110 HR 6234 IH: Bridge Life Extension Act of U.S. House of Representatives 2008-06-11 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
I 110th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6234 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 11, 2008 Mr. Conaway introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To amend title 23, United States Code, to require corrosion mitigation and prevention plans for bridges receiving Federal funding, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Bridge Life Extension Act of 2008.
2.
Findings
Congress finds the following: (1)Corrosion of highway bridges costs the United States economy $8.3 billion each year according to a Federal Highway Administration report (FHWA–RD–01–157) that was delivered to Congress in 2002. (2)The ongoing cost of corrosion on United States highway bridges represents a needless waste of taxpayer dollars. (3)One-third of the ongoing cost of corrosion on United States highway bridges would be saved if existing, fully-developed corrosion prevention technologies were applied to bridge decks and their substructures. (4)The application of corrosion technologies to United States highway bridges is necessary, but currently underused. (5) The application of corrosion prevention strategies should be required in the design and rehabilitation of bridge structures that use Federal funding and the development of new corrosion prevention technologies should be encouraged.
3.
Corrosion mitigation and prevention plans for bridges receiving Federal funding
(a)
In general
Chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 149 the following:
150.
Corrosion mitigation and prevention plans
(a)
In general
The Secretary may approve Federal assistance for a project for construction of a bridge using amounts apportioned under section 104(b)(1) or 104(b)(3) or a project for replacement or rehabilitation of a bridge under section 144 only if— (1)the State or States applying for such assistance develop and submit to the Secretary a corrosion mitigation and prevention plan for the bridge; and (2)the Secretary approves the plan. (b)
Plan requirements
The Secretary may approve a corrosion mitigation and prevention plan for a bridge submitted by a State or States under subsection (a) only if the plan contains, at a minimum, the following: (1)An estimate of the expected useful life of the bridge. (2)An estimate of environmental exposure of the bridge, including marine, deicer application, industrial, rural, rainfall, temperature, freeze-thaw, and other factors that influence corrosion prevention and corrosion mitigation strategies. (3)An identification of the functional classification of the bridge. (4)Details of corrosion mitigation and prevention methods that will be used with respect to the bridge, taking into account— (A)material selection; (B)coating considerations; (C)cathodic protection considerations; (D)design considerations for corrosion; and (E)concrete requirements. (5)Details of a project maintenance program for the life of the bridge. (6)A certification that the plan was developed by the State or States and approved by a corrosion expert. (7)A certification that each individual conducting inspections of Federal-aid highway bridges in the State or States receives training from a corrosion expert. (c)
Approval and disapproval
The Secretary shall approve or disapprove each corrosion mitigation and prevention plan submitted by a State or States under subsection (a). If the Secretary disapproves a plan, the Secretary shall inform the State or States of the reasons for the disapproval and shall permit the State or States to resubmit the plan with such modifications as the Secretary determines necessary. (d)
Modifications following plan approval
A State or States may modify a corrosion mitigation and prevention plan approved under subsection (c) to incorporate newly developed corrosion prevention techniques, methods, applications, and best practices if the State or States provide advance written notice of the modification to the Secretary. (e)
Corrosion expert
In this section, the term “corrosion expert” means an individual who is accredited or certified as being qualified by an international technical society dedicated to the mitigation and prevention of corrosion or who is a registered professional engineer who has certification or licensing that includes education and experience in corrosion prevention and control of bridges. (f)
Applicability
(1)
In general
This section shall take effect beginning on the first day of the second fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this section. (2)
Waivers
Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Secretary may waive the application of requirements of this section with respect to a bridge for the 6-month period beginning on the first day referred to in paragraph (1) if— (A)a corrosion mitigation and prevention plan has been submitted for the bridge before such first day; and (B)the Secretary determines that such a waiver is appropriate. (g)
Funding
Funds made available to a State under sections 104(b)(1), 104(b)(3), and 144 may be used by the State for activities to comply with the requirements of this section.
. (b)
Clerical amendment
The analysis for such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 149 the following: 150. Corrosion mitigation and prevention plans. .