49934 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 207 / Friday, October 27, 2017 / Notices 

Throughout the brake manufacturing 

industry, it is well documented that 

there are no brakes made in the United 

States that satisfy both the project 

requirements and the Buy America 

requirements. FDOT engaged in 

extensive efforts to identify and locate 

qualified domestically manufactured 

brake products, including contacting 

numerous known bridge brake 

manufacturers. FDOT’s recent 

experience on similar projects has 

shown that contractors have been 

unable to locate qualified bridge brakes 

of either the shoe or disc type that have 

all components made in the United 

States. FDOT also has made an 

extensive effort to locate qualified 

domestically made brake products, 

including contacting known bridge 

brake manufacturers including the 

following manufactures: Johnson 

Industries, Mondel (made by Magnetek), 

Gemco (made by Ametek), Link 

Controls, Bubenzer, and Hiden. The 

manufacturers confirmed that they do 

not produce a product that meets both 

the Buy America provisions in 

accordance 49 CFR 661.7(c) and 49 

U.S.C. 5323(j), and the requirements of 

AASHTO MHBDS Articles 5.5, 5.6 and 

6. 7 .13. FDOT also conducted an 

internet search, which revealed several 

other brake manufacturers, but none 

make a qualified brake in the United 

States. Additionally, FDOT’s program 

management consultant contacted 

several contractors that supply 

machinery and brakes for movable 

bridges but had no success in locating 

a qualified brake made entirely in the 

United States. FDOT’s Program 

Management Consultant also has 

discussed this issue with other design 

engineers experienced in movable 

bridge machinery design and confirmed 

that they too have not been able to 

locate qualified brake products which 

are made in the United States. 

Finally, under 49 U.S.C. 5323(j)(6), 

FTA cannot deny an application for a 

waiver based on non-availability unless 

FTA can certify that (i) the steel, iron, 

or manufactured good (the ‘‘item’’) is 

produced in the United States in a 

sufficient and reasonably available 

amount; and (ii) the item produced in 

the United States is of a satisfactory 

quality. Additionally, FTA must provide 

a list of known manufacturers in the 

United States from which the item can 

be obtained. FTA is not aware of any 

United States manufacturers who 

produce the motor brakes and 

machinery brakes required for the SE 

3rd Avenue Bascule Bridge 

Modification project. 

FDOT’s efforts to identify domestic 

manufacturers for the motor brakes and 

machinery brakes required for the SE 

3rd Avenue Bascule Bridge 

Modification project were unsuccessful. 

FTA proposes to grant FDOT a nonavailability waiver of the Buy America 

requirements for the motor brakes and 

machinery brakes required for the SE 

3rd Avenue Bascule Bridge 

Modification project. 

FTA is publishing this Notice to seek 

public and industry comment from all 

interested parties in accordance with 49 

U.S.C. 5323(j)(3)(A). Such information 

and comments will help FTA 

understand completely the facts 

surrounding the request, including the 

merits of the request. After 

consideration of the comments, FTA 

will publish a second notice in the 

Federal Register with a response to 

comments and noting any changes made 

to the proposed waiver because of the 

comments received. A full copy of the 

request has been placed in docket 

number FTA–2017–0014. 

K. Jane Williams, 

Acting Administrator. 

[FR Doc. 2017–23381 Filed 10–26–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 

Fiscal Service 

Bureau of the Fiscal Service 

Notice of Rate To Be Used for Federal 

Debt Collection, and Discount and 

Rebate Evaluation 

AGENCY: Bureau of the Fiscal Service, 

Fiscal Service, Treasury. 

ACTION: Notice of rate to be used for 

Federal debt collection, and discount 

and rebate evaluation. 

SUMMARY: The Secretary of the Treasury 

is responsible for computing and 

publishing the percentage rate that is 

used in assessing interest charges for 

outstanding debts owed to the 

Government. This rate is also used by 

agencies as a comparison point in 

evaluating the cost-effectiveness of a 

cash discount. In addition, this rate is 

used in determining when agencies 

should pay purchase card invoices 

when the card issuer offers a rebate. 

Notice is hereby given that the 

applicable rate for calendar year 2018 is 

1.00 percent. 

DATES: January 1, 2018 through 

December 31, 2018. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Denice M. Wilson, E-Commerce 

Division, Bureau of the Fiscal Service, 

Department of the Treasury, 401 14th 

Street SW., Washington, DC 20227 

(Telephone: 202–874–9428). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This rate 

is used in assessing interest charges for 

outstanding debts owed to the 

Government (The Debt Collection Act of 

1982, as amended (codified at 31 U.S.C. 

Section 3717)). This rate is also used by 

agencies as a comparison point in 

evaluating the cost-effectiveness of a 

cash discount. In addition, this rate is 

used in determining when agencies 

should pay purchase card invoices 

when the card issuer offers a rebate (5 

CFR 1315.8). 

The rate reflects the current value of 

funds to the Treasury for use in 

connection with Federal Cash 

Management systems and is based on 

investment rates set for purposes of 

Public Law 95–147, 91 Stat. 1227 

(October 28, 1977). Computed each year 

by averaging Treasury Tax and Loan 

(TT&L) investment rates for the 12- 

month period ending every September 

30, rounded to the nearest whole 

percentage, for applicability effective 

each January 1. Quarterly revisions are 

made if the annual average, on a moving 

basis, changes by 2 percentage points. 

The rate for calendar year 2018 reflects 

the average investment rates for the 12- 

month period that ended September 30, 

2017. 

Authority: 31 U.S.C. Section 3717. 

Dated: October 16, 2017. 

Ronda L. Kent, 

Assistant Commissioner, Payment 

Management, and Chief Disbursing Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2017–23419 Filed 10–26–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4810–AS–P 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 

Notice of Meeting; National Research 

Advisory Council 

The Department of Veterans Affairs 

(VA) gives notice under the Federal 

Advisory Committee Act (FACA) that 

the National Research Advisory Council 

will hold a meeting on Wednesday, 

December 6, 2017, at the Atlanta 

Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 

Conference Room 5a110 at 1670 

Clairmont Rd., Decatur, Georgia 30033. 

The meeting will convene at 9:00 a.m. 

and end at 4:30 p.m. This meeting is 

open to the public. 

The agenda will include scientific 

presentations on animal research, 

mental health, rehabilitation and a 

facility tour. Additional presentations 

will include: Balancing research 

challenges, an overview of the animal 

research program from the Chief 


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