[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 33 (Friday, February 16, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12418-12419]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-02794]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORATION

[DOCKET No.: DOT-OST-2024-0011]


Guidance for the Acceptance and Use of Geomatic Information 
Obtained From a Non-Federal Entity

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary of Transportation, Department of 
Transportation.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is issuing 
guidance for the acceptance and use of geomatic information obtained 
from a non-Federal entity. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, 
H.R. 3684, Title I Federal-Aid Highways, Subtitle C, directs the 
Secretary to develop guidance for the acceptance and use of geomatic 
information obtained from a non-federal entity. DOT's Geospatial 
Management Office (GMO) recognizes the need for a geomatic information 
standard to meet this requirement.

DATES: Comments are due by March 18, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, identified by DOT-OST-2024-0011, by 
any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Follow the instructions for sending comments on the 
https://www.regulations.gov/. Include DOT-OST-2024-0011 in the subject 
line of the message.
    <bullet> Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Room 
W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery/Courier: Room W12-140 on the ground level of 
DOT, West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 
9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and docket number for this notice. All comments received will be posted 
without change to https://www.regulations.gov/, including any personal 
information provided.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to www.regulations.gov at any time or to Room 
W12-140 on the ground level of DOT, West Building, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays. If you wish to receive 
confirmation of receipt of your written comments, please include a 
self-addressed, stamped postcard with the following statement: 
``Comments on DOT-OST-2024-0011.'' The Docket Clerk will date stamp the 
postcard prior to returning it to you via the U.S. mail. Please note 
that due to possible delays in the delivery of U.S. mail to federal 
offices in Washington, DC, we recommend that persons consider an 
alternative method (internet, or professional delivery service) of 
submitting comments to the docket and ensuring their timely receipt at 
DOT.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Nelson, Chief Geospatial 
Information Officer, OST, Department of Transportation at 202-366-9201 
or by email at .

[[Page 12419]]

    For specific inquiries on the Department's administration 
mechanisms for seeking correction of information covered by these 
guidelines, or for specific inquiries about the Department's 
statistical guidelines, please refer to the contacts listed in the 
guidelines.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to The Infrastructure Investment 
and Jobs Act (Pub. L. 117-58), H.R. 3684, Title I Federal-Aid Highways, 
Subtitle C which directs the Secretary to develop guidance for the 
acceptance and use of geomatic information obtained from a non-federal 
entity, the Department has identified a standard to serve as guidance. 
The Project Development and Design Manual for Federal Lands Highways, 
maintained by the Western Federal Lands Highway Division, provides 
policies and guidance for project development and design activities 
related to Federal Lands Highways and can serve as guidance for similar 
projects. The manual was created in 1988 and is updated regularly. 
Additionally, it contains background and reference material, including 
specific information about techniques, theory, and specifications.
    DOT will adopt Chapter Five of the Project Development and Design 
Manual for Federal Lands Highways (https://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/design/pddm/Chapter_05.pdf) as the standard for the acceptance and use 
of geomatic information obtained from a non-federal entity. In 
instances where the manual's guidance does not apply to geomatic 
information obtained by a DOT Operating Administration (OA), the OA 
will have the flexibility to develop and maintain modal-specific 
geomatic information guidance.
    Examples of existing modal-specific geomatic information guidance 
include:
    (1) FAA Advisory Circulars which contain detailed requirements and 
standards for airport surveys and flight procedures. (examples: AC16B, 
AC17C, AC18B)
    (2) PHMSA's Pipeline Operator Standards Manual (https://www.npms.phmsa.dot.gov/Documents/Operator_Standards.pdf), which defines 
positional accuracy requirements for gas transmission and hazardous 
liquid pipelines.
    DOT is monitoring the development of candidates for geomatic 
guidance and will assess the need for updates to this policy statement.
    The updated guidelines are available on the Department's website at 
https://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/design/pddm/Chapter_05.pdf and in 
the docket. The Department seeks comment on the guidelines and the 
proposed changes.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
Cordell Schachter,
Chief Information Officer, Department of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 2024-02794 Filed 2-15-24; 8:45 am]
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