[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 60 (Thursday, March 28, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19063-19064]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-07206]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Buy America Waiver Notification

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: This notice provides information regarding the FHWA's finding 
that a Buy America waiver is appropriate for the use of non-domestic 
iron and steel products in GenSet diesel engine and air compressor for 
a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) project in the 
Commonwealth of Kentucky.

DATES: The effective date of the waiver is March 29, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about this notice, 
please contact Mr. Gerald Yakowenko, FHWA Office of Program 
Administration, (202) 366-1562, or via email at 
[email protected]. For legal questions, please contact Mr. 
Michael Harkins, FHWA Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 366-4928, or 
via email at [email protected]. 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 home page at: http://www.archives.gov and the 
Government Printing Office's database at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.

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 the FHWA's finding that a Buy America waiver is 
appropriate to use some non-domestic iron and steel products in GenSet 
diesel engine and air compressor for CMAQ project in the Commonwealth 
of Kentucky.
    In accordance with Division A, section 122 of the ``Consolidated 
and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012'' (Pub. L. 112-284), 
the FHWA published a notice of intent to issue a waiver on its Web site 
for iron and steel products in GenSet diesel engine and air compressor 
(http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/construction/contracts/waivers.cfm?id=79) on 
August 22nd. The FHWA received five comments in response to the 
publication. Two

[[Page 19064]]

respondents, Mouhamad A. Naboulsi and James Agalzoff, opposed the 
waiver request. One comment simply stated that American products should 
be used on America projects. The FHWA agrees with this sentiment and 
intends to enforce Buy America as required by law. However, in this 
case, Kentucky has not been able to find these products containing 100 
percent American iron and steel, even though the engines and 
compressors themselves are made in America. The other commenter opposed 
the waiver because foreign parts will continue to be used if waivers 
continue to be granted. We agree that the industry may eventually 
decide to start producing these parts if the industry finds it 
worthwhile to do so. However, the FHWA cannot continue to hold this 
project based on the hope that the American industry may someday 
produce these parts. Three respondents, Jeff Amburn, Tony E. Stauffer, 
and Melinda Mcpeek, on behalf of their corporations, expressed support 
for the waiver request. During the 15-day comment period, the FHWA 
conducted additional nationwide review to locate potential domestic 
manufacturers of the iron and steel products in GenSet diesel engine 
and air compressor for CMAQ project in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. 
Based on all the information available to the agency, the FHWA 
concludes that there are no domestic manufacturers of the iron and 
steel products in GenSet diesel engine and air compressor for CMAQ 
project in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
    In accordance with the provisions of section 117 of the SAFETEA-LU 
Technical Corrections Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-244, 122 Stat. 1572), 
the 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 the FHWA's Web site via the 
link provided to the Kentucky waiver page noted above.
(Authority: 23 U.S.C. 313; Pub. L. 110-161, 23 CFR 635.410)

     Issued on: March 21, 2013.
Victor M. Mendez,
Federal Highway Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-07206 Filed 3-27-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P