[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 127 (Friday, July 2, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 38594]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-16082]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Buy America Waiver Notification

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice provides information regarding the FHWA's finding 
that a Buy America waiver is appropriate for the use of the non-
domestic steel component of UNISTRUT fall arrest system, for 
replacement in kind on Stickel Bridge project no. BR-280-6(091) in New 
Jersey.

DATES: The effective date of the waiver is July 6, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about this notice, 
please contact Mr. Gerald Yakowenko, FHWA Office of Program 
Administration, (202) 366-1562, or via e-mail at 
[email protected]. For legal questions, please contact Mr. 
Michael Harkins, FHWA Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 366-4928, or 
via e-mail at [email protected]. Office hours for the FHWA are 
from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., et., 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 for the non-domestic steel component for the 
UNISTRUT fall protection system, which is compatible with the existing 
system.
    In accordance with section 123 of Division A, of the ``Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2010'' (Pub. L. 111-117), the FHWA published a 
notice of intent to issue a waiver on its Web site for the steel 
component of the UNISTRUT fall protection system (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/construction/contracts/waivers.cfm?id=50) on May 25, 
2010. The FHWA received three comments in response to the publication. 
The three comments suggested different domestic manufacturers of fall 
protection systems and opposed the approval of the waiver request. The 
New Jersey Department of Transportation responded with a comment 
stating that the waiver is for replacement of a component of the 
existing UNISTRUT fall protection system and not for an entirely new 
fall protection system. During the 15-day comment period, the FHWA 
conducted additional nationwide review to locate potential domestic 
manufacturers of a compatible steel component for the UNISTRUT fall 
protection system. Based on all the information available to the 
agency, the FHWA concludes that there are no domestic manufacturers of 
compatible steel components for the UNISTRUT fall protection system.
    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 New Jersey waiver page, noted above.

(Authority: 23 U.S.C. 313; Pub. L. 110-161, 23 CFR 635.410)

    Issued on: June 23, 2010.
Victor M. Mendez,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010-16082 Filed 7-1-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P