Comments are due by Dec. 24, 2012, on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) proposal to make significant changes in its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) rules. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), issued on September 6, 2012, suggests a series of changes in the bidding process, including requiring contractors to submit a list of DBEs that will be used on a project with their bid.
While acknowledging that there is no time left in the 112th Congress to address new legislation, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D- Ore.), nevertheless, offered legislation last week that would examine a new way to provide revenue for the Highway Trust Fund. The bill directs the Treasury Department to study the viability of mileage-based user fee to replace the federal motor fuels tax.
Comments are due by Dec. 24, 2012 on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) proposal to make significant changes in its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) rules. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), issued on Sept. 6, 2012, suggests a series of changes in the bidding process, including requiring contractors to submit a list of DBEs that will be used on a project with their bid. In addition, contractors that do not achieve this goal must submit documentation of good faith efforts with their bids. The proposed rule would also tighten down on the certification process that determines whether or not a firm qualifies as a DBE. For a summary of the proposed changes, please click here. ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ of America will be submitting detailed comments on the proposal. A draft version of ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½A’s comments has been shared with chapters to assist them in submitting their own comments on the NPRM.
Overall Agency Supports Many of ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½â€™s Positions In response to a court ordered deadline, on Dec. 14 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule to require a 20 percent reduction in the amount of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) allowed in outdoor air through the entire country. The current standard has been in place since 1997. Reduction in the emission of fine particulate matter is expected to come chiefly from diesel engines and coal-fired power generation plants. States must meet the standard by 2020 or face penalties. The standard will make it harder for some industries to expand operations without strict pollution controls.
Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA), the incoming chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee panel, this week named 10 Republicans who will be part of the committee in the 113th Congress. The committee currently has 32 Republican members, with the possibility that one additional member may be added. The new committee members include nine incoming freshman and one sophomore.Â
This year’s National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) is scheduled for April 15-19, 2013. The week is used as an opportunity to get media coverage to raise public awareness about the dangers for highway construction workers and motorists when road improvements are under way. While the number of fatalities, crashes and injuries have decreased in the past several years the problem still remains.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Sept. 6 asking for comments on the significant changes made to its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) rules. Comments are due by Nov. 5. The proposal suggests a series of changes in the bidding process, including requiring contractors to submit a list of DBEs that will be used on a project with their bid.
While it’s unlikely that the issue will be raised during a lame duck session of Congress following the November elections, ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ will nevertheless continue to press for legislation that will keep the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating coal ash residues, including fly ash, as a hazardous substance.
On Sept. 25, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released new information regarding the implementation of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). The guidance and interim guidance documents, along with questions & answers, were issued ahead of the Oct. 1 effective date for most highway provisions in MAP-21 both funding and changes to policy.
On Sept. 25, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration released new information regarding the implementation of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). The guidance and interim guidance documents, along with questions & answers, were issued ahead of the Oct. 1 effective date for most highway provisions in MAP-21 both funding and changes to policy.