[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 89 (Wednesday, May 8, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26847-26848]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-10910]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
[FHWA Docket No. FHWA-2013-0014]
Including Specific Pavement Types in Federal-aid Highway Traffic
Noise Analyses
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice; request for comment.
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SUMMARY: The FHWA requests input from stakeholders and interested
parties on expanding the specific pavement types used in Federal-aid
highway traffic noise analyses. Current highway traffic noise analyses
rely on data from three pavement types: dense-graded asphaltic concrete
(DGAC), open-graded asphaltic concrete (OGAC), and Portland cement
concrete (PCC). Prediction of future noise levels is based on the
``average'' pavement type, calculated as the average of the DGAC and
PCC vehicle noise emission levels.
The FHWA is issuing this Federal Register Notice to invite
stakeholders and interested parties to provide comments and suggestions
on whether and how to include additional pavement types in Federal-aid
highway traffic noise analyses.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 8, 2013. Late
comments will be considered to the extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: Mail or hand deliver comments to the U.S. Department of
Transportation, Dockets Management Facility, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, or fax comments to (202) 493-
2251. Alternatively, comments may be submitted to the Federal
eRulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov. All comments must
include the docket number that appears in the heading of this document.
All comments received will be available for examination and copying at
the above address from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. Those desiring notification of receipt of
comments must include a self-addressed, stamped postcard or you may
print the acknowledgment page that appears after submitting comments
electronically. Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all
comments in any one of our dockets by the name of the individual
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf
of an association, business, or labor union). Anyone may review DOT's
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on
April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70, Pages 19477-78).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about the program
discussed herein, contact Mr. Mark Ferroni, Office of Natural
Environment, (202) 366-3233, or via email at [email protected]. For
legal questions, please contact Mr. Robert Black, Office of the Chief
Counsel, (202) 366-1359, or via email at [email protected]. Office
hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Access and Filing
You may submit or retrieve comments online through the Federal
eRulemaking portal at: http://www.regulations.gov. The Web site is
available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. Please follow the
instructions. Electronic submission and retrieval help and guidelines
are available under the help section of the Web site. An electronic
copy of this document may also be downloaded from the Office of the
Federal Register's home page at: http://www.archives.gov and the
Government Printing Office's Web page at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.
Background
Section 109(i) of Title 23, United States Code authorizes FHWA to
issue noise standards which are set forth in 23 CFR Part 772. Highway
traffic noise analyses provide data for decisionmakers to make informed
decisions on project alternatives and noise abatement measures. Current
highway traffic noise analyses rely on data from three pavement types:
DGAC, OGAC, and PCC. Prediction of future noise levels is based on the
``average'' pavement type, calculated as the average of the DGAC and
PCC vehicle noise emission levels.
The FHWA remains actively involved in what the highway noise
industry refers to as ``low noise pavements'' or ``quieter pavements.''
In 2003, the FHWA entered into the Quiet Pavement Pilot Program with
the Arizona Department of Transportation, co-sponsored the 2004
International Scan on ``Quieter Pavement Systems in Europe,'' and
funded several national workshops, trainings, and informational
outreach pieces on this topic.
In 2005, the FHWA began funding the ``Pavement Effects
Implementation Study'' (PEI) to look at ways to incorporate options to
consider a wider range of asphaltic concrete and PCC pavements within
the agency's traffic noise model. When using the term, ``specific
pavement types, '' within the Federal-aid highway traffic noise
analyses, the FHWA is referring to these pavements used in the PEI
Study, but also any other specific pavement that a highway agency may
want to consider in their noise analysis. For more information on the
PEI see: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/noise/traffic_noise_model/documents_and_references/pavement_effects_implementation_study/pei00.cfm).
Because of the evolution of the use of quiet pavements in the
highway industry, the FHWA is interested in how some of these new
technologies and techniques could potentially be integrated into the
FHWA's noise program to offer the most flexibility and utility to our
stakeholders. The FHWA requests input from stakeholders and other
interested parties on including specific pavement types in Federal-aid
highway traffic noise analyses. While the FHWA invites any comments
regarding use of specific pavement types in Federal-aid highway traffic
noise analyses, the following questions may serve as a guide:
(1) What is your position regarding the possible inclusion of
specific pavement types in the Federal-aid highway traffic noise
analysis process?
(a) If you support the inclusion of specific pavement types,
explain why, how you think this should be implemented (from both a
regulatory
[[Page 26848]]
and procedural standpoint), and when this should be implemented.
(b) If you do not support the inclusion of specific pavement types,
explain why (from both a regulatory and procedural standpoint), and
what, if anything, the FHWA should do regarding tire-pavement noise in
the highway traffic noise analysis and abatement process.
(2) Should highway agencies be required to use a more specific
pavement type(s) in their future condition noise predictions?
(3) Should a State highway agency be required to maintain the
specific pavement type it selected to reduce the noise impacts of a
project to a level that resulted in a certain noise abatement measure?
(4) Should highway agencies be required to call a project a Type I
project if the original pavement is replaced or overlaid with a louder
pavement or when a pavement no longer is achieving its noise reduction?
(5) Should specific pavement types in the Federal-aid highway
traffic noise analyses process be introduced as a pilot program?
(a) If you would support a pilot program, explain why, how many
highway agencies should be selected to pilot this and, whether your
agency would be willing to be a pilot State.
(b) If you do not support this as a pilot program, explain why you
do not support this.
(6) Have you done or are you currently doing tire pavement noise
research?
(a) If you have done or currently are doing tire pavement research:
What is this research? Why are you doing this research? How are you or
how do you plan on implementing this research? What are your goals
regarding this research and/or its implementation?
(b) If you have not done or if you do not plan on doing tire
pavement research, please explain why?
(7) Any additional comments?
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 101(a), 104, 109(d), 114(a), 217, 315, and
402(a); 23 CFR 1.32; and, 49 CFR 1.85.
Issued on: April 26, 2013.
Victor M. Mendez,
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 2013-10910 Filed 5-7-13; 8:45 am]
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