Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments for a New Information Collection

Michael Howell
Federal Highway Administration
June 21, 2013

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 120 (Friday, June 21, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37648-37649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14871]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Docket No. FHWA-2013-0030]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments 
for a New Information Collection

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: 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 February 15, 
2013. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Please submit comments by July 22, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments within 30 days to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503, Attention DOT Desk Officer. 
You are asked to comment on any aspect of this information collection, 
including: (1) Whether the proposed collection is necessary for the 
FHWA's performance; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways 
for the FHWA to enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the 
collected information; and (4) ways that the burden could be minimized, 
including the use of electronic technology, without reducing the 
quality of the collected information. All comments should include the 
Docket number FHWA-2013-0030.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shane D. Boone, 202-493-3064, 
Nondestructive Evaluation Research Program, Federal Highway 
Administration, Department of Transportation, 6300 Georgetown Pike, 
McLean, VA 22101. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Non-Destructive Inspection Protocol for Reinforced Concrete 
Highway Barriers and Bridge Railings.
    Background: Highway barriers and bridge railings serve to prevent 
errant vehicles from departing the travelway at grade separations. Most 
bridge railings are made of reinforced concrete. Despite the important 
role that they play in maintaining safety and their ubiquitous nature, 
barrier inspection rarely moves beyond visual inspection. In August of 
2008, tractor-trailer dislodged a section of barrier on the William 
Preston Lane, Jr. Memorial Bridge. Portions of the displaced barrier 
separated and the tractor-trailer fatally departed the bridge. 
Investigations following the accident identified significant corrosion 
of the anchor bolts attaching the bridge railing to the bridge deck.
    As a result of the information gathered during its investigation of 
the accident, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) made 
recommendations to the Federal Highway Administration concerning Non-
Destructive Evaluation of concrete bridge railings. One of these 
recommendations (H-10-18) is as follows:

    Expand the research and development of nondestructive evaluation 
technologies to develop bridge inspection methods that augment 
visual inspections; offer reliable measurement techniques; and are 
practical, both in terms of time and cost, for field inspection 
work; and promote the use of these technologies by bridge owners.


[[Page 37649]]


    The barrier on the Preston Lane, Jr. Memorial Bridge was unique in 
that the anchor bolts connecting the barrier to the deck were exposed. 
This exposure allowed inspection of the remaining anchor bolts directly 
using ultrasonic testing. In contrast, most barriers have 
configurations where the steel anchorage is completely embedded in the 
deck and barrier.
    Most reinforced concrete barriers are anchored to the deck of a 
bridge or retaining wall using reinforcing steel protruding from the 
main structure or by anchored bars or bolts during retrofits. Corrosion 
of steel bars or bolts can weaken this attachment and reduce the 
capacity of the barrier. The most direct damage resulting from 
corrosion is the reduction of steel diameter and cross-sectional area. 
Steel corrosion in concrete is caused primarily by two reasons: 
chloride induced corrosion and carbonation induced corrosion. Barriers 
are generally located at or very near the gutter-line of a roadway and 
may have significant long-term exposure to corrosive deicing materials.
    It is beyond the capacity of visual inspection to identify and 
evaluate concrete voids and corrosion of anchorage mechanisms embedded 
in concrete. A literature review revealed that some promising research 
has been done using NDE methods to evaluate reinforced concrete and the 
embedded steel reinforcement.
    Effective corrosion detection methods are just one piece of the 
barrier and railing maintenance puzzle. Identification of when to use 
advanced NDE tools as well as to what level the capacity is likely 
impacted by the measured deterioration will be examined as a part of 
this project. In order to most effectively investigate the correct 
barrier and railing designs, it was noted that input from the state 
DOTs was required. Thus, a survey to determine what protocols for 
design, fabrication, installation, and inspection was created and 
should be disseminated to the 50 state DOTs and also to the DC and 
Puerto Rico DOTs.
    Respondents: All 50 state DOTs and also DC and Puerto Rico DOTs. 52 
total.
    Frequency: Once.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: Approximately 2 hours to 
collect the necessary information and 1 hour to fill out the survey.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: Approximately 156 hours.
    Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of 
this information collection, including: (1) Whether the proposed 
collection is necessary for the FHWA's performance; (2) the accuracy of 
the estimated burdens; (3) ways for the FHWA to enhance the quality, 
usefulness, and clarity of the collected information; and (4) ways that 
the burden could be minimized, including the use of electronic 
technology, without reducing the quality of the collected information. 
The agency will summarize and/or include your comments in the request 
for OMB's clearance of this information collection.

     Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.48.

    Issued on: June 17, 2013.
Michael Howell,
Information Collection Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-14871 Filed 6-20-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P