[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 409 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  2d Session
                                H. R. 409


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 23, 2008

 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and 
                              Public Works

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
   To amend title 23, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of 
 Transportation to establish national tunnel inspection standards for 
the proper safety inspection and evaluation of all highway tunnels, and 
                          for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. NATIONAL TUNNEL INSPECTION PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Title 23, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting after section 149 the following:
``Sec. 150. National tunnel inspection program
    ``(a) National Tunnel Inspection Standards.--The Secretary, in 
consultation with State transportation departments and interested and 
knowledgeable private organizations and individuals, shall establish 
national tunnel inspection standards for the proper safety inspection 
and evaluation of all highway tunnels. The standards established under 
this subsection shall be designed to ensure uniformity among the States 
in the conduct of such inspections and evaluations.
    ``(b) Minimum Requirements for Inspection Standards.--The standards 
established under subsection (a) shall, at a minimum--
            ``(1) specify, in detail, the method by which highway 
        tunnel inspections shall be carried out by the States;
            ``(2) establish the maximum time period between the 
        inspections based on a risk-management approach;
            ``(3) establish the qualifications for those charged with 
        carrying out the inspections;
            ``(4) require each State to maintain and make available to 
        the Secretary upon request--
                    ``(A) written reports on the results of the 
                inspections together with notations of any action taken 
                pursuant to the findings of the inspections; and
                    ``(B) current inventory data for all highway 
                tunnels located in the State reflecting the findings of 
                the most recent highway tunnel inspections conducted;
            ``(5) establish procedures for national certification of 
        highway tunnel inspectors;
            ``(6) establish procedures for conducting annual compliance 
        reviews of State inspections and State implementation of 
        quality control and quality assurance procedures; and
            ``(7) establish standards for State tunnel management 
        systems to improve the tunnel inspection process and the 
        quality of data collected and reported by the States to the 
        Secretary for inclusion in the national tunnel inventory to be 
        established under this section.
    ``(c) Training and Certification Program for Tunnel Inspectors.--
The Secretary, in cooperation with State transportation departments, 
shall establish a program designed to ensure that all individuals 
carrying out highway tunnel inspections receive appropriate training 
and certification. Such program shall be revised from time to time to 
take into account new and improved techniques.
    ``(d) National Tunnel Inventory.--The Secretary shall establish a 
national inventory of highway tunnels reflecting the findings of the 
most recent highway tunnel inspections conducted by States under this 
section.
    ``(e) Availability of Funds.--To carry out this section, the 
Secretary may use funds made available pursuant to the provisions of 
sections 104(a) and 502.''.
    (b) Surface Transportation Program.--Section 133(b)(1) of such 
title is amended by inserting ``, tunnels that are eligible for 
assistance under this title (including safety inspection of such 
tunnels),'' after ``highways)''.
    (c) Conforming Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 1 of such title 
is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 149 the 
following:

``150. National tunnel inspection program.''.

            Passed the House of Representatives January 22, 2008.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.