Buy America Waiver Notification

Gregory G. Nadeau
Federal Highway Administration
February 13, 2015

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 30 (Friday, February 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 8130]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-03031]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Buy America Waiver Notification

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice provides information regarding FHWA's finding that 
a Buy America waiver is appropriate for the use of non-domestic U-69 
guard bars, manganese casting, turnout braces, and weld kits for CREATE 
rail projects in Chicago, Illinois.

DATES: The effective date of the waiver is February 17, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about this notice, 
please contact Mr. Gerald Yakowenko, FHWA Office of Program 
Administration, (202) 366-1562, or via email at 
gerald.yakowenko@dot.gov. For legal questions, please contact Mr. Jomar 
Maldonado, FHWA Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 366-1373, or via 
email at Jomar.Maldonado@dot.gov. Office hours for the FHWA are from 
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded from the 
Federal Register's home page at: http://www.archives.gov and the 
Government Publishing Office's database at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.

Background

    The FHWA's Buy America policy in 23 CFR 635.410 requires a domestic 
manufacturing process for any steel or iron products (including 
protective coatings) that are permanently incorporated in a Federal-aid 
construction project. The regulation also provides for a waiver of the 
Buy America requirements when the application would be inconsistent 
with the public interest or when satisfactory quality domestic steel 
and iron products are not sufficiently available. This notice provides 
information regarding FHWA's finding that a Buy America waiver is 
appropriate in procurement of non-domestic U-69 guard bars, manganese 
casting, turnout braces, and weld kits for CREATE rail projects in 
Chicago, Illinois.
    In accordance with Division A, section 122 of the ``Consolidated 
and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012'' (Pub. L. 112-55), 
FHWA published a notice of intent to issue a waiver on its Web site for 
non-domestic U-69 guard bars, manganese casting, turnout braces, and 
weld kits (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/construction/contracts/waivers.cfm?id=103) on December 9, 2014. The FHWA received no comments 
in response to the publication. During the 15-day comment period, FHWA 
conducted additional nationwide review to locate potential domestic 
manufacturers of U-69 guard bars, manganese casting, turnout braces, 
and weld kits. Based on all the information available to the agency, 
FHWA concludes that there are no domestic manufacturers of the U-69 
guard bars, manganese casting, turnout braces, and weld kits.
    In accordance with the provisions of section 117 of the SAFETEA-LU 
Technical Corrections Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-244, 122 Stat. 1572), 
FHWA is providing this notice as its finding that a waiver of Buy 
America requirements is appropriate. The FHWA invites public comment on 
this finding for an additional 15 days following the effective date of 
the finding. Comments may be submitted to FHWA's Web site via the link 
provided to the Illinois waiver page noted above.

    Authority:  23 U.S.C. 313; Pub. L. 110-161, 23 CFR 635.410.

    Dated: February 6, 2015.
Gregory G. Nadeau,
Acting Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 2015-03031 Filed 2-12-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P