2011-29971. Buy America Waiver Notification

AGENCY:

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

This notice provides information regarding the FHWA's finding that a Buy America waiver is appropriate for an automated battery switching mechanism for an electric battery switching station in the State of California.

DATES:

The effective date of the waiver is November 21, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For questions about this notice, please contact Mr. Gerald Yakowenko, FHWA Office of Program Administration, [phone], or via email at [e-mail]. For legal questions, please contact Mr. Michael Harkins, FHWA Office of the Chief Counsel, [phone], or via email at [e-mail]. Office hours for the FHWA are from 8 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 Printing 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 the FHWA's finding that a Buy America waiver is appropriate to use a non-domestic automated battery switching mechanism for an electric battery switching station in California.

In accordance with Division A, section 123 of the “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010” (Pub. L. 111-117), the FHWA published a notice of intent to issue a waiver on its Web site for an automated battery switching mechanism for an electric battery switching station in California (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/​construction/​contracts/​waivers.cfm?​id=​58) on May 31st. The FHWA received one comment in response to the publication, which opposed the granting of Buy America waivers in general, but did not identify any domestic source for this product. During the 15-day comment period, the FHWA conducted additional nationwide review to locate potential domestic manufacturers for an automated battery switching mechanism for an electric battery switching station in California. Based on all the information available to the agency, the FHWA concludes that there are no domestic manufacturers of an automated battery switching mechanism for an electric battery switching station.

In accordance with the provisions of section 117 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy of Users Technical Corrections Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-244, 122 Stat. 1572), the 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 the FHWA's Web site via the link provided to the automated batter switching mechanism waiver page noted above.

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

Issued on: November 10, 2011.

Victor M. Mendez,

Administrator.