[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 10 (Wednesday, January 17, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 1976]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-473]
[[Page 1976]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
49 CFR Part 661
[Docket No. FTA-2005-23082]
RIN 2132-AA90
Buy America Requirements; End Product Analysis and Waiver
Procedures; Public Meeting and Extension of Comment Period
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice announcing public meeting and extension of comment
period.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is holding a public
meeting on the Buy America second notice of proposed rulemaking
(SNPRM). The purpose of this meeting is to allow the public to ask
questions regarding the notice published on November 30, 2006 (71 FR
69411). Furthermore, due to the complexity of the issues presented in
the SNPRM, FTA is extending the comment period to February 28, 2007,
which will allow affected parties time to carefully consider the
changes made in the SNPRM and the information presented at the public
meeting.
DATES: Comments should be submitted before February 28, 2007. Late-
filed comments will be considered to the extent practicable.
Public Meeting Date: FTA will hold a public meeting on February
13th and 14th of 2007 from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Department of
Transportation (DOT) headquarters building (400 7th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20590, Room 2201). Anyone interested in attending the
meeting should arrive at the southwest entrance of the DOT building to
go through security screening. Please allow a minimum of 15 minutes to
clear security. A summary of the meeting will be posted in the docket.
FTA will not accept public comment during the public meeting. Instead,
attendees must submit their comments to the docket in order to have
their comments considered by FTA.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by the docket number
[FTA-2005--23082] by any of the following methods:
1. Web site: http://dms.dot.gov. Follow the instructions for
submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site.
2. Fax: 202-493-2251.
3. Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
4. Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the Nassif
Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Instructions: You must include the agency name (Federal Transit
Administration and Docket number (FTA-2005--23082) for this Notice at
the beginning of your comments. You should submit two copies of your
comments if you submit them by mail. If you wish to receive
confirmation that FTA received your comments, you must include a self-
addressed stamped postcard. Note that all comments received will be
posted, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov including any personal
information provided and will be available to Internet users. You may
review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register
published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477) or you may visit http://
http://dms.dot.gov">dms.dot.gov. Docket: For access to the docket to read background
documents and comments received, go to http://dms.dot.gov at any time
or to Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Wong, Attorney-Advisor, Office
of the Chief Counsel, Federal Transit Administration, 400 Seventh
Street SW., Room 9316, Washington, DC 20590, (202) 366-4011 or
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 28, 2005, FTA published an NPRM
in the Federal Register (70 FR 71246) discussing a number of proposals
as mandated by SAFETEA-LU and to provide further clarification of
existing FTA decisions on Buy America. Due to the complexity of many of
the Buy America issues addressed in the NPRM and the divergence of
opinion on important areas, FTA issued a final rule that addressed
fewer issues than proposed in the NPRM. (71 FR 14112, March 21, 2006.)
These more routine topics covered in the final rule included: (1)
Administrative review; (2) A definition of ``negotiated procurement;''
(3) A definition of ``contractor;'' (4) Repeal of the general waiver
for Chrysler vehicles; (5) Certification under negotiated procurements;
(6) Pre-award and post-award review of rolling stock purchases; and (7)
Miscellaneous corrections and clarifications to the Buy America
regulations.
FTA issued a second notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) on
November 30, 2006, to address the remaining issues identified in the
NPRM, but not covered in the final rule, including: (1) Justification
for public interest waiver; (2) Microprocessor and post-award waivers;
(3) Definition of ``final assembly;'' (4) The definition of ``end
product,'' ``system end products,'' and a representative list of end
products; and (5) Proposed changes to communication equipment and the
list of rolling stock items in Part 661.
During the public meeting on February 13th and 14th at DOT
headquarters, FTA staff will summarize its proposals in the SNPRM and
staff will be available to answer questions regarding those proposals.
This is an opportunity for affected parties to receive clarification
regarding FTA's proposals. The public meeting is not, however, an
opportunity to submit comments to FTA regarding the proposals contained
in the SNPRM. Rather, interested parties should submit their comments
to the docket for this rulemaking as described in the ADDRESSES section
of this notice.
In addition, because of the complexity of the issues involved in
the SNPRM, FTA is extending the comment period for the SNPRM until
February 28, 2007. This additional time should be sufficient to allow
those who attend the public meeting to submit comments to the docket
for this rulemaking.
Issued this 10th day of January, 2007.
James S. Simpson,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E7-473 Filed 1-16-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P