HR 6234
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6234
To amend title 23, United States Code, to require corrosion mitigation
and prevention plans for bridges receiving Federal funding, and for other
purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 11, 2008
Mr. CONAWAY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Transportation and Infrastructure
A BILL
To amend title 23, United States Code, to require corrosion mitigation
and prevention plans for bridges receiving Federal funding, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Bridge Life Extension Act of 2008'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Corrosion of highway bridges costs the United States economy $8.3 billion
each year according to a Federal Highway Administration report (FHWA-RD-01-157)
that was delivered to Congress in 2002.
(2) The ongoing cost of corrosion on United States highway bridges represents
a needless waste of taxpayer dollars.
(3) One-third of the ongoing cost of corrosion on United States highway
bridges would be saved if existing, fully-developed corrosion prevention
technologies were applied to bridge decks and their substructures.
(4) The application of corrosion technologies to United States highway bridges
is necessary, but currently underused.
(5) The application of corrosion prevention strategies should be required
in the design and rehabilitation of bridge structures that use Federal funding
and the development of new corrosion prevention technologies should be encouraged.
SEC. 3. CORROSION MITIGATION AND PREVENTION PLANS FOR BRIDGES RECEIVING
FEDERAL FUNDING.
(a) In General- Chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by inserting
after section 149 the following:
`Sec. 150. Corrosion mitigation and prevention plans
`(a) In General- The Secretary may approve Federal assistance for a project
for construction of a bridge using amounts apportioned under section 104(b)(1)
or 104(b)(3) or a project for replacement or rehabilitation of a bridge under
section 144 only if--
`(1) the State or States applying for such assistance develop and submit
to the Secretary a corrosion mitigation and prevention plan for the bridge;
and
`(2) the Secretary approves the plan.
`(b) Plan Requirements- The Secretary may approve a corrosion mitigation and
prevention plan for a bridge submitted by a State or States under subsection
(a) only if the plan contains, at a minimum, the following:
`(1) An estimate of the expected useful life of the bridge.
`(2) An estimate of environmental exposure of the bridge, including marine,
deicer application, industrial, rural, rainfall, temperature, freeze-thaw,
and other factors that influence corrosion prevention and corrosion mitigation
strategies.
`(3) An identification of the functional classification of the bridge.
`(4) Details of corrosion mitigation and prevention methods that will be
used with respect to the bridge, taking into account--
`(B) coating considerations;
`(C) cathodic protection considerations;
`(D) design considerations for corrosion; and
`(E) concrete requirements.
`(5) Details of a project maintenance program for the life of the bridge.
`(6) A certification that the plan was developed by the State or States
and approved by a corrosion expert.
`(7) A certification that each individual conducting inspections of Federal-aid
highway bridges in the State or States receives training from a corrosion
expert.
`(c) Approval and Disapproval- The Secretary shall approve or disapprove each
corrosion mitigation and prevention plan submitted by a State or States under
subsection (a). If the Secretary disapproves a plan, the Secretary shall inform
the State or States of the reasons for the disapproval and shall permit the
State or States to resubmit the plan with such modifications as the Secretary
determines necessary.
`(d) Modifications Following Plan Approval- A State or States may modify a
corrosion mitigation and prevention plan approved under subsection (c) to
incorporate newly developed corrosion prevention techniques, methods, applications,
and best practices if the State or States provide advance written notice of
the modification to the Secretary.
`(e) Corrosion Expert- In this section, the term `corrosion expert' means
an individual who is accredited or certified as being qualified by an international
technical society dedicated to the mitigation and prevention of corrosion
or who is a registered professional engineer who has certification or licensing
that includes education and experience in corrosion prevention and control
of bridges.
`(1) IN GENERAL- This section shall take effect beginning on the first day
of the second fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this
section.
`(2) WAIVERS- Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Secretary may waive the
application of requirements of this section with respect to a bridge for
the 6-month period beginning on the first day referred to in paragraph (1)
if--
`(A) a corrosion mitigation and prevention plan has been submitted for
the bridge before such first day; and
`(B) the Secretary determines that such a waiver is appropriate.
`(g) Funding- Funds made available to a State under sections 104(b)(1), 104(b)(3),
and 144 may be used by the State for activities to comply with the requirements
of this section.'.
(b) Clerical Amendment- The analysis for such chapter is amended by inserting
after the item relating to section 149 the following:
`150. Corrosion mitigation and prevention plans.'.
END
