Construction and Maintenance--Culvert Pipe Selection |
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Victor M. Mendez
Federal Highway Administration
January 28, 2013
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 18 (Monday, January 28, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5715-5717]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-01583]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
23 CFR Part 635
[FHWA Docket No. FHWA-2012-0098]
RIN 2125-AF47
Construction and Maintenance--Culvert Pipe Selection
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: 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.
DATES: This rule is effective February 27, 2013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Gerald Yakowenko, Office of
Program Administration, (202) 366-1562, or Mr. Michael Harkins, Office
of the Chief Counsel, (202) 366-4928, Federal Highway Administration,
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Access and Filing
This document may be viewed online through the Federal eRulemaking
portal at http://www.regulations.gov. Retrieval help and guidelines are
available on the Web site. It is available 24 hours each day, 365 days
a year. An electronic copy of this document may also be downloaded from
the Office of the Federal Register's home page at: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register and the Government Printing Office's
Web page at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys.
Background
Under the ``Administrative Procedure Act'' (5 U.S.C. 553(b)), an
agency may waive the normal notice and comment procedure if it finds,
for good cause, that it would be impracticable, unnecessary, or
contrary to the public interest. The FHWA finds that notice and comment
for this rule is unnecessary because it implements a congressional
mandate to amend 23 CFR 635.411 to allow States to choose culvert and
storm sewer material type. The regulatory amendments in this final rule
are based upon the statutory language and FHWA does not anticipate
receiving meaningful comments to alter the regulation given the
explicit mandate. Accordingly, FHWA finds good cause under 5 U.S.C.
553(b)(3)(B) to waive notice and opportunity for comment.
Regulatory History
The ``General Material Requirements,'' found in 23 CFR part 635
subpart D, supports competitive bidding principles in 23 U.S.C. 112
with certain requirements and procedures relating to product and
material selection and use on Federal-aid highway projects.
Securing competition in the area of culvert pipe material selection
has been a concern of FHWA since the 1960s. In an internal Bureau of
Public Roads (now FHWA) Memorandum issued October 7, 1963, the Bureau
of Public Roads addressed the issue of culvert selection and in general
product selection in writing:
* * * a State's desire to select only one type of pipe for
bidding purposes on the basis that such selection will favor State
and local public interests cannot be accepted by Public Roads.
This Memorandum further states,
Except where otherwise dictated by engineering evaluations of
individual site conditions, there is no basic disadvantage in
specifying all acceptable alternate types and either calling for
competitive bids on them or permitting the successful bidder to name
the type he will furnish. Even when it is indicated that one type
might receive lower bid prices, competitive bidding of the one type
with other acceptable types could result in lower contract prices.
Through a revision to Policy & Procedure Memorandum 21-6.3 dated
October 3, 1972, the FHWA included a table entitled ``Summary of
Acceptable Criteria for Specifying Types of Culvert Pipes.'' On
September 30, 1974, the table was included in the CFR as an appendix to
23 CFR 635.117 (39 FR 35152). According to Sec. 635.117(d), as in
effect in 1974, Appendix A
* * * sets forth the FHWA requirements regarding the
specification of alternate types of culvert pipes, and the number
and types of such alternatives which must be set forth in the
specifications for various types of drainage installations.
On September 10, 1976, this section was redesignated as 23 CFR 635.411
(41 FR 36204) and remained unchanged until 2006, though the market had
changed to the extent that Appendix A no longer adequately encompassed
the universe of available alternatives.
Section 5514 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU, Pub. L.
109.59; August 10, 2005), titled ``Competition for Specification of
Alternative Types of Culvert Pipes,'' required the Secretary of
Transportation to ensure that States provide for competition with
respect to the specification of alternative types of culvert pipes
through requirements that are commensurate with competition for other
construction materials. To implement this provision, the FHWA issued a
final rule on November 15, 2006 (71 FR 66450), that deleted Appendix A
from the CFR.
MAP-21 Legislative Provision
On July 6, 2012, President Obama signed the Moving Ahead for
Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), Public Law 112-141, 126
Stat. 405. Section 1525 of MAP-21, ``State Autonomy for Culvert Pipe
Selection,'' requires the Secretary of Transportation, within 180 days
of the date of enactment of MAP-21 (October 1, 2012) to modify section
635.411 of title 23 CFR, 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. The use of the
word ``autonomy'' in this section gives the State transportation
departments (State DOTs) and other direct recipients the sole authority
and discretion to make a decision regarding culvert and storm sewer
material types without any input or approval from the FHWA. As a
result, a State DOT may choose to exercise its autonomy regarding
culvert and storm sewer type selection to either:
(a) Include all material types deemed acceptable as a result of
engineering and economic analysis, or
(b) Restrict the pool of available culvert and storm sewer material
types to those which the State DOT would select.
Although section 1525 gives the States the autonomy to determine
culvert and storm sewer material types, section 1525 does not relieve
the States of compliance with other applicable
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Federal requirements, such as Buy America, culvert design standards in
23 CFR part 625, and the restriction against the use of patented and
proprietary products in 23 CFR 635.411. Also, while a State may choose
to specify only one type of material, the State may not specify only
one specific product among several of the same material type that is
chosen unless otherwise permitted to do so under section 635.411. Also,
with respect to design standards, the specified type would have to
conform to engineering design standards such as structural load,
hydraulic capacity, corrosion resistance, etc., and would have to fit
into the natural and constructed environment. These culvert design
standards are encompassed in the various standards found in 23 CFR part
625.
Analysis
23 CFR 635.411
This final rule amends subsection 635.411 to add a paragraph (f) to
grant autonomy to State DOTs regarding the selection of culvert and
storm sewer material types to be included in Federal-aid highway
construction projects. The language would not permit FHWA to limit
Federal-aid participation in costs based on the culvert or storm sewer
material type selected by the State DOT. However, the State DOTs' use
of culvert and storm sewer material shall otherwise comply with all
applicable Federal requirements, such as the provisions regarding the
use of patented and proprietary products set forth in this section as
well as the design standards set forth in 23 CFR part 625.
Rulemaking Analyses and Notices
Executive Order 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review), Executive Order
13563 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review), and DOT Regulatory
Policies and Procedures
The FHWA has determined that this action is not a significant
regulatory action within the meaning of Executive Order 12866, and
within the meaning of the U.S. Department of Transportation's
regulatory policies and procedures. Since this rulemaking implements a
congressional mandate to merely allow States to choose culvert and
storm sewer material type, and does not require or prohibit the use of
a particular type of culvert and storm sewer material, the FHWA
anticipates that the economic impact of this rulemaking would be
minimal. The FHWA anticipates that this final rule will not adversely
affect, in a material way, any sector of the economy. Additionally,
this action complies with the principles of Executive Order 13563. In
addition, these changes will not interfere with any action taken or
planned by another agency and would not materially alter the budgetary
impact of any entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs.
Consequently, a full regulatory evaluation is not required.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
Since FHWA finds good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B) to waive
notice and opportunity for comment for this rule, the provisions of the
Regulatory Flexibility Act (Pub. L. 96-354, 5 U.S.C. 601-612) do not
apply. However, the FHWA has evaluated the effects of this action on
small entities and has determined that the action would not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
The amendment addresses obligation of Federal funds to States for
Federal-aid highway projects. As such, it affects only States and
States are not included in the definition of small entity set forth in
5 U.S.C. 601.
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
This final rule would not impose unfunded mandates as defined by
the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4, 109 Stat. 48,
March 22, 1995) as it will not result in the expenditure by State,
local, tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector,
of $148.1 million or more in any one year (2 U.S.C. 1532).
Executive Order 13132 (Federalism Assessment)
Executive Order 13132 requires agencies to assure meaningful and
timely input by State and local officials in the development of
regulatory policies that may have a substantial, direct effect on the
States, on the relationship between the national government and the
States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the
various levels of government. This action has been analyzed in
accordance with the principles and criteria contained in Executive
Order 13132 dated August 4, 1999, and the FHWA has determined that this
action would not have a substantial direct effect or sufficient
federalism implications on the States. The FHWA has also determined
that this action would not preempt any State law or regulation or
affect the States' ability to discharge traditional State governmental
functions.
Executive Order 12372 (Intergovernmental Review)
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205,
Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing
Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on
Federal programs and activities apply to this program. Accordingly FHWA
solicits comments on this issue.
Paperwork Reduction Act
Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501, et
seq.), Federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of
Management and Budget for each collection of information they conduct,
sponsor, or require through regulations. The FHWA has analyzed this
final rule under the PRA and has determined that this rule does not
contain collection of information requirements for the purposes of the
PRA.
National Environmental Policy Act
The FHWA has analyzed this action for the purpose of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.),
and has determined that this action would not have any effect on the
quality of the environment and meets the criteria for the categorical
exclusion at 23 CFR 771.117(c)(20).
Executive Order 12630 (Taking of Private Property)
The FHWA has analyzed this final rule under Executive Order 12630,
Governmental Actions and Interference with Constitutionally Protected
Property Rights. The FHWA does not anticipate that this final rule
would affect a taking of private property or otherwise have taking
implications under Executive Order 12630.
Executive Order 12988 (Civil Justice Reform)
This action meets applicable standards in sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2)
of Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform, to minimize litigation,
eliminate ambiguity, and reduce burden.
Executive Order 13045 (Protection of Children)
We have analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13045, Protection
of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks. The FHWA
certifies that this action would not cause an environmental risk to
health or safety that might disproportionately affect children.
Executive Order 13175 (Tribal Consultation)
The FHWA has analyzed this action under Executive Order 13175,
dated
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November 6, 2000, and believes that the action would not have
substantial direct effects on one or more Indian tribes; would not
impose substantial direct compliance costs on Indian tribal
governments; and would not preempt tribal laws. This final rule
addresses obligations of Federal funds to States for Federal-aid
highway projects and would not impose any direct compliance
requirements on Indian tribal governments. Therefore, a tribal summary
impact statement is not required.
Executive Order 13211 (Energy Effects)
The FHWA has analyzed this action under Executive Order 13211,
Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use. The FHWA has determined that this is not a
significant energy action under that order since it is not a
significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866 and is not
likely to have a significant adverse effect on the supply,
distribution, or use of energy. Therefore, a Statement of Energy
Effects is not required.
Regulation Identification Number
A regulation identification number (RIN) is assigned to each
regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulations.
The Regulatory Information Service Center publishes the Unified Agenda
in April and October of each year. The RIN number contained in the
heading of this document can be used to cross-reference this action
with the Unified Agenda.
List of Subjects in 23 CFR Part 635
Construction materials, Design-build, Grant programs,
Transportation, Highways and roads, Culvert material types.
Issued on: January 17, 2013.
Victor M. Mendez,
Federal Highway Administrator.
In consideration of the foregoing, title 23, Code of Federal
Regulations, part 635 is amended as follows:
PART 635--CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE
0
1. Revise the authority citation for part 635 to read as follows:
Authority: Sec. 1525 of Pub. L. 112-141, Sec. 1503 of Pub. L.
109-59, 119 Stat. 1144; 23 U.S.C. 101 (note), 109, 112, 113, 114,
116, 119, 128, and 315; 31 U.S.C. 6505; 42 U.S.C. 3334, 4601 et
seq.; Sec. 1041(a), Pub. L. 102-240, 105 Stat. 1914; 23 CFR 1.32; 49
CFR 1.85(a)(1).
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2. Amend Sec. 635.411 by adding paragraph (f) to read as follows:
Sec. 635.411 Material or product selection.
* * * * *
(f) State transportation departments (State DOTs) 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.
[FR Doc. 2013-01583 Filed 1-25-13; 8:45 am]
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