessment methodologies. In the event other items in the process need to be updated to comply with SAFETEA- LU, the FHWA and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will ensure those items are revised, as well.

Section 1301 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) (Pub. L. 109-59; 119 Stat. 1144) established a program to provide grants to States for Projects of National and Regional Significance (PNRS) to improve the safe, secure, and efficient movement of people and goods throughout the United States and to improve the health and welfare of the national economy. Section 1301 requires the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) to establish regulations on the manner in which the proposed projects will be evaluated and rated, in order to determine which projects shall receive grant funding. This rule establishes the required evaluation and rating guidelines for proposed projects. Under this rule, a proposed project would be eligible for funding under the PNRS Program (Program) only if the Secretary finds that the project meets the eligibility requirements of the rule. The Secretary will then evaluate and rate each project as ``highly recommended,'' ``recommended,'' or ``not recommended'' based on the results of preliminary engineering, the project justification criteria, and the degree of non-Federal financial commitment. All funds authorized by section 1101(a)(15) of SAFETEA-LU for the Program are fully designated to the 25 projects listed in section 1301(m) of SAFETEA-LU. For the duration of SAFETEA-LU there are no additional funds available for distribution beyond those already designated, and there are no assurances that any additional funds will become available. Funding in future highway reauthorization bills is at the discretion of Congress.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an environmental impact statement will not be prepared for the Lake County, Illinois, Transportation Improvement Project.

This document announces the fifth meeting of the Motorcyclist Advisory Council to the Federal Highway Administration (MAC-FHWA). The purpose of this meeting is to advise the Secretary of Transportation, through the Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, on infrastructure issues of concern to motorcyclists, including: (1) Barrier design; (2) road design, construction, and maintenance practices; and (3) the architecture and implementation of intelligent transportation system technologies, pursuant to section 1914 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).

This notice provides information regarding the FHWA's finding that a Buy America waiver is appropriate for certain steel products used in Federal-aid bridge construction projects in North Carolina.

This notice announces that the FHWA and the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (State) have developed a proposed MOU, pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 326, under which the FHWA would assign to the State the FHWA's responsibility for determining whether a project is 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), and for carrying out certain other responsibilities for conducting environmental reviews, consultations, and related activities for Federal-aid highway projects. The public is invited to comment on any aspect of the proposed MOU, including the proposed designations of categorical exclusions and scope of environmental review, consultation and other activities to be assigned.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process for proposed highway improvements to Trunk Highway (TH) 10 in Otter Tail and Wadena Counties, Minnesota is terminated. The original Notice of Intent for this EIS process was published in the Federal Register on March 27, 2003.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that the Tier I Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process for proposed highway improvements to Trunk Highway (TH) 10 in Sherburne County, Minnesota is terminated. The original Notice of Intent for this Tier I EIS process was published in the Federal Register on July 28, 2003.

The FHWA is updating a previous notice of intent (issued on Friday, June 3, 2005) to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for a proposed highway improvement project along US 113 in south central Sussex County, Delaware.

This notice provides information regarding the FHWA's finding that a Buy America waiver is appropriate for certain steel products used in Federal-aid construction projects in Maine, California, and Oregon.

This notice rescinds the previous Notice of Intent (issued July 14, 2001) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for improvements to State Route 56 through West End of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Studied improvements extended from the east of Minersville to north of Oakhurst through Johnstown, Tannerville Coopersdale, Morrelville, Cambria City, and Minersville.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an environmental impact statement will be prepared for a proposed highway project from NC 107 to U.S. 23-74 east of Sylva, Jackson County, NC. (TIP Project R-4745.)

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 I-405, NE 8th Street to SR 520 Improvement Project (The Project) located in Bellevue; King County; I- 405 in the State of Washington. These actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.