National Performance Management Measures; Assessing Pavement Condition for the National Highway Performance Program and Bridge Condition for the National Highway Performance Program

Gregory G. Nadeau
Federal Highway Administration
February 17, 2015

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 17, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 8250]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-03138]


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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 31 / Tuesday, February 17, 2015 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 8250]]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

23 CFR Part 490

[FHWA Docket No. FHWA-2013-0053]
RIN 2125-AF53


National Performance Management Measures; Assessing Pavement 
Condition for the National Highway Performance Program and Bridge 
Condition for the National Highway Performance Program

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: 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.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 8, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Mail or hand deliver comments to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Dockets Management Facility, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE., Washington, DC 20590, or submit electronically at http://www.regulations.gov. All comments should include the docket number that 
appears in the heading of this document. All comments received will be 
available for examination and copying at the above address from 8:00 
a.m. to 4:30 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. Those desiring notification of receipt of comments must 
include a self-addressed, stamped postcard or may print the 
acknowledgment page that appears after submitting comments 
electronically. Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all 
comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70, Pages 19477-78) or you may visit 
http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Francine Shaw Whitson, Office of 
Infrastructure, (202) 366-8028, or Anne Christenson, Office of Chief 
Counsel, (202) 366-1356, Federal Highway Administration, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001. Office hours are from 
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Electronic Access and Filing

    You may submit or access all comments received by DOT online 
through: http://www.regulations.gov. Electronic submission and 
retrieval help and guidelines are available on the Web site. It is 
available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. Please follow the 
instructions. An electronic copy of this document may also be 
downloaded from the Federal Register's home page at: http://www.federalregister.gov.

Background

    Section 150 of title 23, U.S.C., identifies the national 
transportation goals and requires the Secretary by rule to establish 
performance measures in specified Federal-aid highway program areas. On 
January 5, 2015, FHWA published in the Federal Register an NPRM 
proposing to establish measures for State Departments of Transportation 
(State DOTs) to use to carry out the National Highway Performance 
Program (NHPP) and to assess the condition of the following: pavements 
on the National Highway System (NHS) (excluding the Interstate System), 
bridges on the NHS, and pavements on the Interstate System. The NHPP is 
a core Federal-aid highway program that provides support for the 
condition and performance of the NHS and the construction of new 
facilities on the NHS, and ensures that investments of Federal-aid 
funds in highway construction are directed to support progress toward 
the achievement of performance targets established in a State's asset 
management plan for the NHS. The NPRM proposed regulations for the new 
performance aspects of the NHPP, which address: measures, targets, and 
reporting.
    The original comment period for the NPRM closes on April 6, 2015. 
The AASHTO and the Oregon DOT have expressed concern that this closing 
date does not provide sufficient time to review and provide 
comprehensive comments on the proposal. The FHWA recognizes that others 
interested in commenting may have similar concerns and agrees that the 
comment period should be extended. To allow time for this organization 
and others to submit comprehensive comments, the closing date is 
changed from April 6, 2015, to May 8, 2015.

    Authority:  23 U.S.C. 104(b)(1), 119, and 150.

    Issued on: February 9, 2015.
Gregory G. Nadeau,
Acting Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 2015-03138 Filed 2-13-15; 8:45 am]
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