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95–734 PDF 2015

S. HRG. 114–54 

NOMINATION HEARING FOR KRISTEN KULINOWSKI 

TO BE A MEMBER OF THE CHEMICAL SAFETY 

BOARD AND GREG NADEAU TO BE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION 

HEARING 

BEFORE THE

COMMITTEE ON 

ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS 

UNITED STATES SENATE 

ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH CONGRESS 

FIRST SESSION 

JULY 15, 2015 

Printed for the use of the Committee on Environment and Public Works 

( 

Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys 
(II) 

COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS 

ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH CONGRESS 

FIRST SESSION 

JAMES M. INHOFE, Oklahoma, Chairman 

DAVID VITTER, Louisiana 

JOHN BARRASSO, Wyoming 

SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, West Virginia 

MIKE CRAPO, Idaho 

JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas 

JEFF SESSIONS, Alabama 

ROGER WICKER, Mississippi 

DEB FISCHER, Nebraska 

MIKE ROUNDS, South Dakota 

DAN SULLIVAN, Alaska 

BARBARA BOXER, California 

THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware 

BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, Maryland 

BERNARD SANDERS, Vermont 

SHELDON WHITEHOUSE, Rhode Island 

JEFF MERKLEY, Oregon 

KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND, New York 

CORY A. BOOKER, New Jersey 

EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts 

RYAN JACKSON, Majority Staff Director 

BETTINA POIRIER, Democratic Staff Director 
(III) 

C O N T E N T S 

Page 

JULY 15, 2015 

OPENING STATEMENTS 

Collins, Hon. Susan M., U.S. Senator from the State of Maine .......................... 1 

King, Hon. Angus S., Jr., U.S. Senator from the State of Maine ........................ 2 

Markey, Hon. Edward J., U.S. Senator from the State of Massachusetts .......... 3 

Inhofe, Hon. James M., U.S. Senator from the State of Oklahoma .................... 4 

Boxer, Hon. Barbara, U.S. Senator from the State of California ........................ 6 

WITNESSES 

Nadeau, Greg, nominated to be Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration ................................................................................................................. 8 

Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 11 

Kulinowski, Kristen, nominated to be a member of the Chemical Safety 

Board ..................................................................................................................... 17 

Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 20 

Responses to additional questions from Senator Inhofe ............................... 24 

(1) 

NOMINATION HEARING FOR KRISTEN 

KULINOWSKI TO BE A MEMBER OF THE 

CHEMICAL SAFETY BOARD AND GREG 

NADEAU TO BE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE 

FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION 

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015 

U.S. SENATE, 

COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS, 

Washington, DC. 

The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 9:30 a.m. in room 406, 

Dirksen Senate Building, Hon. James Inhofe (chairman of the committee) presiding. 

Present: Senators Inhofe, Capito, Boozman, Fischer, Rounds, 

Carper, Gillibrand, and Markey. 

Senator INHOFE. Consistent with our policy of starting on time, 

we are going to start on time, Senator Collins. 

I know that Senator King is going to be coming to join you in 

the introduction, but since he is not here, we will start with you, 

if you would proceed. 

OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. SUSAN M. COLLINS, 

U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF MAINE 

Senator COLLINS. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman and 

Ranking Member Boxer, for convening this hearing on the nomination of Greg Nadeau to be the Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration at the U.S. Department of Transportation. 

I am truly honored to speak before this committee in strong support of Mr. Nadeau’s nomination. He is a Maine native. That gives 

him great credibility in my eyes to start and perhaps more important to this committee, he truly is a transportation expert. 

He is also a former member of the Maine State Legislature and 

he was an advisor to two of Maine’s Governors, John Baldacci and 

my colleague, Angus King. 

I have known Greg for many years and have worked closely with 

him on many important transportation issues. As Angus will describe in greater detail, Greg has a long record of public service 

and experience in transportation policy, including serving very ably 

as the Deputy Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration since 2009. 

The President’s nomination of Greg is a well earned recognition 

of his expertise in highway policy and his effectiveness as a manager of people and programs. 
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As Chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, I have enjoyed working closely with Greg and I look forward to the opportunity to continue this relationship if he is confirmed to serve as the Administrator. 

Greg’s nomination comes at a critical time for FHA, the transportation industry and the traveling public. As this committee is well 

aware, the Highway Trust Fund faces yet another shortfall at the 

end of this month. 

A lapse in Federal funding, particularly at a time when most 

States are at the peak construction season, would be disastrous for 

local economies throughout the Nation. I want to salute the leaders 

of this committee for your hard work in unanimously crafting and 

passing a bill to reauthorize our surface transportation programs 

for the next 6 years. 

As Greg’s nomination process moves forward, I want to tell the 

committee that I cannot think of a better person to lead the Federal Highway Administration in its ongoing stewardship of the construction, maintenance and preservation of our Nation’s highways, 

bridges and tunnels. He is a remarkable leader, a man of integrity 

and an expert in transportation policy. 

I urge this committee to support Greg Nadeau and to move this 

nominee swiftly through the confirmation process. 

I mentioned earlier in my remarks that Greg worked for Senator 

King as his advisor on a host of issues. I am sure that Senator 

King will give you an even more detailed background about this 

outstanding nominee. 

Again, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you. 

Senator INHOFE. Thank you, Senator Collins. 

Senator King, you are recognized. 

OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. ANGUS S. KING, JR., 

U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF MAINE 

Senator KING. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, Ranking 

Member Boxer, and members of the committee. 

When I was elected as Governor of Maine in 1994, about a week 

after my election, literally one of the first phone calls I made was 

to Greg Nadeau. I asked him to join my office as one of my senior 

policy advisors, one of three at the time, because of his experience, 

his judgment, his integrity and his intelligence. 

He is a former legislator, a member of the Maine Legislature for 

12 years, a member of our Maine Appropriations Committee, so he 

understands the legislative process and understands the policy 

process. 

For 8 years, he was my senior policy advisor in areas of transportation, corrections, labor and other related issues and proved himself to be exactly what I hoped and expected he would be. 

He also went on to the Maine Department of Transportation 

after I left office and thought I had left politics and worked as a 

senior policy advisor in the Maine Department of Transportation. 

He worked with his colleagues across the Country on transportation issues. 

Since 2009, he has been here in Washington at the Department 

of Transportation in the Federal Highway Administration and has 

really demonstrated a dedication to infrastructure and highway 
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issues and a deep knowledge of how this works, I think importantly, not only at the Federal level, but at the State level, how the 

policies made here in Washington affect the States. 

He saw that in my office when I was Governor, he saw that as 

a senior official at the Maine Department of Transportation, so he 

has seen both sides of the Federal Highway Administration. I think 

that is a crucially important quality for someone in this very important position. 

He is a man of impeccable integrity, intelligence, judgment and 

also has what we in Maine refer to as a superb work ethic, the 

highest compliment you can pay to someone in Maine. I do not 

know if this is a familiar term here, but the highest compliment 

you can pay to someone in Maine is to say he is finest kind. He 

is the finest kind. Greg certainly fills that criteria. 

It is an honor for me to join Senator Collins today to enthusiastically commend his capabilities and his experience to this committee. 

Senator INHOFE. Thank you, Senator King and Senator Collins, 

both of you. 

I have to say the comments you have made are consistent with 

the comments I had just last night with a person I consider, and 

Senator Boxer knows this, our No. 1 advisor, Gary Ridley. He has 

to be a great guy with the three of you; that is all I can say. 

You may be excused if you have other things to do. 

Senator KING. Thank you. 

Senator COLLINS. Thank you. 

Senator INHOFE. Senator Markey, I understand Ms. Kulinowski 

actually worked in your House office for a period of time. Would 

you like to participate in her introduction? 

Senator MARKEY. If I could, thank you. 

OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. EDWARD J. MARKEY, 

U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS 

Senator MARKEY. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. 

It does give me great pleasure to introduce Dr. Kristen 

Kulinowski, a nominee for the Chemical Safety Board. 

Kristen is a highly technically qualified candidate with a Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral degree in Chemistry. She is a native 

of Buffalo, New York. She also has lived and worked in California, 

Texas and Washington, DC, in many academic, managerial and 

policy roles. 

I first met Kristen when she began as one of my congressional 

science and engineering Fellows. Her fellowship class literally 

started its orientation just 2 days before the terrorist attacks on 

September 11. They were in the Library of Congress on that terrible and chaotic morning. 

I learned later that not only did Kristen respond to the 9/11 attacks at the Pentagon by staffing the food and water distribution 

to the exhausted emergency workers on the scene the next day, but 

she also had been a volunteer with the American Red Cross for 

many years, responding in the middle of the night to help people 

displaced from their homes by house fires and serving our national 

level disaster responses such as Hurricane Andrew. It is literally 
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the case that when Dr. Kulinowski hears someone yell fire, she 

runs toward the source and not away from it. 

When Kristen was a Fellow in my office, one of her key accomplishments was in writing and successfully negotiating bipartisan 

support for a provision that was enacted into the Bioterrorism Act 

of 2002. The provisions expands from 10 to 20 miles the radius 

around a nuclear power plant that people can get free potassium 

iodide to protect their thyroids from exposure to radioactive iodine 

that may be released after an accident or act of terrorism. 

Her ability to marshal the support for the provision and negotiate an acceptable outcome for stakeholders with very different 

views on nuclear safety is a testament to her ability to communicate the scientific facts, while making reasonable compromises 

with stakeholders on all sides of the issue. 

After leaving my office, she developed an international reputation as an expert in nanotechnology. To address issues of potential 

risk, she built a coalition of diverse constituents that included 

major chemical companies, environmental and consumer advocacy 

groups recognizing that a better outcome always results when all 

views are considered and incorporated. 

I, and many others, can attest to Kristen’s scientific credentials, 

impartiality and collegiality. These qualities will serve her exceptionally well at the Chemical Safety Board. I give her my unqualified support and urge my colleagues to do the same. 

Senator INHOFE. Thank you, Senator Markey. That is an excellent statement. 

We are here today to do our constitutional duty to advise and 

consent to nominations. If the two of you would like to take your 

places at the table, I will do an opening statement, Senator Boxer 

will do an opening statement and then we will hear from you and 

get into the nomination process. 

OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. JAMES M. INHOFE, 

U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA 

Senator INHOFE. Mr. Greg Nadeau has been nominated to be Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration. Ms. 

Kulinowski has been nominated to be a member of the Chemical 

Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. I want to thank both of 

you for being here today. 

Beginning with the first nominee, Mr. Nadeau became the Acting 

Administrator of Federal Highway Administration in December 

2013 and has been with the agency since 2009, previously serving 

as Deputy Administrator. In addition to his current position as Acting Administrator, he serves on the DOT’s Freight Policy Council, 

providing advice on the development and implementation of Federal freight policy. It is very appropriate that ability is there since 

we are considering a bill right now that has a major freight component to it. 

Before becoming Acting Administrator, Mr. Nadeau served as a 

Senior Policy Advisor to then Governor Angus King, as you heard 

in his introduction, and then as Deputy Commissioner for Maine’s 

DOT. Earlier in his career, Mr. Nadeau served in the Maine House 

of Representatives. He served as a supporter of the American Asso-
5 

ciation of State Highway and Transportation Officials as well as 

both of his home State Senators, as you noted in their introduction. 

The Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration is an 

extremely important position for this committee. I look forward to 

discussing with you how we can continue to accelerate delivery of 

highway projects. It is very timely. 

The next nominee is Ms. Kristen Kulinowski. She may not be 

known quite as well to some of us but she has spent some time on 

the Hill as pointed out by Senator Markey. 

This is the second CSB nomination hearing we have had. We 

heard from Ms. Sutherland in April. We discussed with Ms. Sutherland that the Chemical Safety Board is a deeply troubled agency. 

Since our April hearing, Board Member Griffon has stepped 

down. His term ended on June 24. Board Member Engler is now 

the chief executive for the Board. Mr. Engler has taken action to 

address the mismanagement, harassment and turmoil at the CSB 

by putting Managing Director Daniel Horowitz and General Counsel Richard Loeb on administrative leave. 

It is important to point out these two employees were the subject 

of an investigation by the EPA Inspector General as well as the 

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee for harassing 

other employees, for using private email accounts to hide their 

plans for operating the CSB from other Board members and the 

CSB staff, for delaying CSB investigations, and subsequently delaying information requests from the EPA IG until the IG finally 

contacted the White House for assistance. 

It is also important to note that the mismanagement resulted in 

President Obama calling for former CSB Chairman Rafael MoureEraso’s resignation in response to these investigations and a request from Senator Rounds and me in March of this year. 

It is important to the basic functioning of the CSB that as the 

investigation of Mr. Engler and the CSB begins, that it has the resources it needs to complete further reform of the CSB. 

I look forward to discussing these and other issues. 

Senator Boxer. 

[The prepared statement of Senator Inhofe follows:] 

STATEMENT OF HON. JAMES M. INHOFE, 

U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA

We are here today to perform our Constitutional duty to advise the President on 

his nominees. 

Mr. Greg Nadeau has been nominated to be the Administrator of the Federal 

Highway Administration. Ms. Kulinowski has been nominated to be a member of 

the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. I want to thank both of you 

for being here today. 

Beginning with the first nominee—Mr. Nadeau became the Acting Administrator 

of Federal Highways in December 2013 and has been with the agency since 2009, 

previously serving as Deputy Administrator. In addition to his current position as 

the Acting Administrator, he serves on the DOT’s Freight Policy Council, providing 

advice on the development and implementation of Federal freight policy. 

Before becoming the Acting Administrator, Mr. Nadeau served as a senior policy 

advisor to then-Governor Angus King and then as the Deputy Commissioner for 

Maine’s DOT. Earlier in his career, Mr. Nadeau served in the Maine House of Representatives. He has the support of the American Association of State Highway and 

Transportation Officials as well as both of his home State Senators, Senator Collins 

and Senator King. 
6 

The Administrator of Federal Highways is an extremely important position for 

this Committee and I look forward to discussing with you how we can continue to 

accelerate delivery of highway projects. 

Now for the next nominee before us—Ms. Kulinowski may not be known to most 

of us; although I do note that she spent a year as a Congressional Science Policy 

Advisor in Senator Markey’s office, back when he was in the House of Representatives. 

This is the second CSB nomination hearing we have had. We heard from Vanessa 

Sutherland in April. As we discussed with Ms. Sutherland, the Chemical Safety 

Board is a deeply troubled agency. 

Since our April hearing, Board Member Griffon has stepped down—his term 

ended June 24th. Board Member Engler is now the chief executive for the board. 

Mr. Engler has taken action to address the mismanagement, harassment, and turmoil at the CSB by putting Managing Director Daniel Horowitz and General Counsel Richard Loeb on administrative leave. 

It is important to point out, these two employees were the subject of an investigation by the EPA Inspector General as well as the House Oversight and Government 

Reform Committee for harassing other employees, for using private email accounts 

to hide their plans for operating the CSB from other board members and CSB staff 

and then subsequently delaying information requests from the EPA IG until the IG 

finally contacted the White House for assistance, and for delaying CSB investigations. It is also important that this mismanagement resulted in President Obama 

calling for former CSB chairman Rafael Moure-Eraso’s resignation in response to 

these investigations and a request from Senator Rounds and me in March this year. 

It is important to the basic functioning of the CSB that the investigation Mr. Engler 

and the CSB began has the resources it needs to be completed to further reform 

the CSB. 

I look forward to discussing this development with Ms. Kulinowski and hearing 

her views on how to improve management of and work environment at the CSB. 

OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. BARBARA BOXER, 

U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA 

Senator BOXER. Thank you, and welcome to our two nominees. 

Mr. Chairman, as we know, the confirmation of highly qualified 

individuals to lead Federal agencies is an extremely important responsibility of ours and of the Senate. I think what we see before 

us is just that, two highly qualified individuals. 

I want to congratulate both of you on these nominations and also 

on the strong statements made on your behalf by Senators, including our own Senator Markey and of course, the two Senators from 

Maine. 

We know that Mr. Nadeau has been the Deputy Administrator 

for FHWA since 2009 and has carried out the duties of Acting Administrator for the agency since December 2013. Before joining 

FHWA, Mr. Nadeau gained valuable experience at the State level. 

We heard a lot about that in beautiful words from the two Senators, so I will not go through that. 

We know, if confirmed, you, sir, will be responsible for administration of our Nation’s Federal-aid highway program. That is so 

critical. All of us on this committee, regardless of party, are so 

strongly behind a robust transportation policy. 

If confirmed, I think you will enjoy working with every single one 

of us. Honestly, if you were here to have a job at the EPA, I could 

not say that. I think it would be tougher for you, but when it comes 

to the highways, we are, in fact, very much together, which is important. 

I think we have here a gentleman who has been praised to the 

skies by people we respect. I hope we can move quickly. 

Of course we will also hear from Kristen Kulinowski. We heard 

a lot from Senator Markey about her character. I took away from 
7 

you, sir, that you have a person here who you testified is someone 

who brings people together. This is essential in that particular 

agency at this particular time. 

I think in addition to all of her other work, she is an adjunct assistant professor at Rice University’s Department of Chemistry. We 

are talking about someone who is not a politician, but someone who 

is a scientist. This is what we really need. That is what she did 

for Senator Markey. She was the Congressional Science Policy Fellow when he was in the House. 

We know the CSB investigates industrial chemical accidents involving fatalities, serious injuries, or substantial property damages 

and makes recommendations to industry and Federal and State 

agencies as to how we can avert similar events from occurring. 

Safety is the CSB’s No. 1 priority. I look forward to hearing from 

Dr. Kulinowski about how she intends to meet the challenges 

ahead. 

Mr. Chairman, I feel so good about these nominees and I hope 

you do also. I hope we can move on them quickly. 

Thank you. 

[The prepared statement of Senator Boxer follows:] 

STATEMENT OF HON. BARBARA BOXER, 

U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Today, the Environment and Public Works Committee is considering two nominations—Greg Nadeau to be Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration 

(FHWA) and Kristen Kulinowski to be a Member of the Chemical Safety Board 

(CSB). The confirmation of highly qualified individuals to lead Federal agencies is 

an extremely important responsibility of the Senate. It is critical that we move forward with these nominations so that Federal agencies can fulfill their mission to 

serve the American people. 

Mr. Nadeau has been the Deputy Administrator for FHWA since 2009 and has 

carried out the duties of Acting Administrator for the agency since December 2013. 

Before joining FHWA, Mr. Nadeau gained valuable experience at the State level, 

serving as the Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Planning and Communications for 

the Maine Department of Transportation for 6 years. Prior to that, Mr. Nadeau was 

the Senior Policy Advisor to then-Governor Angus King from 1995 to 2002 for a 

number of policy areas, including transportation, economic development, energy and 

utilities, environmental protection, and labor. 

If confirmed, Mr. Nadeau will be responsible for FHWA’s administration of our 

Nation’s Federal-aid highway program that provides funding to States and other 

non-Federal project sponsors to construct and maintain our nation’s roads and 

bridges. The nation’s economic security depends on a reliable and efficient transportation system. It is the FHWA which works with State and local governments to 

ensure that America’s highways and bridges remain safe, technologically up-to-date, 

and environmentally friendly. 

We will also hear from Kristen Kulinowski. Since 2011, she has been a Research 

Staff Member for the congressionally chartered Science and Technology Policy Institute, which is part of the Institute for Defense Analyses. In this capacity, Dr. 

Kulinowski works on issues related to program evaluation, innovation policy, and 

disaster response. She is also an adjunct assistant professor at Rice University’s Department of Chemistry. Dr. Kulinowski has worked at Rice University for 15 years, 

where she has focused on engaging government, industry, and other stakeholders 

in exploring the environmental and health risks of engineered nanomaterial. From 

2001 to 2002, she was a Congressional Science Policy Fellow in the office of thenRepresentative Markey. She is a member of the American Chemical Society and the 

American Industrial Hygiene Association-Nanotechnology Working Group. Dr. 

Kulinowski holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry. 

The CSB plays a critical role in protecting our communities from chemical hazards. CSB investigates industrial chemical accidents involving fatalities, serious injuries, or substantial property damages and makes recommendations to industry 

and Federal and State agencies to help prevent similar events. 
8 

Safety is the CSB’s No. 1 priority, and I look forward to hearing from Dr. 

Kulinowski about how she intends to meet the challenges ahead. 

Welcome to both of our nominees. 

Senator INHOFE. Thank you very much, Senator Boxer. 

We will proceed and start with you, Mr. Nadeau. If you will try 

to confine your remarks to 5 minutes, your entire statement will 

be made a part of the record. You are recognized. 

We are going to try to keep moving along here because we do 

have votes coming up shortly and I do not want to have to come 

back. 

STATEMENT OF GREG NADEAU, NOMINATED TO BE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION 

Mr. NADEAU. Thank you, Chairman Inhofe, Ranking Member 

Boxer, and members of the committee, I appreciate the opportunity 

to appear before you today as you consider my nomination for Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration. I am honored 

to have been nominated for this position by President Obama with 

the support of Secretary Foxx. 

Serving as the FHWA Deputy Administrator since 2009 and carrying out all the duties of the Administrator for the last 20 months, 

I am mindful of the many challenges and responsibilities facing the 

next Federal Highway Administrator. 

I appreciate the important role this committee plays in establishing transportation policy. Should you confirm me, I look forward to working with you and your staff to improve safety and mobility of our Nation’s highways and the delivery of the Federal Aid 

Highway Program. 

I would like to extend my thanks to Senator Collins and Senator 

King for their warm introduction. Having both Senators from my 

home State appear on my behalf is truly humbling. I cannot sufficiently express my gratitude. 

Maine is so fortunate to have such a strong advocate for transportation in Senator Collins and in her role as Chair of our Appropriations Subcommittee and as a national leader. 

It is fair to say that serving in Senator King’s administration 

while he was Governor of Maine was the inspiration that led to my 

continuing public service at the State and Federal levels. It has 

been extremely satisfying and rewarding for me personally and has 

afforded me the opportunity to make a contribution to my State 

and my Country. 

With your permission, Mr. Chairman, I would like to introduce 

my son, Nicholas, sitting behind me, currently a resident of Arlington, Virginia. I am happy to say he is gainfully employed in the 

construction management sector here in this area. 

My family has been extremely supportive of me throughout my 

27 years of State service in Maine and my 6 years of Federal service here in Washington. Due to the occasion of my daughter’s wedding on Saturday, she and her mother understandably are unable 

to attend today. Nicholas and I will be heading home after this 

hearing to help prepare and celebrate this grand event in our family. 
9 

Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member Boxer, holding this hearing 

in the midst of your extraordinary workload is much appreciated 

and a wonderful wedding present to my entire family. Thank you. 

I believe my extensive public service has prepared me well to 

lead the Federal Highway Administration. I would like to highlight 

today some of the key priorities if I am confirmed. 

First is safety. Fatalities and serious injuries on our roads are 

declining, but the numbers are still far too high. If confirmed, I will 

work to drive these numbers further downward, consistent with 

Secretary Foxx’s embracement of the Toward Zero Deaths national 

goal. 

We will build on the data-driven, strategic approach of the Highway Safety Improvement Program and maintain Federal Highway’s 

emphasis on safety countermeasures like Safety Edge and the highfriction surface treatments that could be deployed system-wide at 

a low cost and yield significant safety gains. 

If confirmed, I will prioritize and lead FHWA into the next authorization period. As members of this committee, there is no doubt 

you are all quite familiar with the cost of inadequate and delayed 

infrastructure investment. Among them is the decline in the condition of our Nation’s roads and bridges and their ability to handle 

current and future traffic demands, safety impacts, increased shipping delays and higher prices on every day products, and uncertainty for State and local project sponsors. With the DRIVE Act, 

you are leading the charge in Congress to long-term authorization 

to help address these issues in a bipartisan way. 

As you know, President Obama has also put forward a proposal 

called the Grow America Act. If confirmed, I will work with you to 

help provide highway infrastructure the bold investment it needs. 

Next, considering the budget constraints at all levels of government, we must deliver the best value for every taxpayer dollar. 

This committee provided many tools toward this end in MAP–21. 

The Grow America Act seeks to build on that foundation. 

Additionally, Federal Highway’s EDC innovation partnership 

with the States is helping shorten project delivery through deployment of process innovations and the increased use of technology 

with the result of States and local agencies saving time and money 

that could be directed to additional projects. I believe we enhance 

the environmental income through efficiency. 

I have been fortunate to have led Federal Highway’s efforts to 

carry out EDC and if confirmed, I look forward to taking EDC to 

the next level in partnership with States and locals to deliver the 

highway program of the future. The resources and tools provided 

under MAP–21 and targeted toward accelerating project delivery 

have already had an impact across the Country. This unique Federal, State and local partnership personifies the smart government 

approach. 

The proposed codification of EDC in the DRIVE Act will serve as 

a catalyst in encouraging our stakeholders to maximize our collective efforts to improve safety and project delivery efficiency through 

innovation. 

Mr. Chairman, recognizing the many demands on our time, I 

very much appreciate the opportunity you and the entire committee 
10 

have provided to testify here today in consideration of my nomination as Federal Highway Administrator. 

I would be happy to answer any questions. 

[The prepared statement of Mr. Nadeau follows:] 
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Senator INHOFE. Thank you, Mr. Nadeau, for an excellent statement. 

Dr. Kulinowski. 

STATEMENT OF KRISTEN KULINOWSKI, NOMINATED TO BE A 

MEMBER OF THE CHEMICAL SAFETY BOARD 

Ms. KULINOWSKI. Thank you, Chairman Inhofe, Ranking Member 

Boxer, and distinguished members of the committee. I am honored 

to have been nominated by President Obama to be a member of the 

Chemical Safety Board. 

I am joined here today physically and virtually by my family, 

friends and colleagues who have supported and inspired me 

throughout my career, including my husband and daughters. 

Senator INHOFE. Have your daughters stand. 

Ms. KULINOWSKI. They are Kiara and Cleo. 

This nomination is the culmination of two decades of professional 

experience in academia and public policy. I am currently employed 

at the Institute for Defense Analyses Science and Technology Policy 

Institute, a federally funded research center that performs objective 

analysis of national science and technology policy in support of the 

White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and other 

Federal executive agencies. 

In the last 4 years, I have worked on a diverse set of topics including program evaluation, innovation policy, and disaster response. 

While my portfolio in my current job has been broad, first and 

foremost, I am a chemist. I hold a BS in chemistry with Honors 

from Canisius College and MS and Ph.D. degrees in chemistry from 

the University of Rochester. After earning my doctorate, I held faculty appointments at Cal Poly and Rice University before coming 

to Washington, DC, in September 2001 as a Congressional Science 

and Technology Policy Fellow. 

As Senator Markey mentioned, on 9/11 my fellowship cohort was 

in orientation when word came about the attacks on our Country. 

Later that day, I went to the Pentagon as a volunteer with the 

American Red Cross to serve emergency workers responding to the 

attack. 

This experience shaped my decision to accept a fellowship placement in then-Congressman Markey’s office where I staffed the Bipartisan Task Force on Nonproliferation. My time on Mr. Markey’s 

staff gave me insight into the impact that a bipartisan policy process can have when people work together to achieve a common goal. 

After my fellowship, I returned to Rice University to join the 

Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology, where I 

served as Executive Director. My research focused on the environmental, health, and safety implications of engineered 

nanomaterials. This part of my background is particularly relevant 

to the activities of the Chemical Safety Board because it is where 

I earned my experience with worker health and safety. 

When I began my appointment in the center, nanotechnology was 

a fledging field full of promise. But there were concerns that the 

novel chemical and physical properties of nanomaterials could lead 

to unwanted interactions with people and the environment. 
18 

Absent any specific guidance governing nanomaterials, many 

companies were concerned about investing resources into developing products without regulatory or market certainty. My policy 

experience afforded me the ability to help focus our center’s efforts 

on evaluating the potential risks associated with the manufacturing and use of nanomaterials while few others were actively engaging in research on this topic. 

At the urging of our industrial affiliates, our center created the 

International Council on Nanotechnology, ICON, a multi-stakeholder coalition dedicated to investigating and communicating 

nanomaterials’ potential risks. Under my leadership as director, 

ICON created a neutral space where people from companies, environmental and consumer advocacy groups, government agencies, 

labor unions, and universities could explore the limited but growing body of scientific evidence about nanomaterial risk. 

Governance was shared amongst the stakeholder groups, ensuring that no one sector would dominate the agenda, and high-quality fact-based evidence was prized above all else. ICON’s work 

products continue to have impact in the community and our innovative model for stakeholder engagement remains an example of 

what multi-stakeholder collaboration can achieve. 

Although I am proud of what ICON achieved, creating an environment where stakeholders could have frank and honest discussions around sensitive issues was not a trivial task. It took time 

and effort to gain the trust of these disparate groups and to foster 

trust among them. 

As Director of ICON, I learned much about working across diverse groups, which I believe will serve me well as a member of 

the CSB. It also sensitized me to the challenges of promoting safe 

and healthy workplaces for all Americans. 

Workers are on the front lines of industrial processes and have 

high potential exposure to the risks of these processes. Fortunately, 

risks to U.S. workers from nanomaterial production have yet to 

manifest and, hopefully, they never will. 

My experience exploring these issues brought me into contact 

with a larger community of people interested in making workplaces 

safer. As a result, I have partnered with NIOSH, OSHA, and 

NIEHS on projects directly related to worker protection. 

The knowledge that many major industrial accidents could have 

been prevented drives me to continue my work in the area of industrial health and safety. The CSB is a small agency with a large 

and important mission: to investigate the root causes of major industrial accidents that have adversely impacted workers or the surrounding community. 

I appreciate that the CSB is dedicated to using facts and evidence to determine the causes of industrial accidents and avoids 

approaching investigations with preconceived notions about the 

outcome. That is the approach that I adopted when working on 

nanoparticle health and safety and it governs how I perform my 

analyses in my current job. 

The CSB’s rigorous, technical analyses provide a solid foundation 

for making recommendations to industry, labor, and local, State 

and Federal agencies for changes that can help prevent accidents 

from happening in the future. 
19 

I am honored and excited to be considered for a position on the 

Chemical Safety Board. If confirmed, I will draw on my technical 

skills, experience with stakeholder engagement, and scientific 

dispassion to work toward the shared goal of ensuring that every 

American industrial worker goes home at the end of his or her 

shift. 

Thank you for the opportunity to share my qualifications with 

you and for your consideration of my nomination. 

[The prepared statement of Ms. Kulinowski follows:] 
20 
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24 
25 
26 
27 
28 

Senator INHOFE. Thank you, Dr. Kulinowski. 

We have our three questions that I must ask you. I would ask 

each one of you to respond vocally to the questions. 

Do you agree, if confirmed, to appear before this committee, or 

designated members of this committee and other appropriate committees, to provide information subject to appropriate and necessary security protection with respect to your responsibilities? 

Mr. NADEAU. Yes. 

Ms. KULINOWSKI. I do. 

Senator INHOFE. Do you agree to ensure that testimony, briefings 

and documents in electronic and other forms of communication of 

information are provided to this committee, its staff and other appropriate committees in a timely manner? 

Ms. KULINOWSKI. I do. 

Mr. NADEAU. Yes. 

Senator INHOFE. Last, do you know of any matters which you 

may or may not have disclosed that might place you in a conflict 

of interest if you are confirmed? 

Ms. KULINOWSKI. No, sir. 

Mr. NADEAU. No, sir. 

Senator INHOFE. Thank you. 

I have one question for you, Mr. Nadeau. Right now, as I stated 

in my opening remarks, this is a very appropriate time to have you 

come forth in your particular position. As you know, the last bill 

we had was in 2005 when we had a 5-year bill which worked very, 

very well. We are reaping the rewards of that right now. 

However, after that, we went through a 9-year period of short 

term extensions. Our mutual friend, Gary Ridley, calculated it cost 

about 30 percent more to do it that way, so I tell my Republican 

friends that the real conservative position is a long term highway 

authorization bill. 

I would like to ask you what would happen if we are unable to 

get the long term bill as opposed to a short term bill and looking 

also at the $185 billion backlog we have and some of the large 

projects that are out there. What would be the result? 

Mr. NADEAU. Mr. Chairman, it is really a cascading effect. There 

are multiple impacts at the very early stages. The uncertainty that 

is created in the absence of a long term funding solution and a long 

term bill introduces tremendous inefficiencies to the manner in 

which you put a long term capital program together. 

Reflecting on my own experience as a Deputy Commissioner for 

Policy and Planning in the Maine DOT, we had a biannual budget 

and basically a 6-year transportation plan. You put a capital program together by looking out multiple years. 

It could be projects that will take multiple years to deliver, which 

obviously is very difficult to obligate and commit to if you do not 

know what your long term funding sources are going to be or what 

level that funding source will yield for your program. It affects, at 

the beginning, the ability to commit to projects. Secretary Ridley is 

obviously referring to is that uncertainty creates tremendous inefficiencies in project delivery in a number of ways. 

The inability to know the extent of the project or at what levels 

obviously impacts us. We are obviously facing another deadline at 
29 

the end of the month that has more immediate concerns as this 

committee very well knows. 

A 6-year bill at elevated funding levels, which introduces certainty to project sponsors, introduces the possibility of their having 

a much more efficient approach to project delivery. Before you build 

one bridge, you are going to need to know the extent to which the 

approaches to that bridge are going to be a part of a project that 

may be done in different segments. 

It does introduce inefficiencies, Mr. Chairman. That is a consequence of the uncertainty. 

Senator INHOFE. Yes, well said. 

Dr. Kulinowski, in my opening statement, I talked about the mismanagement, the harassment and things that are taking place 

there now. The investigation is ongoing. I would ask, if you are 

confirmed, will you commit to ensuring that this investigation continues unimpeded and has the resources that are required to conclude it? 

Ms. KULINOWSKI. I respect there is a process currently underway 

to investigate potential misconduct amongst CSB employees. As I 

am on the outside, I have not been made privy to the details and 

facts underlying this investigation. As a result, I see no reason why 

today I would take a position to stop an ongoing investigation from 

going forward. 

Senator INHOFE. That is very reasonable. The CSB has been 

criticized for advocating for things like inherently safer chemicals 

in the European safety case standard instead of investigating the 

causes of accidents and making recommendations based on the evidence. 

How do you see your role in addressing these issues? 

Ms. KULINOWSKI. First, I note that the CSB is not a regulatory 

agency. However, it is within its purview to make recommendations to regulatory agencies and others when its investigations conclude that changes are necessary to prevent future accidents. 

However, if confirmed, I will come into the CSB with the mindset 

of taking each accident investigation on a case-by-case basis. I understand the safety case is used abroad in some other countries. 

Before I was comfortable recommending abroad change to existing U.S. regulatory frameworks, I would think the CSB should engage a stakeholder engagement and consultation effort that 

brought in those experiences so we can learn from them and also 

engage extensively with the U.S. stakeholder community before 

moving forward with that. 

Senator INHOFE. Thank you, Dr. Kulinowski. 

We are going to have a 5-minute round and try to get through 

in time for our votes that are coming up in a few minutes. 

Senator Boxer. 

Senator BOXER. Thank you so much. 

I do not have any questions. I am a very strong supporter of 

these nominees. I feel I know enough to believe strongly that they 

are qualified and will be excellent additions. 

I would like to ask unanimous consent to place in the record letters of support for Kristen Kulinowski from the American Industrial Hygiene Association; the American Stamp of Business Council; 21 non-profit organizations; John Baker, former Deputy Direc-
30 

tor for the Center of Biological Environment and Nanotechnology 

at Rice University; and W. Mark Lafranconi, former colleague in 

establishing the International Council on Nanotechnology. 

Senator INHOFE. Without objection. 

[The referenced material was not received at time of print.] 

Senator BOXER. For Mr. Nadeau, AASHTO, a great organization, 

has written a letter; the American Society of Civil Engineers; and 

the American Highway Users Alliance, three incredibly important 

organizations with which we have worked in terms of getting a bill. 

Senator INHOFE. Without objection. 

[The referenced material was not received at time of print.] 

Senator BOXER. With that, I hope it goes well. 

Senator INHOFE. Thank you, Senator Boxer. 

Senator Fischer. 

Senator FISCHER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

Mr. Nadeau, I want to extend my sincere thanks for the time and 

attention you have given to my home State of Nebraska, including 

your visit there last year and for your work on strengthening that 

partnership we have between the Federal Highway Administration 

and the Nebraska Department of Roads. 

I appreciate your commitment to ensuring we are working together to streamline those environmental reviews and accelerate 

project delivery. You and I both understand the challenges we face 

in finding funding to devote to important infrastructure projects. 

When we fight so hard to find that money, it is very, very frustrating to see any of it wasted on excessive paperwork. Those requirements do not really do anything to improve the environmental 

process or the outcomes we have. 

We have struggled with this for some time in Nebraska, as you 

know. I am very pleased that Federal Highway and DOR have 

made progress in reducing the duration of the NEPA process and 

reducing project delivery times while we still ensure the Federal 

aid projects in Nebraska are delivered in compliance with all Federal laws. 

Should you be confirmed, will you commit to working with State 

highway agencies to reduce and eliminate the cumbersome, bureaucratic red tape that we see sometimes and expedite the surface 

transportation projects? 

Mr. NADEAU. Thank you, for the question, Senator Fischer, and 

your role in helping to facilitate the work that Federal Highway 

and our team has done with NDOR. It has yielded some very productive results in our project delivery efficiency initiative. I absolutely certainly would commit to the continuing effort with our 

partners at NDOR and Nebraska and the new leadership there. 

The Every Day Counts Initiative that I referenced earlier really is 

a national partnership. 

Each State, D.C. and Puerto Rico have implemented innovation 

initiatives as a result of this partnership. When we first announced 

this back when now Deputy Secretary Mendez was Administrator, 

AASHTO was our principal partner and had to be. 

We do not deliver the projects. State DOTs and local transportation agencies do. Their willingness in partnership and implementing innovation is essential. The partnership we have formed, 

the commitment our partners have made to a culture of innovation 
31 

aimed at streamlining project delivery obviously is important to 

taxpayers; efficient and effective environmental protection; and certainly important in terms of the precious resources you are all 

working so hard to find. 

I absolutely will commit to that and would describe it as a passion of mine. 

Senator FISCHER. It is a passion of mine as well. I certainly appreciate your commitment to continuing to move forward with 

those steps that are helpful for all of us. 

As you know from our meeting last week, getting Nebraska the 

authority to process those categorical exclusions which go a long 

way to helping us get projects moving in the State. I know we have 

that agreement in place for State authority over the lower level 

CEs but that does not help our larger cities like Omaha and Lincoln. 

Will you continue to work with Nebraska so we can be enabled 

to have that authority over all the CEs that are out there? 

Mr. NADEAU. It is an ongoing effort and I absolutely will commit 

to that. 

Senator FISCHER. Thank you. When we met last week, you stated 

efficiency and project delivery is your No. 1 focus. What are some 

of the specific actions you think Federal Highway and State partners can take to become more efficient in delivering those services? 

Mr. NADEAU. We are continuing our efforts with the States, 

MPOs and local transportation agencies to implement the provisions of MAP–21. We acted fairly quickly on a number of the accelerated project delivery provisions specifically. 

Certainly a long term bill with significant increases in funding 

toward our Nation’s infrastructure, establishing that predictability 

and reliability, is one way and probably the most important way, 

to some degree, of introducing the ability to be efficient in how we 

deliver the capital program as I discussed with Chairman Inhofe 

earlier. 

Our job as the Federal Highway Administration with our partners in the States and the transportation professionals, my favorite 

Lincoln quote is if you had 8 hours to chop down a tree, he would 

spend the first 6 hours sharpening his ax, and we are sharpening 

our ax. 

We are working hard to ensure that our systems, our policies, 

and the types of policies inherent in MAP–21 are efficiently administered and that we are getting every bang for our buck. 

That certainly is something I am committed to. I think we can 

talk more about specific provisions and ideas we have deployed 

over the last several years. 

Senator FISCHER. Thank you, sir. I look forward to continuing to 

work with you on these very important issues. 

Mr. NADEAU. Thank you for your support, Senator. 

Senator INHOFE. Thank you, Senator Fischer.1Senator Markey. 

Senator MARKEY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

I do not have any questions. These are two outstanding candidates and I think they are going to serve our Country extremely 

well. 

I thank you for conducting this hearing. 
32 

Senator INHOFE. Thank you, Senator Markey. Thank you also for 

that excellent introduction. 

Senator Boozman. 

Senator BOOZMAN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

Thank you all for being with us. 

Mr. Nadeau, Scott Bennett sends his regards, our highway commissioner, who very much enjoys working with you. I think your 

son should be very pleased to recognize the fact that you have a 

very good reputation in your chosen field. 

I would like to mention a couple things that pertain to Arkansas. 

First, our Arkansas division administrator has departed and we 

would like to work to expeditiously see if we can fill that as soon 

as possible. I know you will give us someone who is very well qualified and will do a great job, as always. 

Second, you will receive a letter concerning the I–55 closure of 

the old bridge. That might not be something on your screen right 

now but it pertains to a 9-month closure the people of Arkansas are 

feeling might be very difficult. Just look for that. 

The only other thing I would ask about is the TIGER grants, one 

of the things I would like for you to perhaps look into. In many 

Federal situations where you do not get a grant, there is feedback 

as to why you did not get it. That helps the person applying to look 

at the criteria and see how they can meet that and do a better job. 

Again, I would ask that you look at that to see if perhaps you 

could help in that regard. 

Mr. NADEAU. I would be happy to follow up on all of those suggestions. You are right, Sandy was one of the best division administrators we had. She was promoted and we committed to Scott personally that we will find someone of equal capability. 

Senator BOOZMAN. Good. We are looking forward to that. 

Dr. Kulinowski, thank you for your willingness to serve. At some 

point, I would love to visit with you about nanotechnology and how 

the periodic table does not work, those very small extremes, the potential there and the challenges. 

Again, thank you very much for being here. 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

Senator INHOFE. Thank you, Senator Boozman. 

Senator Gillibrand. 

Senator GILLIBRAND. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

Thank you, witnesses, for being here today. 

Mr. Nadeau, I agree with you that Congress needs to pass a 

long-term reauthorization bill that is adequately funded and allows 

for State and local governments to plan for the future and obviously put people back to work. 

This is essential for our economy, for highway safety and efficiency. I hope we will be able to come to an agreement soon or provide long term funding certainty for our constituents. 

I have three questions. I appreciate the focus you placed in your 

testimony today on improving safety for all road users. New York, 

as you know, has some of the busiest and most dangerous streets 

in the Country. Pedestrian safety is an issue that weighs heavily 

on my mind. The most recent statistics from the New York State 

Department of Motor Vehicles finds there were 16,000 crashes in-
33 

volving pedestrians and motor vehicles in 2013, 343 of which were 

fatal. 

If confirmed, how do you plan to address pedestrian safety as 

well as safety for bicycles and all other road users? Will you work 

to assure that we are taking pedestrians into account during the 

transportation planning process? 

Mr. NADEAU. Bike safety is one of Secretary Foxx’s top safety priorities. Federal Highway has been recruited by the Secretary to 

contribute in a number of ways to an overall department effort to 

support and assist State and local agencies in effectuating a number of strategies. 

We have produced bike-ped assessment guides, we provide direct 

training to agencies on how to implement those. We have conducted research and are conducting ongoing research to improve 

design features and are working with agencies on how to implement those. Bike-ped accommodation has become widespread. Bicycling has grown in popularity. Many communities are interested in 

developing infrastructure that can safely accommodate it as part of 

their community. 

We are also working with States to ensure that design professionals are incorporating the flexibilities they have under current 

guidelines to utilize many of the design strategies that have been 

developed after years of research and practice. It is something that 

Federal Highway is very committed to, is extremely involved in 

and is working with the Secretary and the Mayors challenge to 

work with cities to institute new and exciting opportunities to accommodate it safely. 

As we deal with highway infrastructure development and rehabilitation to deal with increasing demands on the system, we need 

to be cognizant of the impact on communities and design our solutions to accommodate quality of life as well. We are very involved 

and engaged and committed. 

Senator GILLIBRAND. My second issue is, as you aware, on February 3, there was a tragic crash between Metro-North commuter 

rail and a vehicle at the highway rail grade crossing which resulted 

in multiple deaths and injuries. Additionally, there has been 

heightened concern about the safety of highway rail grade crossings given the increased shipments of crude oil by rail through 

New York communities. 

What is FHWA doing to address the safety concerns at highway 

rail crossings? Will you work with States and localities to improve 

them? 

Mr. NADEAU. Through our Section 130 Program, about $220 million a year is devoted to investment in rail grade crossings and 

working with States on an ongoing basis to incorporate it into their 

highway and safety improvement planning process. 

Acting Administrator Sarah Feinberg of FRA and I have spoken 

often. We have jointly written to the States to offer our support 

and assistance in expanding possible remedies beyond Section 130. 

A big part of our emphasis is helping travelers understand the 

dangers. Obviously our hearts go out to the families and friends of 

those affected certainly in New York and across the Country. We 

have to be vigilant in supporting our States and local partners. 

Senator GILLIBRAND. Thank you. 
34 

My last issue is, I sit on the Agriculture Committee. We have 

had a real challenge with pollinators, particularly bees with Colony 

Collapse Disorder. There is a simple solution that relates to you for 

which I would like your support. 

I offered an amendment that passed called the DRIVE Act which 

uses highway rights-of-way to address the pollinator crisis by encouraging the DOT to plant native vegetation along the highways, 

not grass every week but to actually let plants and flowers thrive. 

It is a win-win because it costs less to maintain and helps our pollinators. Will you work with me on that issue? 

Mr. NADEAU. I would absolutely commit to doing that. It is a 

White House priority, a very serious issue and I think we can be 

very effective in helping to support your efforts. 

Senator GILLIBRAND. Thank you. 

Senator INHOFE. Thank you, Senator Gillibrand. 

Senator Capito. 

Senator CAPITO. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

Thank both of you for being here. I am sorry I missed your testimony but I have a good idea of what you said and the great talents 

that you bring to these positions. 

I want to start with Dr. Kulinowski. We have a vibrant chemical 

industry in West Virginia, particularly where I live in the Canaan 

Valley. We have major companies and a great history with the 

companies in conjunction with our communities as well. 

We have accidents which, unfortunately, are part of what happens. Recently, we had one several years ago at a bare site that 

resulted in fatalities. The Chemical Safety Board came in and 

worked with the community to try to reassure them and to help 

with the reassure along with the companies and other local responders, that there were some problems with the response and to 

make sure they were living in a safe community. 

I would like to know where you feel your responsibility is in 

working with local responders and companies in the various communities around the Country. They are all different. Some are 

more congested than others and others have better exits and all 

those kinds of things. 

How do you formulate that with the local responders, the county 

commissions and so forth? 

Ms. KULINOWSKI. When I was director of the International Council on Nanotechnology, I specialized in bringing together groups of 

people and communicating complex technical issues to them in a 

way that was easily understood. 

I have a lot of experience with stakeholder engagement. That is 

an aspect of being a member of the Chemical Safety Board about 

which I am particularly excited in the array of responsibilities that 

I will have if confirmed. 

It would be my perspective that members of the Board should be 

present in the community, should make themselves available to 

members of the community, and should be helping the community 

members understand what the CSB is doing along various points 

in the investigation, but also to listen to them to understand their 

concerns and to learn from them. 

We are not familiar with the community and we are not familiar 

with the particulars of these various sites as you mentioned which 
35 

are diverse in different communities. It is a two-way communication between the Board and the members of the community. 

I am fully committed to actively participating in that stakeholder 

engagement if confirmed. 

Senator CAPITO. I think that would be very wise. I notice that 

Vanessa Sutherland, who was under consideration as well, mentioned in her testimony that she would like to see expanded participation by the Chemical Safety Board in the local communities. 

I am going to shift over to Mr. Nadeau. Thank you for coming 

to see me. 

I wanted to ask you a question, and I am sure it is the same in 

other States. In West Virginia, we have 960 bridges that structurally deficient or graded as such. Can you elaborate on the accelerated bridge construction process and how you think that might 

help States such as ours? 

Mr. NADEAU. Thank you very much for your time, Senator, and 

for the question. 

The accelerated bridge construction is really becoming a discipline and by every day accounts of round one, it was really very 

much a staple in our area of focus. There are a number of bridge 

technologies that have been utilized by the States and their use 

has been expanded as States utilize certain practices. 

An example is slide-in bridge technology where you literally are 

building a bridge to the side over a period of months and then moving it in over a weekend. That type of practice is growing in popularity because in certain circumstances where you have heavy volumes of traffic, it minimizes the impact on commerce and the obvious impact on communities. 

Senator CAPITO. Let me ask you quickly because I am going to 

run out of time. The number of bridges is 960, a large number for 

a small State. We have a lot of hills and valleys as we know. 

Would you say this is the status of most of a lot of the bridges 

around the Country in all the various other States? Is everyone 

having the same problem? 

Mr. NADEAU. The percentage of bridges that are structurally deficient is unacceptable. At the current rate of investment, it will 

take 26 years to address the inventory of bridges rated as structurally defsicient today. Obviously, over that 26 years, bridges that 

are currently not at that level will degrade. 

It goes back to the conversation we had earlier with the Chairman. A higher level of investment is needed in order to reverse 

that trend. It is not unique to West Virginia. All States, I think, 

are facing similar challenges. 

Senator CAPITO. Thank you both. 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

Senator INHOFE. Thank you, Senator Capito. 

When you talk about how many years it would be, how many 

years would it be if we are unable to get a long term reauthorization bill now? It would extend it, right? 

Mr. NADEAU. To put it simply, sir, it would not help. Again, we 

fail to meet the level of investments that are required today in infrastructure that is at a certain state, remaining infrastructure will 

degrade. It is sort of a vicious cycle. The average age of bridges in 

this Country is 42 years old and aging rapidly. 
36 

Senator INHOFE. In our State, that is the case. 

I thank both of you not just for your attendance this morning but 

also for your willingness to extend your public service. We are adjourned. 

[Whereupon, at 10:26 a.m., the committee was adjourned.] 

Æ