2016-02655. Buy America Waiver Notification

AGENCY:

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

This notice provides information regarding FHWA's finding that a Buy America waiver is appropriate for the use of non-domestic Ferryboat Propulsion System (propeller, shafting, and reducing gear) for MV Matanuska ferry in the State of Alaska.

DATES:

The effective date of the waiver is February 11, 2016.

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. Jomar Maldonado, FHWA Office of the Chief Counsel, [phone], or via email at [e-mail]. 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 Web site at http://www.archives.gov/​, Government Printing Office's Web site at http://www.access.gpo.gov.

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 for use of a non-domestic Ferryboat Propulsion System (propeller, shafting, and reducing gear) for MV Matanuska ferry in the State of Alaska.

In accordance with Division K, section 122 of the “Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015” (PL 113-235), FHWA published a notice of intent to issue a waiver on its Web site (https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/​construction/​contracts/​waivers.cfm?​id=​116) on December 8, 2015. The FHWA received no comments in response to the publication. Based on all the information available to the agency, FHWA concludes that there are no domestic manufacturers of Ferryboat Propulsion System (propeller, shafting, and reducing gear).

In accordance with the provisions of section 117 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, 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 waiver page noted above.

Authority: (23 U.S.C. 313; PL 110-161, 23 CFR 635.410)

Issued on: February 4, 2016.

Gregory G. Nadeau,

Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.