Search Results for keywords:"Aether Infrastructure

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is proposing a new information collection for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program alongside existing collections for the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) and Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) programs. This proposal includes using a form to gather expressions of interest from volunteers who will review BRIC grant applications. FEMA intends to improve disaster preparedness by enabling funding for effective, risk-reducing projects while encouraging state, local, tribal, and territorial entities to participate in the grant review process. The public is invited to comment on this proposal by February 8, 2021.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to Maine's State Implementation Plan (SIP) addressing the 2015 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) under the Clean Air Act. This proposal includes implementing infrastructure requirements, converting past conditional approvals to full approvals, and confirming Maine's determination that no sites in the state are subject to certain oil and gas industry control guidelines. Public comments on this proposal are invited before a decision is made.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced a waiver of the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act's requirements for certain natural gas products like gas service risers, meters, and regulators because these are not available in large enough quantities domestically. This waiver, which applies to projects funded by the Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization (NGDISM) Grant Program, aims to ensure timely project completion while maintaining safety. It is based on public feedback indicating supply issues and will last for three years starting January 22, 2025. PHMSA has emphasized the importance of having enough compliant products to avoid delaying critical safety construction projects.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), part of the Department of Homeland Security, is proposing a new program to collect information for its ChemLock program, which aims to help facilities with dangerous chemicals. This program will provide services like consultations, assessments, and training to improve security measures. CISA has issued a 60-day notice asking for public comments by March 3, 2025, regarding this information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Public feedback will help ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed ChemLock services.

The National Park Service (NPS) has revised the rules for right-of-way (ROW) permits, which allow the use of lands and waters they manage for infrastructure like power lines and cell towers. These updates make the NPS's process more similar to other Department of the Interior bureaus, introduce pre-application meetings, and require standardized application forms. The new rules also broaden the ways to determine fair market value and highlight the need for construction permitting, address advances in technology, and align with recent laws. These changes aim to protect park resources while making the process clearer for applicants.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, plans to host seven regional meetings between February and May 2025. These meetings are designed to help grantees of various broadband grant programs, including those aimed at increasing digital equity and broadband access in underserved communities. Each event will end with a regional roundtable where the public can discuss the impact of these programs and strategies for long-term sustainability. The sessions will feature experts from government, academia, and industry and invite both public and private stakeholders to collaborate on making technology accessible to all residents.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is issuing a waiver from the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act requirements for certain products that the Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) needs for its safety and modernization grant project. The waiver applies because these products are not readily available in the U.S., or they are too costly to obtain domestically. The waiver covers products like electro-fusion tapping tees, anodeless risers, and lockwing valves, among others, and enables PGW to proceed with updating their gas distribution system in Philadelphia's disadvantaged neighborhoods. This waiver is only applicable to PGW's project and is effective until June 30, 2029.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is proposing a waiver for certain Buy America requirements under the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA) for infrastructure projects in the Pacific Island territories and Freely Associated States, like Guam and American Samoa. This proposal recognizes the unique challenges these regions face, such as extended delivery times and high shipping costs for U.S.-produced goods due to their geographic isolation. If approved, the waiver, which aims to ease these burdens and support project completion, would be valid for five years, allowing exceptions where necessary for strategic security. DOT seeks public comments on this proposal by December 31, 2024.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a public interest waiver allowing certain infrastructure projects in the Pacific Island territories (Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and American Samoa) and the Freely Associated States (Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Federated States of Micronesia) to bypass the Buy America requirements. These requirements usually mandate that materials like iron, steel, and manufactured goods used in U.S. infrastructure projects be made domestically. The waiver, lasting five years from January 10, 2025, aims to reduce costs and avoid project delays caused by shipping and sourcing issues from the mainland U.S. DOT decided on this waiver after considering public comments and addressing concerns about regional supply chains and cost impacts.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has issued a waiver to exempt City Utilities of Springfield, Missouri, from the Buy America requirements for certain products used in its natural gas project funded by the NGDISM grant. This waiver is granted because these products, such as locator markers and magnesium anodes, are not available in sufficient quantities from domestic manufacturers. City Utilities had previously sought suppliers but found no companies able to provide the required products compliant with the Buy America Act. The waiver applies only to this specific project and is effective until the project concludes, estimated by June 30, 2029.