Buy America Waiver Notification

Gregory G. Nadeau
Federal Highway Administration
16 September 2016

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 180 (Friday, September 16, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63853-63854]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-22305]


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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 FHWA's finding that 
a Buy America waiver is appropriate for the use of non-domestic iron 
and steel components of electric vehicle DC fast charging stations with

[[Page 63854]]

maximum power (50 kw), voltage range (200-500 VDC), and current output 
(165 ADC) in the State of Massachusetts.

DATES: The effective date of the waiver is September 19, 2016.

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 
gerald.yakowenko@dot.gov. For legal questions, please contact Mr. 
William Winne, FHWA Office of the Chief Counsel, 202-366-1397, or via 
email at William.Winne@dot.gov. 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 FHWA's finding that a Buy America waiver is 
appropriate for use of non-domestic iron and steel components of 
electric vehicle DC fast charging stations with maximum power (50 kw), 
voltage range (200-500 VDC) and current output (165 ADC) in the State 
of Massachusetts.
    In accordance with Division K, section 122 of the ``Consolidated 
and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015'' (Pub. L. 113-235), 
FHWA published a notice of intent to issue a waiver on its Web site: 
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/construction/contracts/waivers.cfm?id=129 on 
June 16th. The FHWA received no comments in response to the 
publication. Based on all the information available to the agency, FHWA 
concludes that there are no domestic manufacturers of iron and steel 
components compatible with electric vehicle DC fast charging stations 
with maximum power (50 kw), voltage range (200-500 VDC) and current 
output (165 ADC) that meets the grant requirements.
    In accordance with the provisions of section 117 of the SAFETEA-LU 
Technical Corrections Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-244, 122 Stat. 1572), 
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 FHWA's Web site via the link 
provided to the waiver page noted above.

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

     Issued on: August 29, 2016.
Gregory G. Nadeau,
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-22305 Filed 9-15-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-22-P