House and Senate Debate Transportation Bills
The Senate and House of Representatives this week are debating separate versions of bills to reauthorize federal surface transportation programs. The Senate bill, S1813, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21), is a two-year, $109 billion bill. The House measure, HR 7, the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, is a five-year, $260 billion authorization.

The highway provisions of the Senate bill, approved by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, are the underlying measure for debate of the Senate bill. Finance, transit and motor carrier provisions drafted by separate Senate Committees will be added as amendments to make up a complete reauthorization package as the Senate considers the legislation. The Senate bill’s finance provisions include a number of offsets and transfers to close a $12 billion funding shortfall to pay for the bill, including $3 billion from the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund and $4.7 billion from a change in tax law governing distribution of inherited IRA accounts.

The House and Senate bills differ in many details, but both bills contain no earmarks, consolidate or eliminate as many as 60-70 federal programs and include provisions to expedite project delivery. The House bill, however, includes provisions directing certain revenues from expanded oil and gas drilling and offsets from changes to federal pensions to help pay for the bill. It also includes provisions to eliminate the Highway Trust Fund’s mass transit account and direct funding transit receives from a portion of the gas tax, instead funding transit through a new Alternative Transportation Account with $40 billion from the general fund.

The House transportation portion of the bill emerged out of a contentious Committee markup that lasted 18 hours and addressed nearly 100 amendments. The transportation provisions, energy production provisions and the federal pension provisions will be voted on separately on the House floor and then combined as one package before being sent to the Senate.

House and Senate leaders intend to hold final votes on their respective bills before the end of the week, when Congress is scheduled to begin a week-long recess. Once approved in the House and Senate, differences between the two bills will need to be reconciled in a conference committee and signed into law before March 31 to avoid another extension of the expired SAFETEA-LU.

...[read full article]

House and Senate Debate Transportation Bills
The Senate and House of Representatives this week are debating separate versions of bills to reauthorize federal surface transportation programs. The Senate bill, S1813, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21), is a two-year, $109 billion bill. The House measure, HR 7, the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, is a five-year, $260 billion authorization.

The highway provisions of the Senate bill, approved by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, are the underlying measure for debate of the Senate bill. Finance, transit and motor carrier provisions drafted by separate Senate Committees will be added as amendments to make up a complete reauthorization package as the Senate considers the legislation. The Senate bill’s finance provisions include a number of offsets and transfers to close a $12 billion funding shortfall to pay for the bill, including $3 billion from the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund and $4.7 billion from a change in tax law governing distribution of inherited IRA accounts.

The House and Senate bills differ in many details, but both bills contain no earmarks, consolidate or eliminate as many as 60-70 federal programs and include provisions to expedite project delivery. The House bill, however, includes provisions directing certain revenues from expanded oil and gas drilling and offsets from changes to federal pensions to help pay for the bill. It also includes provisions to eliminate the Highway Trust Fund’s mass transit account and direct funding transit receives from a portion of the gas tax, instead funding transit through a new Alternative Transportation Account with $40 billion from the general fund.

The House transportation portion of the bill emerged out of a contentious Committee markup that lasted 18 hours and addressed nearly 100 amendments. The transportation provisions, energy production provisions and the federal pension provisions will be voted on separately on the House floor and then combined as one package before being sent to the Senate.

House and Senate leaders intend to hold final votes on their respective bills before the end of the week, when Congress is scheduled to begin a week-long recess. Once approved in the House and Senate, differences between the two bills will need to be reconciled in a conference committee and signed into law before March 31 to avoid another extension of the expired SAFETEA-LU.

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House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-FL) today unveiled the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, which includes a five-year, $260 billion surface transportation reauthorization funding federal highway, transit and safety programs consistent with current funding levels. The bill will be combined with several other bills aimed at promoting domestic energy production. The Committee is scheduled to begin consideration of the transportation reauthorization portion on Thursday. Legislative text will be available at www.transportation.house.gov.

 
In summary, the transportation reauthorization provisions include:

• Provide long-term stability for states to undertake major infrastructure projects
• Contain no earmarks, compared to the previous transportation law which contained over 6,300 earmarks
• Consolidate or eliminate nearly 70 federal programs
• Eliminate mandates that states spend highway funding on non-highway activities
• Allow states to set their own transportation priorities
• Delegate more project approval authority to states
• Condense deadlines for federal agency project approvals
• Accelerate the approval process for projects in an existing right-of-way
• Encourage states to partner with the private sector to finance and build projects
• Streamline the project delivery process and reduces regulatory burdens for rail projects
• Call for the funds collected for the improvement of the nation’s harbors to be invested for that purpose
• Ensure the safe, efficient transportation of hazardous materials in a manner that does not impose unnecessary burdens on the flow of commerce

The financing provisions have not yet been released. They will be considered by the House Ways and Means Committee which is expected to mark up a bill soon.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in November last year approved the highway portion of the Senate’s two-year $109 billion surface transportation reauthorization, known as MAP-21, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century. The Senate Commerce Committee approved the motor carrier provisions last year, and the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee this week will mark up the transit portion. The Senate Finance Committee recently announced that an agreement had been reached on closing a $12 billion funding gap in MAP-21 and would hold a markup of the Senate financing provisions this week.

The latest extension of SAFETEA-LU expires March 31. The House and Senate will need to pass their bills and reconcile differences before then to avoid another extension.

...[read full article]

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-FL) today unveiled the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, which includes a five-year, $260 billion surface transportation reauthorization funding federal highway, transit and safety programs consistent with current funding levels. The bill will be combined with several other bills aimed at promoting domestic energy production. The Committee is scheduled to begin consideration of the transportation reauthorization portion on Thursday. Legislative text will be available at www.transportation.house.gov.

In summary, the transportation reauthorization provisions include:
• Provide long-term stability for states to undertake major infrastructure projects
• Contain no earmarks, compared to the previous transportation law which contained over 6,300 earmarks
• Consolidate or eliminate nearly 70 federal programs
• Eliminate mandates that states spend highway funding on non-highway activities
• Allow states to set their own transportation priorities
• Delegate more project approval authority to states
• Condense deadlines for federal agency project approvals
• Accelerate the approval process for projects in an existing right-of-way
• Encourage states to partner with the private sector to finance and build projects
• Streamline the project delivery process and reduces regulatory burdens for rail projects
• Call for the funds collected for the improvement of the nation’s harbors to be invested for that purpose
• Ensure the safe, efficient transportation of hazardous materials in a manner that does not impose unnecessary burdens on the flow of commerce

The financing provisions have not yet been released. They will be considered by the House Ways and Means Committee which is expected to mark up a bill soon.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in November last year approved the highway portion of the Senate’s two-year $109 billion surface transportation reauthorization, known as MAP-21, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century. The Senate Commerce Committee approved the motor carrier provisions last year, and the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee this week will mark up the transit portion. The Senate Finance Committee recently announced that an agreement had been reached on closing a $12 billion funding gap in MAP-21 and would hold a markup of the Senate financing provisions this week.

The latest extension of SAFETEA-LU expires March 31. The House and Senate will need to pass their bills and reconcile differences before then to avoid another extension.

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Public comments on the US Access Board’s proposed guidelines (http://www.access-board.gov/prowac/nprm.htm) for accessible public rights-of-way are due February 2. Those received after this date will be considered to the extent feasible.

The proposed guidelines provide design criteria for public streets and sidewalks, including pedestrian access routes, street crossings, curb ramps and blended transitions, on-street parking, street furniture and other elements. Once finalized and implemented as standards, the guidelines will apply to newly constructed or altered portions of public rights-of-way covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). They will also apply to public rights-of-way built or altered with funding from the federal government under the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) and the Rehabilitation Act. Existing pedestrian networks not undergoing alteration will not be required to meet these requirements.

Created in 1973 the Access Board is an independent federal agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities. The Board develops and maintains design criteria for the built environment, transit vehicles, telecommunications equipment, and for electronic and information technology. It also provides technical assistance and training on these requirements and on accessible design and continues to enforce accessibility standards that cover federally funded facilities.

Comments can be submitted or viewed through the www.regulations.gov website. For further information, visit the Board’s website, http://www.access-board.gov/prowac/index.htm.

 

...[read full article]

Public comments on the US Access Board’s proposed guidelines (http://www.access-board.gov/prowac/nprm.htm) for accessible public rights-of-way are due February 2. Those received after this date will be considered to the extent feasible.


The proposed guidelines provide design criteria for public streets and sidewalks, including pedestrian access routes, street crossings, curb ramps and blended transitions, on-street parking, street furniture and other elements. Once finalized and implemented as standards, the guidelines will apply to newly constructed or altered portions of public rights-of-way covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). They will also apply to public rights-of-way built or altered with funding from the federal government under the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) and the Rehabilitation Act. Existing pedestrian networks not undergoing alteration will not be required to meet these requirements.


Created in 1973 the Access Board is an independent federal agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities. The Board develops and maintains design criteria for the built environment, transit vehicles, telecommunications equipment, and for electronic and information technology. It also provides technical assistance and training on these requirements and on accessible design and continues to enforce accessibility standards that cover federally funded facilities.


Comments can be submitted or viewed through the www.regulations.gov website. For further information, visit the Board’s website, http://www.access-board.gov/prowac/index.htm

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The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has issued a notice and request for comments on a draft Section 4(f) Policy Paper that will provide guidance on the procedures FHWA will follow when approving the use of land from publicly owned public parks, recreation areas, wildlife and waterfowl refuges, and public or private historic sites for Federal highway projects. Comments must be received on or before February 3, 2012.

...[read full article]

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has issued a notice and request for comments on a draft Section 4(f) Policy Paper that will provide guidance on the procedures FHWA will follow when approving the use of land from publicly owned public parks, recreation areas, wildlife and waterfowl refuges, and public or private historic sites for Federal highway projects. Comments must be received on or before February 3, 2012.

A copy of the proposed Section 4(f) Policy Paper is available for download and public inspection under the docket number, FHWA-2011-0125, at the Federal eRulemaking portal at: http://www.regulations.gov. FHWA invites comments on the proposed policy paper and requests that commenters cite the page number of the policy paper for which each specific comment to the docket is concerned, to help make the FHWA's docket comment review process more efficient.

The Section 4(f) Policy Paper was written primarily to aid FHWA personnel with administering Section 4(f) in a consistent manner across the country and is intended to supplement the FHWA's regulations governing Section 4(f). Section 4(f) concerns the use of land from publicly owned parks, recreation areas, wildlife and waterfowl refuges, and public or private historic sites for Federal highway projects.

Although these requirements are now codified at 23 U.S.C. 138 and 49 U.S.C. 303, the subject matter remains commonly referred to as Section 4(f)because the requirements originated in Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966 (Pub. L. 89-670, 80 Stat.931). The FHWA's Section 4(f) regulations, entitled “Parks, Recreation Areas, Wildlife and Waterfowl Refuges, and Historic Sites,” were promulgated in 2008 and are codified at 23 CFR Part 774. When finalized, this draft Section 4(f) Policy Paper will replace the previous Section 4(f) Policy Paper that was issued by FHWA in 2005.

Congress amended Section 4(f) in Section 6009 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) (Pub. L. 109-59, Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1144). This draft Section 4(f) Policy Paper incorporates the changes required by Section 6009 of SAFETEA-LU and the 2008 regulations.
Comments on the draft Section 4(f) Policy Paper are welcome from any interested party. FHWA will consider all comments received during the comment period prior to finalizing the Section 4(f) Policy Paper.

You may submit or retrieve comments online through the Federal eRulemaking portal at: http://www.regulations.gov.  Electronic submission and retrieval help and guidelines are available under the help section of the Web site.

An electronic copy of the notice may also be downloaded from Office of the Federal Register's home page at: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register and the Government Printing Office's Web page at: http://www.fdsys.gov. Late comments will be considered to the extent practicable.

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The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a hearing on our Nation's Water Infrastructure Funding Crisis December 13, 2011.  Committee staff indicate that this hearing is a precursor to a push for Water Infrastructure funding legislation next year.
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To read APWA's statement please visit: http://www.apwa.net/DR/index.asp?ID=1312

 

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The Water Resources and the  Environment Subcommittee held a hearing on December 14, 2011 to receive testimony on EPA's proposed integrated planning and permitting regulatory prioritization effort under the Clean Water Act.
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EPA is working on a new framework that would allow municipalities to prioritize their water quality requirements to address the huge unfunded costs associated with the growing number of EPA water rules and enforcement actions.  To read APWA's testimony please visit: http://www.apwa.net/DR/index.asp?ID=1313

 

 

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The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) today announced that 46 transportation projects in 33 states and Puerto Rico will receive a total of $511 million from the third round of the USDOT TIGER program. The Department received 848 project applications from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, DC, requesting a total of $14.29 billion, far exceeding the $511 million made available for grants under the TIGER III program.

The grants will fund a wide range of innovative transportation projects in urban and rural areas across the country:

• Of the $511 million in TIGER III funds available for grants, more than $150 million will go to critical projects in rural areas.

• Roughly 48 percent of the funding will go to road and bridge projects, including more than $64 million for Complete Streets projects that will spur small business growth and benefit motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians.

• 29 percent of the funding will support transit projects like the Westside Multimodal Transit Center in San Antonio.

• 12 percent will help build port projects like the Port of New Orleans Rail Yard Improvements.

• 10 percent will go to freight rail projects like the Muldraugh Bridge Replacement in Kentucky.

• Three grants were also directed to tribal governments to create jobs and address critical transportation needs in Indian country.

• Three grants will provide better multimodal access to airports, including DFW in Texas.

Work has already begun on 33 planning projects while 58 capital projects are under way across the country from the previous two rounds of TIGER, and an additional 13 projects are expected to break ground over the next six months.

In 2009 and 2010, the USDOT received a total of 2,400 applications requesting $76 billion, greatly exceeding the $2.1 billion available in the TIGER I and TIGER II grant programs. In the previous two rounds, the TIGER program awarded grants to 126 freight, highway, transit, port and bicycle/pedestrian projects in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

TIGER grants are awarded to transportation projects that have a significant national or regional impact. Projects are chosen for their ability to contribute to the long-term economic competitiveness of the nation, improve the condition of existing transportation facilities and systems, increase energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improve the safety of U.S. transportation facilities and enhance the quality of living and working environments of communities through increased transportation choices and connections. The Department also gives priority to projects that are expected to create and preserve jobs quickly and stimulate increases in economic activity.

A complete list of grant recipients can be viewed on USDOT’s website: www.dot.gov.

 

...[read full article]

The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) today announced that 46 transportation projects in 33 states and Puerto Rico will receive a total of $511 million from the third round of the USDOT TIGER program. The Department received 848 project applications from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, DC, requesting a total of $14.29 billion, far exceeding the $511 million made available for grants under the TIGER III program.


The grants will fund a wide range of innovative transportation projects in urban and rural areas across the country:


• Of the $511 million in TIGER III funds available for grants, more than $150 million will go to critical projects in rural areas.


• Roughly 48 percent of the funding will go to road and bridge projects, including more than $64 million for Complete Streets projects that will spur small business growth and benefit motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians.


• 29 percent of the funding will support transit projects like the Westside Multimodal Transit Center in San Antonio.


• 12 percent will help build port projects like the Port of New Orleans Rail Yard Improvements.


• 10 percent will go to freight rail projects like the Muldraugh Bridge Replacement in Kentucky.


• Three grants were also directed to tribal governments to create jobs and address critical transportation needs in Indian country.


• Three grants will provide better multimodal access to airports, including DFW in Texas.


Work has already begun on 33 planning projects while 58 capital projects are under way across the country from the previous two rounds of TIGER, and an additional 13 projects are expected to break ground over the next six months.


In 2009 and 2010, the USDOT received a total of 2,400 applications requesting $76 billion, greatly exceeding the $2.1 billion available in the TIGER I and TIGER II grant programs. In the previous two rounds, the TIGER program awarded grants to 126 freight, highway, transit, port and bicycle/pedestrian projects in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.


TIGER grants are awarded to transportation projects that have a significant national or regional impact. Projects are chosen for their ability to contribute to the long-term economic competitiveness of the nation, improve the condition of existing transportation facilities and systems, increase energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improve the safety of U.S. transportation facilities and enhance the quality of living and working environments of communities through increased transportation choices and connections. The Department also gives priority to projects that are expected to create and preserve jobs quickly and stimulate increases in economic activity.


A complete list of grant recipients can be viewed on USDOT’s website: www.dot.gov.




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The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) is reopening until February 2, 2012 the comment period for the notice entitled "Accessibility Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way," that appeared in the Federal Register on July 26, 2011 (76 FR 44664). In that notice, the Access Board proposed guidelines for accessible public rights-of-way and requested comments by November 23, 2011.
The Access Board is extending the comment period to provide additional time for the public to submit comments on the proposed rule. APWA members are encourage to file comments. APWA filed comments November 23.
The proposed guidelines provide design criteria for public streets and sidewalks, including pedestrian access routes, street crossings, curb ramps and blended transitions, on-street parking, street furniture and other elements.

Once finalized and implemented as standards, the guidelines will apply to newly constructed or altered portions of public rights-of-way covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). They will also apply to public rights-of-way built or altered with funding from the federal government under the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) and the Rehabilitation Act. Existing pedestrian networks not undergoing alteration will not be required to meet these requirements.

More information on the rulemaking is available at: http://www.access-board.gov/prowac/nprm.htm. The proposed guidelines can be accessed and comments to them submitted or viewed through the federal government’s rulemaking portal at www.regulations.gov.
Created in 1973 the Access Board is an independent federal agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities. The Board develops and maintains design criteria for the built environment, transit vehicles, telecommunications equipment, and for electronic and information technology. It also provides technical assistance and training on these requirements and on accessible design and continues to enforce accessibility standards that cover federally funded facilities.

...[read full article]

The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) is reopening until February 2, 2012 the comment period for the notice entitled "Accessibility Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way," that appeared in the Federal Register on July 26, 2011 (76 FR 44664). In that notice, the Access Board proposed guidelines for accessible public rights-of-way and requested comments by November 23, 2011.
The Access Board is extending the comment period to provide additional time for the public to submit comments on the proposed rule. APWA members are encourage to file comments. APWA filed comments November 23.
The proposed guidelines provide design criteria for public streets and sidewalks, including pedestrian access routes, street crossings, curb ramps and blended transitions, on-street parking, street furniture and other elements.

Once finalized and implemented as standards, the guidelines will apply to newly constructed or altered portions of public rights-of-way covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). They will also apply to public rights-of-way built or altered with funding from the federal government under the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) and the Rehabilitation Act. Existing pedestrian networks not undergoing alteration will not be required to meet these requirements.

More information on the rulemaking is available at: http://www.access-board.gov/prowac/nprm.htm. The proposed guidelines can be accessed and comments to them submitted or viewed through the federal government’s rulemaking portal at www.regulations.gov.
Created in 1973 the Access Board is an independent federal agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities. The Board develops and maintains design criteria for the built environment, transit vehicles, telecommunications equipment, and for electronic and information technology. It also provides technical assistance and training on these requirements and on accessible design and continues to enforce accessibility standards that cover federally funded facilities.

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House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-FL) announced that he would hold off introducing a House transportation authorization until 2012 due to a crowded House legislative calendar in December.

Weeks earlier, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) had announced that legislation combining a five-year transportation authorization with measures to expand oil and gas drilling would be introduced and brought to the House floor before the end of the year. The American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, HR 7, would utilize revenues from expanded drilling to help pay for increased investment for Mica’s reauthorization bill.

Although no specifics about HR 7 have been released, including specific transportation reauthorization language, HR 7 is expected to include the following three bills: the Energy Security and Transportation Jobs Act, introduced by Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH), which would lift the drilling ban on new offshore areas by requiring the administration to lease offshore areas estimated to contain the most oil and natural gas resources; the Protecting Investment in Oil Shale the Next Generation of Environmental, Energy, and Resource Security Act (“PIONEERS” Act), introduced by Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CA), which would set clear rules for the development of U.S. oil shale resources and promote shale technology research and development; and the he Alaskan Energy for American Jobs Act, introduced by Chairman Doc Hastings (R-WA) and Rep. Don Young (R-AK), which would open less than three percent of ANWR’s 19 million acres in the North Slope for oil and natural gas development.

In response to the House Speaker’s proposal, House Democrats introduced the Fair Payment for Energy and Mineral Production on Public Lands Act, HR 3446, they say will generate $18 billion over 10 years. The bill, introduced by Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), would change royalty and leasing regulations to generate revenues for transportation. Unofficial estimates of HR. 7 have cited $1 billion in revenue over 10 years. Revenue estimates of both proposals are contested on both sides and seem to vary.

A blueprint for Mica’s reauthorization bill was released in July. It calls for expediting the project delivery process, consolidating programs, expanding private sector involvement in financing infrastructure and boosting investment in safety. It is unclear how much revenue would be generated by the drilling provisions but unofficial estimates have cited $1 billion over 10 years. Mica this fall said he would seek new revenue sources to increase transportation funding for his bill by as much as $100 billion. His blueprint called for a six year $235 billion bill.

The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee November 9th unanimously passed Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century, MAP-21, (S.1813 ) a bipartisan, two-year, $109 billion surface transportation authorization. The bill is not expected to be brought to the Senate floor until revenue to close a $12 billion funding shortfall to pay for the bill is agreed to. In addition, separate Senate Committees have not yet marked up transit and motor carrier safety provisions.

...[read full article]

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-FL) announced that he would hold off introducing a House transportation authorization until 2012 due to a crowded House legislative calendar in December.

Weeks earlier, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) had announced that legislation combining a five-year transportation authorization with measures to expand oil and gas drilling would be introduced and brought to the House floor before the end of the year. The American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, HR 7, would utilize revenues from expanded drilling to help pay for increased investment for Mica’s reauthorization bill.

Although no specifics about HR 7 have been released, including specific transportation reauthorization language, HR 7 is expected to include the following three bills: the Energy Security and Transportation Jobs Act, introduced by Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH), which would lift the drilling ban on new offshore areas by requiring the administration to lease offshore areas estimated to contain the most oil and natural gas resources; the Protecting Investment in Oil Shale the Next Generation of Environmental, Energy, and Resource Security Act (“PIONEERS” Act), introduced by Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CA), which would set clear rules for the development of U.S. oil shale resources and promote shale technology research and development; and the he Alaskan Energy for American Jobs Act, introduced by Chairman Doc Hastings (R-WA) and Rep. Don Young (R-AK), which would open less than three percent of ANWR’s 19 million acres in the North Slope for oil and natural gas development.

In response to the House Speaker’s proposal, House Democrats introduced the Fair Payment for Energy and Mineral Production on Public Lands Act, HR 3446, they say will generate $18 billion over 10 years. The bill, introduced by Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), would change royalty and leasing regulations to generate revenues for transportation. Unofficial estimates of HR. 7 have cited $1 billion in revenue over 10 years. Revenue estimates of both proposals are contested on both sides and seem to vary.

A blueprint for Mica’s reauthorization bill was released in July. It calls for expediting the project delivery process, consolidating programs, expanding private sector involvement in financing infrastructure and boosting investment in safety. It is unclear how much revenue would be generated by the drilling provisions but unofficial estimates have cited $1 billion over 10 years. Mica this fall said he would seek new revenue sources to increase transportation funding for his bill by as much as $100 billion. His blueprint called for a six year $235 billion bill.

The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee November 9th unanimously passed Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century, MAP-21, (S.1813 ) a bipartisan, two-year, $109 billion surface transportation authorization. The bill is not expected to be brought to the Senate floor until revenue to close a $12 billion funding shortfall to pay for the bill is agreed to. In addition, separate Senate Committees have not yet marked up transit and motor carrier safety provisions.

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President Obama signed into law legislation repealing a three percent withholding requirement scheduled to take effect in less than one month. Beginning January 1, 2012 federal, state, and local governments with more than $100 million in annual expenditures would have been required to withhold three percent of their payments for goods and services. The unpopular requirement was intended to assist the Internal Revenue Service with collecting unpaid taxes.

The House and Senate overwhelmingly approved the bill, HR 674 and the President signed the legislation November 21. APWA supported the repeal.

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President Obama signed into law legislation repealing a three percent withholding requirement scheduled to take effect in less than one month. Beginning January 1, 2012 federal, state, and local governments with more than $100 million in annual expenditures would have been required to withhold three percent of their payments for goods and services. The unpopular requirement was intended to assist the Internal Revenue Service with collecting unpaid taxes.

The House and Senate overwhelmingly approved the bill, HR 674 and the President signed the legislation November 21. APWA supported the repeal.

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