[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 47 (Thursday, March 10, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12781-12782]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05370]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary
[Docket No. DOT-OST-2015-0248]
Draft National Freight Strategic Plan: Notice of Deadline for
Submitting Comments
ACTION: Notice of deadline for submitting comments.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces a deadline for submitting comments on
the draft National Freight Strategic Plan (NFSP) to the U.S. Department
of Transportation (DOT) to satisfy requirements of the Moving Ahead for
Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) and the Fixing America's
Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act). On October 18, 2015, DOT
released for public comment a draft NFSP (available at https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/DRAFT_NFSP_for_Public_Comment_508_10%2015%2015%20v1.pdf). The DOT
intends to consider all comments received from the public when updating
and finalizing the NFSP to be consistent with the FAST Act
requirements.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 25, 2016 to receive
full consideration by DOT with respect to the final NFSP.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the draft NFSP may be submitted and viewed at
Docket Number DOT-OST-2015-0248. The web address is: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=DOT-OST-2015-0248.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vinn White, at (202) 366-9044 or email
[email protected].
Additional Information
BACKGROUND: The MAP-21 (Pub. L. 112-141) required DOT to develop a
NFSP that included (1) an assessment of the conditions and performance
of the National Freight Network; (2) an identification of bottlenecks
on the National Freight Network that create significant freight
congestion; (3) forecasts of freight volumes; (4) an identification of
major trade gateways and national freight corridors; (5) an assessment
of statutory, regulatory, technological, institutional, financial, and
other barriers to improved freight transportation performance,
including a description of opportunities for overcoming the barriers;
(6) an identification of corridors providing access to energy
exploration, development, installation, or production areas; (7) an
identification of best practices for improving the performance of the
National Freight Network; (8) an identification of best practices to
mitigate the impacts of freight movement on communities; (9) a process
for addressing multistate projects and encouraging jurisdictions to
collaborate; and (10) strategies to improve freight intermodal
connectivity.
On October 18, 2015, the DOT issued the draft NFSP for public
comment, available at www.transportation.gov/freight and also at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=DOT-OST-2015-0248. At that time,
the DOT requested comments on the draft NFSP but did not provide a
specific date by which comments were due. To date, the DOT has received
numerous comments from the public but understands that many in the
public who plan to submit comments have been waiting for specific
instructions about the end of the comment period.
On December 4, 2015, the President signed the FAST Act (Pub. L.
114-94) into law, before the draft NFSP could be finalized. Section
8001 of the FAST Act continues the requirement that the DOT develop an
NFSP, generally requiring most of the same content for the NFSP as was
required under MAP-21. The FAST Act specifically makes the NFSP
multimodal in scope, links it to the National Multimodal Freight
Network (NMFN) (created under the FAST Act) rather than the former
National Freight Network created under MAP-21, and also requires the
NFSP to include an identification of corridors providing access to
major areas for manufacturing, agriculture, or natural resources and
requires the DOT to provide notice and an opportunity for public
comment.
The DOT is currently in the process of revising the October 18,
2015 draft NFSP to conform to the additional requirements of the FAST
Act. Whereas the FAST Act allows the DOT to take up to two years from
the date of the FAST Act's enactment to complete the NFSP, the DOT
intends to make use of the work already completed on the October 18,
2015 draft NFSP, as modified by comments received from the public on
[[Page 12782]]
that draft and the new FAST Act provisions, to issue a fully compliant
National Freight Strategic Plan in final format by the end of July
2016. To do so, the DOT is asking the public to submit comments on the
October 18, 2015 draft NFSP on or before [45 days from posting of this
notice] to receive full consideration by DOT with respect to the final
NFSP. Commenters are encouraged to address any aspects of the draft
NFSP or the FAST Act that they believe should be reflected in the final
National Freight Strategic Plan. All comments on the draft NFSP that
have already been submitted to DOT will be transferred to this docket
and will receive full consideration by the DOT with respect to the NFSP
to be issued by the end of July 2016. Commenters who have already
responded prior to this notice are also free to update or replace their
previous comments.
The DOT is also working to establish an Interim National Multimodal
Freight Network (NMFN) that is due 180 days following the enactment
date of the FAST Act, which would be on June 1, 2016. The NMFN will be
similar in concept to the draft multimodal freight network that was
issued as part of the October 18, 2015 draft NFSP, but will now be
handled as a separate product from the NFSP. The DOT will publish a
separate Federal Register notice on or about June 1, 2016 requesting
public comment on the Interim NMFN. The NFSP will reference the NMFN
but not include it. All comments on the draft NFSP that pertain to the
multimodal freight network included in the draft NFSP will receive full
consideration by the DOT with respect to the development of the Interim
Final Multimodal Freight Network.
Public Comment: The DOT invites comments by all those interested in
the draft National Freight Strategic Plan. Comments on the draft NFSP
may be submitted and viewed at Docket Number DOT-OST-2015-0248. The web
address is: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=DOT-OST-2015-
0248. Comments must be received on or before [45 days from posting of
this notice] to receive full consideration by DOT with respect to the
final NFSP. After [45 days from posting of this notice], comments will
continue to be available for viewing by the public.
Dated: March 3, 2016.
Vinn White,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy.
[FR Doc. 2016-05370 Filed 3-9-16; 8:45 am]
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