IIB 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 409 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
JANUARY 23, 2008 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and 
Public Works 
AN ACT 
To amend title 23, United States Code, to direct the Sec-
retary of Transportation to establish national tunnel in-
spection standards for the proper safety inspection and 
evaluation of all highway tunnels, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. NATIONAL TUNNEL INSPECTION PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title 23, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 149 the following: 
‘‘§ 150. National tunnel inspection program 
‘‘(a) NATIONAL TUNNEL INSPECTION STANDARDS.— 
The Secretary, in consultation with State transportation 
departments and interested and knowledgeable private or-
ganizations and individuals, shall establish national tunnel 
inspection standards for the proper safety inspection and 
evaluation of all highway tunnels. The standards estab-
lished under this subsection shall be designed to ensure 
uniformity among the States in the conduct of such in-
spections and evaluations. 
‘‘(b) MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
FOR INSPECTION 
STANDARDS.—The standards established under sub-
section (a) shall, at a minimum— 
‘‘(1) specify, in detail, the method by which 
highway tunnel inspections shall be carried out by 
the States; 
‘‘(2) establish the maximum time period be-
tween the inspections based on a risk-management 
approach; 
‘‘(3) establish the qualifications for those 
charged with carrying out the inspections; 
‘‘(4) require each State to maintain and make 
available to the Secretary upon request— 
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‘‘(A) written reports on the results of the 
inspections together with notations of any ac-
tion taken pursuant to the findings of the in-
spections; and 
‘‘(B) current inventory data for all high-
way tunnels located in the State reflecting the 
findings of the most recent highway tunnel in-
spections conducted; 
‘‘(5) establish procedures for national certifi-
cation of highway tunnel inspectors; 
‘‘(6) establish procedures for conducting annual 
compliance reviews of State inspections and State 
implementation of quality control and quality assur-
ance procedures; and 
‘‘(7) establish standards for State tunnel man-
agement systems to improve the tunnel inspection 
process and the quality of data collected and re-
ported by the States to the Secretary for inclusion 
in the national tunnel inventory to be established 
under this section. 
‘‘(c) TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR 
TUNNEL INSPECTORS.—The Secretary, in cooperation 
with State transportation departments, shall establish a 
program designed to ensure that all individuals carrying 
out highway tunnel inspections receive appropriate train-
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ing and certification. Such program shall be revised from 
time to time to take into account new and improved tech-
niques. 
‘‘(d) NATIONAL TUNNEL INVENTORY.—The Sec-
retary shall establish a national inventory of highway tun-
nels reflecting the findings of the most recent highway 
tunnel inspections conducted by States under this section. 
‘‘(e) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—To carry out this 
section, the Secretary may use funds made available pur-
suant to the provisions of sections 104(a) and 502.’’. 
(b) SURFACE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM.—Section 
133(b)(1) of such title is amended by inserting ‘‘, tunnels 
that are eligible for assistance under this title (including 
safety inspection of such tunnels),’’ after ‘‘highways)’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 
chapter 1 of such title is amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 149 the following: 
‘‘150. National tunnel inspection program.’’. 
Passed the House of Representatives January 22, 
2008. 
Attest: 
LORRAINE C. MILLER, 
Clerk. 
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