[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 126 (Thursday, July 1, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 35708]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-16827]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Streamlining; Notice of Availability of Information
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of available information.
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SUMMARY: The FHWA is announcing the availability of information about
environmental streamlining efforts under section 1309 of the
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Lucy Garliauskas, Office of NEPA
Facilitation, HENP, (202)366-2068, or Ms. Virginia I. Cherwek, Office
of the Chief Counsel, HCC-31, (202)366-1372, Federal Highway
Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590; e-mail:
lucy.garliauskas@fhwa.dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Access
An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded using a modem
and suitable communications software from the Government Printing
Office's Electronic Bulletin Board Service at (202) 512-1661. Internet
users may reach the Office of the Federal Register's home page at:
http://www.nara.gov/fedreg and the Government Printing Office's
database at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.
Background
The environmental provisions of TEA-21, Pub. L. 105-178, 112 Stat.
107, 232, reflect Congress' reaction to concerns expressed about
delays, unnecessary duplication of effort, and added costs often
associated with the current process for reviewing and approving
transportation projects. At the same time, the Congress did not change
any environmental laws. Therefore, the FHWA concludes that the Congress
intended no reduction in environmental protection. The chief objective
of section 1309 of TEA-21, Environmental Streamlining, is to focus
efforts on better, earlier, and more timely coordination among Federal,
State, and local agencies.
The FHWA is currently in the process of identifying and defining
ways to improve and streamline the environmental review processes for
the development of highway projects consistent with continued
environmental protection. These efforts may include:
(a) Entering into a national Memorandum of Understanding with other
Federal agencies who are responsible for reviewing environmental
documents prepared under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969,
Pub. L. 91-190, 83 Stat. 852, as amended, for a highway construction or
transit project, or who issue a permit, license, and opinion relating
to the project;
(b) Recognizing successful efforts, promoting creative solutions at
State and local levels, building upon successful practices;
(c) Encouraging field organizations to pursue partnering
opportunities and programmatic agreements for site specific or project
specific (pilot) efforts;
(d) Developing national dispute resolution procedures; and
(e) Identifying ways to develop performance measures and to
benchmark techniques assessing the effectiveness of the project
development processes and practices.
The FHWA is also considering revisions to its Environmental Impact
and Related Procedures regulations. Any proposed revisions will be
published separately in the Federal Register for public comment.
Updates on the FHWA's activities, documents, and streamlining
initiatives are available to the public. Additionally, information on
future meetings and conference calls will be located on the FHWA Office
of Planning and Environment's website: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/
environment/index.htm.
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; sec. 1309, Pub. L. 105-178, 112 Stat.
107, 232; and 49 CFR 1.48.
Issued on: June 24, 1999.
Kenneth R. Wykle,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 99-16827 Filed 6-30-99; 8:45 am]
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