Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 192 / Thursday, October 5, 2017 / Notices 46609 

• Code Electric received several bids for 

the fire alarm system from suppliers 

Honeywell, Tyco Simplex Grinnell, and 

Edwards (United Technologies). Although 

these suppliers source many fire alarm 

system components from U.S. manufacturers, 

none of the suppliers offered a one hundred 

percent Buy America-compliant system. All 

fire alarm system suppliers use a mix of 

foreign and US-made components; and 

• The foreign components used by 

suppliers vary. However, due to 

programming, interoperability, and 

certification issues, the components are not 

interchangeable among systems. Therefore, 

suppliers cannot swap out components to 

meet Buy America. 

FRA independently verified these 

assertions with its Monitoring and Technical 

Assistance Contractor (MTAC), TranSystems. 

An electrical engineer from FRA’s MTAC 

explained that large international suppliers 

source or manufacture pieces of the fire 

alarm system in different countries. Further, 

many portions of the system are addressable 

(individually programmable), which means 

the software and hardware must be 

compatible and tested. In addition, fire alarm 

components and systems are UL® listed. UL®

is a third-party, independent company that 

certifies safety compliance of many systems 

and their components, including fire alarm 

systems. Attempting to swap pieces of a fire 

alarm system would jeopardize its UL®

listing and could cause product warranty and 

liability issues. 

FRA concludes a waiver is appropriate 

under 49 U.S.C. 24405(a)(2)(B) for the 

Components because domestically-produced 

Components are not currently ‘‘produced in 

sufficient and reasonably available amounts.’’ 

49 U.S.C. 24405(a)(2)(B). FRA bases this 

determination on the following: 

• For competitively bid, commercial 

products for buildings, such as fire alarm 

systems, FRA views receiving no Buy 

America-compliant bids as presumptive 

evidence the conditions exist to grant a nonavailability waiver; 

• On October 28, 2016, FRA provided 

public notice of this waiver request and a 15- 

day opportunity for comment on its Web site. 

FRA also emailed notice to over 6,000 

recipients that requested Buy America 

notices through ‘‘GovDelivery.’’ FRA 

received one comment. However, the 

commenter did not provide any information 

about a domestic source for a fully Buy 

America-compliant fire alarm system; and 

• FRA’s MTAC concurred with Code 

Electric that due to programming, 

interoperability, and certification issues, 

components are not interchangeable among 

systems. Therefore, fire alarm system 

suppliers cannot swap out components to 

meet Buy America. 

This waiver applies only to this Project for 

these specific components. 

Under 49 U.S.C. 24405(a)(4), FRA will 

publish this letter granting the Buy America 

waiver to the City in the Federal Register and 

provide notice of such finding and an 

opportunity for public comment after which 

this waiver will become effective. 

Questions about this letter can be directed 

to, John Johnson, Attorney-Advisor, at 

John.Johnson@dot.gov or (202) 493–0078. 

Sincerely, 

Heath Hall 

Acting Administrator 

cc: Code Electric, Inc. 

Brett A. Jortland, 

Acting Deputy Chief Counsel. 

[FR Doc. 2017–21441 Filed 10–4–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–06–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 

Safety Administration 

[Docket No. PHMSA–2017–0130; Notice No. 

2017–11] 

Hazardous Materials: Emergency 

Waiver No. 5 

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous 

Materials Safety Administration 

(PHMSA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of emergency waiver 

order. 

SUMMARY: The Pipeline and Hazardous 

Materials Safety Administration is 

issuing an emergency waiver order to 

persons conducting operations under 

the direction of the Puerto Rico Public 

Service Commission within the 

Hurricane Maria emergency and disaster 

areas of Puerto Rico. This Waiver Order 

is effective September 28, 2017, and 

shall remain in effect for 7 days from the 

date of issuance. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Adam Horsley, Deputy Assistant Chief 

Counsel for Hazardous Materials Safety, 

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 

Administration, telephone: (202) 366– 

4400. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 

accordance with the provisions of 49 

U.S.C. 5103(c), the Acting Administrator 

for the Pipeline and Hazardous 

Materials Safety Administration 

(PHMSA), hereby declares that an 

emergency exists that warrants issuance 

of a Waiver of the Hazardous Materials 

Regulations (HMR, 49 CFR parts 171– 

180) to persons conducting operations 

under the direction of the Puerto Rico 

Public Service Commission (Carr. 8838 

Km. 8.3, Sector El Cinco, San Juan, PR 

00926) within the Hurricane Maria 

emergency and disaster areas of Puerto 

Rico. The Waiver is granted to support 

the government of Puerto Rico in 

facilitating the transport of essential 

fuel. 

On September 18, 2017, the President 

issued an Emergency Declaration for 

Hurricane Maria for the Commonwealth 

of Puerto Rico (EM–3391). On 

September 20, 2017, the President 

issued a Major Disaster Declaration for 

the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (DR– 

4340). 

This Waiver Order covers all areas 

identified in the Declarations. Pursuant 

to 49 U.S.C. 5103(c), PHMSA has 

authority delegated by the Secretary (49 

CFR 1.97(b)(3)) to waive compliance 

with any part of the HMR provided that 

the grant of the waiver is: (1) In the 

public interest; (2) not inconsistent with 

the safety of transporting hazardous 

materials; and (3) necessary to facilitate 

the safe movement of hazardous 

materials into, from, and within an area 

of a major disaster or emergency that 

has been declared under the Robert T. 

Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 

Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). 

Given the continuing impacts caused 

by Hurricane Maria, PHMSA’s Acting 

Administrator has determined that 

regulatory relief is in the public interest 

and necessary to ensure the safe 

transportation in commerce of 

hazardous materials while the Puerto 

Rican government executes its recovery 

and cleanup efforts. Specifically, 

PHMSA’s Acting Administrator finds 

that issuing this Waiver Order will 

allow for the safe transportation of fuel. 

By execution of this Waiver Order, the 

hazardous materials training, testing, 

and certification requirements in 49 

CFR part 172 subpart H and part 177 are 

waived except as specified below for 

persons conducting operations under 

the direction of the Puerto Rico Public 

Service Commission within the 

Hurricane Maria emergency and disaster 

areas of Puerto Rico. Such persons are 

authorized to offer and transport fuel 

provided that the following conditions 

are met: 

(1) The transport of the fuel must be 

accompanied by a law enforcement or 

military escort; 

(2) The escort vehicle must have a 

copy of the Emergency Response 

Guidebook, Response Guide 128; 

(3) Drivers must have three years of 

professional driving experience and 

otherwise be licensed to operate the 

vehicle based on its size and weight; 

and 

(4) Unloading procedures must be 

overseen by a qualified person as 

defined in 49 CFR 177. 834(i)(4) or a 

driver who has received training (testing 

and certification is not required) that 

includes, at a minimum, these items: 

(a) Bonding the cargo tank; 

(b) Preventing overfilling of tanks at 

point of delivery; 

(c) Controlling the flow of product; 

(d) Using emergency cut-off 

equipment; and 

(e) Securing unloading equipment for 

transport. 


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46610 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 192 / Thursday, October 5, 2017 / Notices 

Additionally, during driver 

unloading, the unloading area must be 

cleared of all non-essential personnel 

for a distance of 100 feet. Compliance 

with all other requirements of the HMR 

is required. 

This Waiver Order is effective 

September 28, 2017, and shall remain in 

effect for 7 days from the date of 

issuance. 

Issued in Washington, DC. 

Drue Pearce, 

Acting Administrator, Pipeline and 

Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. 

[FR Doc. 2017–21417 Filed 10–4–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–60–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 

Internal Revenue Service 

Open Meeting of the Taxpayer 

Advocacy Panel Tax Forms and 

Publications Project Committee 

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), 

Treasury. 

ACTION: Notice of meeting. 

SUMMARY: An open meeting of the 

Taxpayer Advocacy Panel Tax Forms 

and Publications Project Committee will 

be conducted. The Taxpayer Advocacy 

Panel is soliciting public comments, 

ideas and suggestions on improving 

customer service at the Internal Revenue 

Service. 

DATES: The meeting will be held 

Tuesday, November 14, 2017. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Robert Rosalia at 1–888–912–1227 or 

(718) 834–2203. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is 

hereby given pursuant to section 

10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory 

Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. (1988) 

that an open meeting of the Taxpayer 

Advocacy Panel Tax Forms and 

Publications Project Committee will be 

held Tuesday, November 14, 2017, at 

12:00 p.m., Eastern Time via 

teleconference. The public is invited to 

make oral comments or submit written 

statements for consideration. Due to 

limited conference lines, notification of 

intent to participate must be made with 

Robert Rosalia. For more information 

please contact Robert Rosalia at 1–888– 

912–1227 or (718) 834–2203, or write 

TAP Office, 2 Metrotech Center, 100 

Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11201 or 

contact us at the Web site: http://

www.improveirs.org. The agenda will 

include various IRS issues. 

Dated: October 1, 2017. 

Susan Jimerson, 

Acting Director, Taxpayer Advocacy Panel. 

[FR Doc. 2017–21478 Filed 10–4–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4830–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 

Internal Revenue Service 

Open Meeting of the Taxpayer 

Advocacy Panel Joint Committee 

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), 

Treasury. 

ACTION: Notice of meeting. 

SUMMARY: An open meeting of the 

Taxpayer Advocacy Panel Joint 

Committee will be conducted. The 

Taxpayer Advocacy Panel is soliciting 

public comments, ideas, and 

suggestions on improving customer 

service at the Internal Revenue Service. 

DATES: The meeting will be held 

Wednesday, November 29, 2017. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Gretchen Swayzer at 1–888–912–1227 

or 469–801–0769. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is 

hereby given pursuant to Section 

10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory 

Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. (1988) 

that an open meeting of the Taxpayer 

Advocacy Panel Joint Committee will be 

held Wednesday, November 29, 2017, at 

1:00 p.m. Eastern Time via 

teleconference. The public is invited to 

make oral comments or submit written 

statements for consideration. For more 

information please contact: Gretchen 

Swayzer at 1–888–912–1227 or 469– 

801–0769, TAP Office, 4050 Alpha Rd, 

Farmers Branch, TX 75244, or contact 

us at the Web site: http://

www.improveirs.org. 

The agenda will include various 

committee issues for submission to the 

IRS and other TAP related topics. Public 

input is welcomed. 

Dated: October 1, 2017. 

Susan Jimerson, 

Acting Director, Taxpayer Advocacy Panel. 

[FR Doc. 2017–21479 Filed 10–4–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4830–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 

Internal Revenue Service 

Open Meeting of the Taxpayer 

Advocacy Panel Special Projects 

Committee 

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), 

Treasury. 

ACTION: Notice of meeting. 

SUMMARY: An open meeting of the 

Taxpayer Advocacy Panel Special 

Projects Committee will be conducted. 

The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel is 

soliciting public comments, ideas, and 

suggestions on improving customer 

service at the Internal Revenue Service. 

DATES: The meeting will be held 

Tuesday, November 14, 2017. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Matthew O’Sullivan at 1–888–912–1227 

or (510) 907–5274. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is 

hereby given pursuant to Section 

10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory 

Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. (1988) 

that a meeting of the Taxpayer 

Advocacy Panel Special Projects 

Committee will be held Tuesday, 

November 14, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern 

Time via teleconference. The public is 

invited to make oral comments or 

submit written statements for 

consideration. Due to limited 

conference lines, notification of intent 

to participate must be made with 

Matthew O’Sullivan. For more 

information please contact Matthew 

O’Sullivan at 1–888–912–1227 or (510) 

907–5274, or write TAP Office, 1301 

Clay Street, Oakland, CA 94612–5217 or 

contact us at the Web site: http://

www.improveirs.org. The agenda will 

include various IRS issues. 

The agenda will include a discussion 

on various special topics with IRS 

processes. 

Dated: October 1, 2017. 

Susan Jimerson, 

Acting Director, Taxpayer Advocacy Panel. 

[FR Doc. 2017–21483 Filed 10–4–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4830–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 

Internal Revenue Service 

Open Meeting of the Taxpayer 

Advocacy Panel Toll-Free Phone Line 

Project Committee 

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), 

Treasury. 

ACTION: Notice of meeting. 

SUMMARY: An open meeting of the 

Taxpayer Advocacy Panel Toll-Free 

Phone Line Project Committee will be 

conducted. The Taxpayer Advocacy 

Panel is soliciting public comments, 

ideas, and suggestions on improving 

customer service at the Internal Revenue 

Service. 

DATES: The meeting will be held 

Wednesday, November 15, 2017. 


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