[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 47 (Monday, March 12, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11076-11077]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-4410]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[DOT Docket No. OST-2007-27407]


National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing 
Commission

AGENCY: Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of intent to form an advisory committee.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient 
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), Public Law 
109-115, Aug. 10, 2005, the Secretary of Transportation is establishing 
a National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission. 
This commission shall analyze future highway and transit needs and the 
finances of the Highway Trust Fund, and shall make recommendations 
regarding alternative approaches to financing transportation 
infrastructure, as directed in section 11142 of SAFETEA-LU. The purpose 
of this notice is to indicate the DOT's intent to charter this 
Commission as a Federal Advisory Committee.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jack Wells, Chief Economist, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 202-366-9224, [email protected].

Background

    On August 10, 2005, the President signed into law the Safe, 
Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy 
for Users (SAFETEA-LU) (Pub. L. 109-59, 119 Stat. 1144). Section 
11142(a) of SAFETEA-LU established the National Surface Transportation 
Infrastructure Financing Commission and charged it to analyze future 
highway and transit needs and the finances of the Highway Trust Fund 
and to make recommendations regarding alternative approaches to 
financing transportation infrastructure. These recommendations must 
address, but are not limited to, the following topics: (a) The levels 
of revenue that the Federal Highway Trust Fund will require to maintain 
and improve the condition and performance of the Nation's highway and 
transit systems and to ensure that Federal levels of investment in 
highways and transit do not decline in real terms; and (b) the extent, 
if any, to which the Highway Trust Fund should be augmented by other 
mechanisms or funds as a Federal means of financing highway and transit 
infrastructure investments (SAFETEA-LU, section 11142(b)(2)).

[[Page 11077]]

 A. Notice of Intent To Establish an Advisory Committee

    In accordance with the requirements of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. App. 2), an agency of the Federal 
government cannot establish or utilize a group of people in the 
interest of obtaining consensus advice or recommendations unless that 
group is chartered as a Federal advisory committee. The purpose of this 
notice is to indicate the DOT's intent to create a Federal advisory 
committee to make policy recommendations to Congress as directed in 
section 111142 of SAFETEA-LU.

B. Name of Committee

    National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission 
(``the Financing Commission'')

C. Purpose and Objective

    The Financing Commission will analyze future highway and transit 
needs and the revenue sources of the Highway Trust Fund and shall make 
recommendations regarding alternative approaches to financing 
transportation infrastructure.
    The Financing Commission will not exercise program management or 
regulatory development responsibilities, and will make no decisions 
directly affecting the programs on which it provides advice. The 
Financing Commission will provide policy advice to the Secretary of 
Transportation, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the U.S. Congress 
from a knowledgeable and independent perspective.

D. Balanced Membership Plans

    The Financing Commission shall consist of not more than 15 members, 
appointed by the Secretary of Transportation (in consultation with the 
Secretary of the Treasury), the Chair and Ranking Minority Members of 
the House Ways and Means Committee, and the Chair and Ranking Minority 
Members of the Senate Finance Committee, as required by Section 
11142(c)(1)(A)-(E) of Public Law 109-59. Members are knowledgeable in 
the fields of public transportation finance or highway and transit 
programs, policy, and needs, and include representatives of interested 
parties, such as State and local governments, transportation providers, 
and the financial community.
    Commission meetings must be open to the public except where closed 
or partially-closed, as determined proper and consistent with the 
exemptions of the Government in the Sunshine Act, 5 U.S.C. 552b(c), as 
the basis for closure. Any member of the public is welcome to attend 
the Financing Commission meetings, and, as provided in FACA, may 
contact and communicate with the Financing Commission directly. Time 
will be set aside during meetings for this purpose, consistent with the 
Financing Commission's need for sufficient time to complete its 
deliberations.

E. Duration

    Not later than 2 years after the date of its first meeting, the 
Financing Commission shall transmit its final report to the Secretaries 
of Transportation and the Treasury, and to Congress, as required by 
Section 11142(h) of Public Law 109-59. The Financing Commission shall 
terminate on the 180th day following the date of report transmittal.

F. Notice of Establishment

    (Authority: Section 11142(a) of Pub. L. 109-59)

Mary E. Peters,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E7-4410 Filed 3-9-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P