2013-19176. Buy America Policy

AGENCY:

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of extension of deadline.

SUMMARY:

The FHWA is extending the deadline for comments regarding the continued need, in whole or in part, for the general waivers from Buy America for manufactured products; for ferry boat equipment; and for pig iron and processed, pelletized, and reduced iron ores, which was published on July 10, 2013. The original deadline for submitting comments was August 9, 2013. This notice extends the deadline by 30 calendar days to September 8, 2013.

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before September 8, 2013. Late filed comments will be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES:

Mail or hand deliver comments to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Dockets Management Facility, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, or submit electronically at http://www.regulations.gov or fax comments to [phone]. 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 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Those desiring notification or receipt of comments must include a self-addressed, stamped postcard or you may print the acknowledgment page that appears after submitting comments electronically. You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70, Page 19477-78).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Gerald Yakowenko, Contract Administration Team Leader, Office of Program Administration, [phone], or Mr. Michael Harkins, Office of the Chief Counsel, [phone], Federal Highway Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access and Filing

This document and all comments received may be viewed online through the Federal eRulemaking portal at: http:www.regulations.gov. Regulations.gov is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. Electronic submission and retrieval help and guidelines are available under the help section of the Web site. An electronic copy of this document may also be downloaded by accessing the Office of the Federal Register's home page at: http://www.archives.gov/​federal-register/​,, or the Government Printing Office's Web page at: http://www.gpo.gov/​fdsys.

Background

On July 10, 2013, at 78 FR 41492, the FHWA published in the Federal Register a notice seeking comments regarding the continued need, in whole or in part, for the general waivers from Buy America for manufactured products; for ferry boat equipment; and for pig iron and processed, pelletized, and reduced iron ores. This notice also sought comment on the continuing need for the FHWA's minimal use threshold (currently established at $2,500 or 1/10 of 1 percent of the total contract value, whichever is greater). The original deadline for comments was August 8, 2013. In a letter dated July 23, 2013, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) submitted a comment to the docket for this notice requesting a 30-day extension to submit comments. This notice grants AASHTO's request and extends the deadline by 30 calendar days to September 8, 2013.

Issued on: August 2, 2013.

Victor M. Mendez,

FHWA Administrator.