[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 164 (Wednesday, August 24, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57996-57997]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-20233]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Docket No. FHWA-2016-0015]


Emergency Route Working Group (ERWG)--Federal Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Establishment of the Emergency Route Working Group; 
Request for Nominations.

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SUMMARY: FHWA announces the establishment of the Emergency Route 
Working Group (ERWG) for a 2-year period. The ERWG will provide the 
U.S. Secretary of Transportation, through the Administrator of the 
FHWA, with advice and recommendations for the implementation of best 
practices for expeditious State approval of special permits for 
vehicles involved in emergency response and recovery. The ERWG will 
provide the U.S. Secretary of Transportation a written report by 
December 4, 2016, on its findings and recommendation for the 
implementation of best practices for expeditious State approval of 
special permits for vehicles involved in emergency response and 
recovery. The ERWG's advice and recommendations will work within 
existing legal authorities and not require changes in State or Federal 
law for DOT to implement.

DATES: The deadline for nominations for ERWG members must be received 
on or before September 23, 2016.

ADDRESSES: All nomination materials should be emailed to [email protected] 
or faxed to the attention of Crystal Jones at (202) 366-3225, or mailed 
to Crystal Jones, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Freight 
Management and Operations, Room E84-314, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC 20590. Any person needing accessibility accommodations 
should contact Crystal Jones at (202) 366-2976.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Crystal Jones, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Room E84-314, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. Any person needing 
accessibility accommodations should contact Crystal Jones at (202) 366-
2976; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 5502 of the Fixing America's Surface 
Transportation (FAST) Act (P.L. 114-94, 129 Stat. 1312) requires the 
Secretary of Transportation to establish a working group to determine 
best practices for expeditious State approval of special permits for 
vehicles involved in emergency response and recovery. Pursuant to 
Section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), and in 
accordance with 41 CFR 102-3.65, and following consultation with the 
Committee Management Secretariat, General Services Administration, 
notice is hereby given that the ERWG will be established for up to a 2-
year period. The ERWG will provide the U.S. Secretary of 
Transportation, through the Administrator of the FHWA, with advice and 
recommendations for the implementation of best practices for 
expeditious State approval of special permits for vehicles involved in 
emergency response and recovery. The ERWG will provide the U.S. 
Secretary of Transportation a written report by December 4, 2016, on 
its findings and recommendations. The ERWG's advice and recommendations 
will work within existing legal authorities and not require changes in 
State or Federal law for DOT to implement.
    The Department of Transportation is hereby soliciting nominations 
for members of the ERWG. The Federal Highway Administrator, on behalf 
of the Secretary of Transportation, will appoint up to 25 ERWG members. 
The

[[Page 57997]]

ERWG members selected will provide views and perspective on whether:
    a. impediments currently exist that prevent expeditious State 
approval of special permits for vehicles involved in emergency response 
and recovery;
    b. it is possible to pre-identify and establish emergency routes 
between States through which infrastructure repair materials could be 
delivered following a natural disaster or emergency;
    c. a State could pre-designate an emergency route identified under 
paragraph (b) as a certified emergency route if a motor vehicle that 
exceeds the otherwise applicable Federal and State truck length or 
width limits may safely operate along such route during periods of 
declared emergency and recovery from such periods; and
    d. an online map could be created to identify each pre-designated 
emergency route under paragraph (c), including information on specific 
limitations, obligations, and notification requirements along that 
route.
    The ERWG membership will seek to balance the following interests to 
the extent practicable; but as required by law the membership shall 
include representatives from State highway transportation departments 
or agencies; relevant modal agencies within the DOT; emergency response 
or recovery experts; relevant safety groups; and entities affected by 
special permit restrictions during emergency response and recovery 
efforts. The ERGW members serve at the pleasure of the Secretary, but 
may serve for a term of 2 years or less. The Chair and Vice Chair of 
the ERWG will be appointed by the FHWA Administrator from among the 
selected members, and the ERWG is expected to meet 12 times before the 
termination, which is defined in law as 1 year after the group delivers 
the report to the Secretary of Transportation required under Section 
5502(c) of the FAST Act. Subcommittees may be formed to address 
specific emergency route issues. Some ERWG members may be appointed as 
special Government employees and will be subject to certain ethical 
restrictions, and such members will be required to submit certain 
information in connection with the appointment process. With the 
exception of travel and per diem for official travel, members will 
serve without compensation.
    Process and Deadline for Submitting Nominations: Qualified 
individuals can self-nominate or be nominated by any individual or 
organization. To be considered for the ERWG, nominators should submit 
the following information:
    (1) Name, title, and relevant contact information (including phone, 
fax, and email address) of the individual requesting consideration;
    (2) A letter of support from a company, union, trade association, 
or non-profit organization on letterhead containing a brief description 
why the nominee should be considered for membership;
    (3) Short biography of nominee including professional and academic 
credentials;
    (4) An affirmative statement that the nominee is not a federally 
registered lobbyist, and that the nominee understands that if 
appointed, the nominee will not be allowed to continue to serve as a 
ERWG member if the nominee becomes a federally registered lobbyist;
    (5) An affirmative statement that the nominee meets all ERWG 
eligibility requirements.
    Please do not send company, trade association, or organization 
brochures or any other information. Materials submitted should total 
two pages or less. Should more information be needed, DOT staff will 
contact the nominee, obtain information from the nominee's past 
affiliations, or obtain information from publicly available sources, 
such as the Internet.
    Nominations may be emailed to [email protected] or faxed to the 
attention of Crystal Jones at (202) 366-2976, or mailed to Crystal 
Jones, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Freight Management and 
Operations, Room E84-314, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 
20590. Nominations must be received before September 23, 2016. Nominees 
selected for appointment to the ERWG will be notified by return email 
and by a letter of appointment.
    A selection team comprising representatives from several DOT 
offices will review the nomination packages. The selection team will 
make recommendations regarding membership to the Secretary of 
Transportation through the Federal Highway Administrator based on 
criteria including (1) professional or academic expertise, experience, 
and knowledge; (2) stakeholder representation; (3) availability and 
willingness to serve; and (4) skills working in committees and advisory 
panels. The Federal Highway Administrator will submit a list of 
recommended candidates to the Secretary of Transportation for review 
and selection of ERWG members.
    Nominations are open to all individuals without regard to race, 
color, religion, sex, national origin, age, mental or physical 
handicap, marital status, or sexual orientation. To ensure that 
recommendations to the Secretary take into account the needs of the 
diverse groups served by DOT, membership shall include, to the extent 
practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent 
minorities, women, and persons with disabilities.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 15, 2016.
Gregory G. Nadeau,
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-20233 Filed 8-23-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-22-P