[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 47 (Thursday, March 10, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12781-12782]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05370]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

[Docket No. DOT-OST-2015-0248]


Draft National Freight Strategic Plan: Notice of Deadline for 
Submitting Comments

ACTION: Notice of deadline for submitting comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a deadline for submitting comments on 
the draft National Freight Strategic Plan (NFSP) to the U.S. Department 
of Transportation (DOT) to satisfy requirements of the Moving Ahead for 
Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) and the Fixing America's 
Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act). On October 18, 2015, DOT 
released for public comment a draft NFSP (available at https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/DRAFT_NFSP_for_Public_Comment_508_10%2015%2015%20v1.pdf). The DOT 
intends to consider all comments received from the public when updating 
and finalizing the NFSP to be consistent with the FAST Act 
requirements.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 25, 2016 to receive 
full consideration by DOT with respect to the final NFSP.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the draft NFSP may be submitted and viewed at 
Docket Number DOT-OST-2015-0248. The web address is: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=DOT-OST-2015-0248.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vinn White, at (202) 366-9044 or email 
[email protected].

Additional Information

    BACKGROUND: The MAP-21 (Pub. L. 112-141) required DOT to develop a 
NFSP that included (1) an assessment of the conditions and performance 
of the National Freight Network; (2) an identification of bottlenecks 
on the National Freight Network that create significant freight 
congestion; (3) forecasts of freight volumes; (4) an identification of 
major trade gateways and national freight corridors; (5) an assessment 
of statutory, regulatory, technological, institutional, financial, and 
other barriers to improved freight transportation performance, 
including a description of opportunities for overcoming the barriers; 
(6) an identification of corridors providing access to energy 
exploration, development, installation, or production areas; (7) an 
identification of best practices for improving the performance of the 
National Freight Network; (8) an identification of best practices to 
mitigate the impacts of freight movement on communities; (9) a process 
for addressing multistate projects and encouraging jurisdictions to 
collaborate; and (10) strategies to improve freight intermodal 
connectivity.
    On October 18, 2015, the DOT issued the draft NFSP for public 
comment, available at www.transportation.gov/freight and also at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=DOT-OST-2015-0248. At that time, 
the DOT requested comments on the draft NFSP but did not provide a 
specific date by which comments were due. To date, the DOT has received 
numerous comments from the public but understands that many in the 
public who plan to submit comments have been waiting for specific 
instructions about the end of the comment period.
    On December 4, 2015, the President signed the FAST Act (Pub. L. 
114-94) into law, before the draft NFSP could be finalized. Section 
8001 of the FAST Act continues the requirement that the DOT develop an 
NFSP, generally requiring most of the same content for the NFSP as was 
required under MAP-21. The FAST Act specifically makes the NFSP 
multimodal in scope, links it to the National Multimodal Freight 
Network (NMFN) (created under the FAST Act) rather than the former 
National Freight Network created under MAP-21, and also requires the 
NFSP to include an identification of corridors providing access to 
major areas for manufacturing, agriculture, or natural resources and 
requires the DOT to provide notice and an opportunity for public 
comment.
    The DOT is currently in the process of revising the October 18, 
2015 draft NFSP to conform to the additional requirements of the FAST 
Act. Whereas the FAST Act allows the DOT to take up to two years from 
the date of the FAST Act's enactment to complete the NFSP, the DOT 
intends to make use of the work already completed on the October 18, 
2015 draft NFSP, as modified by comments received from the public on

[[Page 12782]]

that draft and the new FAST Act provisions, to issue a fully compliant 
National Freight Strategic Plan in final format by the end of July 
2016. To do so, the DOT is asking the public to submit comments on the 
October 18, 2015 draft NFSP on or before [45 days from posting of this 
notice] to receive full consideration by DOT with respect to the final 
NFSP. Commenters are encouraged to address any aspects of the draft 
NFSP or the FAST Act that they believe should be reflected in the final 
National Freight Strategic Plan. All comments on the draft NFSP that 
have already been submitted to DOT will be transferred to this docket 
and will receive full consideration by the DOT with respect to the NFSP 
to be issued by the end of July 2016. Commenters who have already 
responded prior to this notice are also free to update or replace their 
previous comments.
    The DOT is also working to establish an Interim National Multimodal 
Freight Network (NMFN) that is due 180 days following the enactment 
date of the FAST Act, which would be on June 1, 2016. The NMFN will be 
similar in concept to the draft multimodal freight network that was 
issued as part of the October 18, 2015 draft NFSP, but will now be 
handled as a separate product from the NFSP. The DOT will publish a 
separate Federal Register notice on or about June 1, 2016 requesting 
public comment on the Interim NMFN. The NFSP will reference the NMFN 
but not include it. All comments on the draft NFSP that pertain to the 
multimodal freight network included in the draft NFSP will receive full 
consideration by the DOT with respect to the development of the Interim 
Final Multimodal Freight Network.
    Public Comment: The DOT invites comments by all those interested in 
the draft National Freight Strategic Plan. Comments on the draft NFSP 
may be submitted and viewed at Docket Number DOT-OST-2015-0248. The web 
address is: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=DOT-OST-2015-
0248. Comments must be received on or before [45 days from posting of 
this notice] to receive full consideration by DOT with respect to the 
final NFSP. After [45 days from posting of this notice], comments will 
continue to be available for viewing by the public.

    Dated: March 3, 2016.
Vinn White,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy.
[FR Doc. 2016-05370 Filed 3-9-16; 8:45 am]
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