Notice Publishing Substantive Criteria for Evaluation of Applications under the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program (RRIF), 56207 [05-19094]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 185 / Monday, September 26, 2005 / Notices name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT’s complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477–78). The Statement may also be found at https:// dms.dot.gov. Issued in Washington, DC on September 19, 2005. Grady C. Cothen, Jr., Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program Development. [FR Doc. 05–19093 Filed 9–23–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–06–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration Notice Publishing Substantive Criteria for Evaluation of Applications under the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program (RRIF) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of Transportation (DOT). AGENCY: Notice of Evaluation Criteria for RRIF Program. ACTION: FRA is publishing this notice in response to Congressional direction contained in section 9003(j) of the recently enacted Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA–LU) requesting the agency to identify the substantive criteria and standards used by the DOT/FRA to determine whether to approve or disapprove applications submitted under the RRIF Program. This information is being provided by publication in the Federal Register and posting on the DOT/FRA website, as required by the statute. SUMMARY: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Pomponio, Director, Office of Freight Programs, Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1120 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: 202–493–6051, e-mail: Joseph.Pomponio@fra.dot.gov. Cynthia Walters, Attorney, Office of Chief Counsel, Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1120 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20590. Telelphone 202–493–6064, e-mail: Cynthia.Walters@fra.dot.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:49 Sep 23, 2005 Jkt 205001 Background Congress recently amended sections 502 and 503 of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 (45 U.S.C. 821 et seq.), in SAFETEA–LU (Pub. L. 109–59). These amendments address DOT’s RRIF program, which authorizes the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) to disburse money through direct loans and loan guarantees to various entities. RRIF loans and loan guarantees are used to acquire, improve or rehabilitate intermodal or rail equipment and facilities, refinance debt that was undertaken for such purposes, or to develop or establish new rail or intermodal facilities. The SAFETEA–LU amendments expand the total available program obligations from $3.5 billion to $35 billion and make several other program changes. The Secretary’s authority to administer this program has been delegated to the Administrator of FRA (49 CFR sections 1.49(t) and 260.1, Program Authority). In addition to the RRIF program changes, SAFETEA–LU requires the Department, within thirty days after enactment of the statute, to publish in the Federal Register and post on the Department’s Web site the substantive criteria and standards used by the Secretary to determine whether applications will be approved or disapproved for RRIF loans. The substantive criteria responsive to the request of Congress are the subject of this notice and are described below. FRA’s Substantive Criteria for Evaluation of RRIF Applications FRA is providing the criteria and standards used to determine whether to approve or disapprove an application submitted under section 502 of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976. These criteria are drawn from the legislation authorizing the RRIF program (45 U.S.C. 821 et seq.) and program implementing regulations (49 CFR part 260). The words used below to describe the criteria differ from the statute and the regulations only for purposes of brevity. This notice does not contain any new criteria or impose any new legal requirements or have any legal effect other than to satisfy the mandate from Congress to issue this notice. Determinations are made based on the following criteria and standards, as more fully set forth in the statute or the regulations, evaluated individually and considered collectively. • The statutory eligibility of the applicant and the project ( 49 CFR 260.3, definition of applicant and 49 CFR 260.5, eligible purposes); PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 56207 • The creditworthiness of the project, including the present and probable demand for rail services and a reasonable likelihood that the loan will be repaid on a timely basis. (49 CFR part 260, Subpart B–FRA policies and procedures for Evaluating Applications for Financial Assistance) • The extent to which the project will enhance safety. (49 CFR 260.7(a)) • The significance of the project on a local, regional, or national level in terms of generating economic benefits and improving the railroad transportation system. (49 CFR 260.7(c)) • The improvement to the environment that is expected to result directly or indirectly by the implementation of the project. (49 CFR 260.7(b)) and • The improvement in service or capacity in the railroad transportation system or the reduction in service-or capacity-related problems that is expected to result directly or indirectly from the implementation of the project (45 U.S.C. 822(c)) Issued in Washington, DC on September 19, 2005. Joseph H. Boardman, Federal Railroad Administrator. [FR Doc. 05–19094 Filed 9–23–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–06–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [Docket No. NHTSA–2005–21859; Notice 2] Toyota Motor North America, Inc., Denial of Petition for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance Toyota Motor North America (Toyota) has determined that certain model year 2003 through 2005 vehicles that it produced do not comply with S5(c)(2) of 49 CFR 571.225, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 225, ‘‘Child restraint anchorage systems.’’ Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and 30120(h), Toyota has petitioned for a determination that this noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety and has filed an appropriate report pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573, ‘‘Defect and Noncompliance Reports.’’ Notice of receipt of the petition was published, with a 30 day comment period, on July 19, 2005 in the Federal Register (70 FR 41476). NHTSA received one comment, from Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates). Affected are a total of approximately 156,555 model year 2003 to 2005 Toyota E:\FR\FM\26SEN1.SGM 26SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 185 (Monday, September 26, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 56207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-19094]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Notice Publishing Substantive Criteria for Evaluation of 
Applications under the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement 
Financing Program (RRIF)

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of Evaluation Criteria for RRIF Program.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: FRA is publishing this notice in response to Congressional 
direction contained in section 9003(j) of the recently enacted Safe, 
Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy 
for Users (SAFETEA-LU) requesting the agency to identify the 
substantive criteria and standards used by the DOT/FRA to determine 
whether to approve or disapprove applications submitted under the RRIF 
Program. This information is being provided by publication in the 
Federal Register and posting on the DOT/FRA website, as required by the 
statute.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Pomponio, Director, Office of 
Freight Programs, Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1120 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20590. 
Telephone: 202-493-6051, e-mail: Joseph.Pomponio@fra.dot.gov. Cynthia 
Walters, Attorney, Office of Chief Counsel, Federal Railroad 
Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1120 Vermont Avenue, 
NW., Washington, DC 20590. Telelphone 202-493-6064, e-mail: 
Cynthia.Walters@fra.dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Congress recently amended sections 502 and 503 of the Railroad 
Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 (45 U.S.C. 821 et 
seq.), in SAFETEA-LU (Pub. L. 109-59). These amendments address DOT's 
RRIF program, which authorizes the Secretary of Transportation 
(Secretary) to disburse money through direct loans and loan guarantees 
to various entities. RRIF loans and loan guarantees are used to 
acquire, improve or rehabilitate intermodal or rail equipment and 
facilities, refinance debt that was undertaken for such purposes, or to 
develop or establish new rail or intermodal facilities. The SAFETEA-LU 
amendments expand the total available program obligations from $3.5 
billion to $35 billion and make several other program changes. The 
Secretary's authority to administer this program has been delegated to 
the Administrator of FRA (49 CFR sections 1.49(t) and 260.1, Program 
Authority).
    In addition to the RRIF program changes, SAFETEA-LU requires the 
Department, within thirty days after enactment of the statute, to 
publish in the Federal Register and post on the Department's Web site 
the substantive criteria and standards used by the Secretary to 
determine whether applications will be approved or disapproved for RRIF 
loans. The substantive criteria responsive to the request of Congress 
are the subject of this notice and are described below.

FRA's Substantive Criteria for Evaluation of RRIF Applications

    FRA is providing the criteria and standards used to determine 
whether to approve or disapprove an application submitted under section 
502 of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976. 
These criteria are drawn from the legislation authorizing the RRIF 
program (45 U.S.C. 821 et seq.) and program implementing regulations 
(49 CFR part 260). The words used below to describe the criteria differ 
from the statute and the regulations only for purposes of brevity. This 
notice does not contain any new criteria or impose any new legal 
requirements or have any legal effect other than to satisfy the mandate 
from Congress to issue this notice. Determinations are made based on 
the following criteria and standards, as more fully set forth in the 
statute or the regulations, evaluated individually and considered 
collectively.
     The statutory eligibility of the applicant and the project 
( 49 CFR 260.3, definition of applicant and 49 CFR 260.5, eligible 
purposes);
     The creditworthiness of the project, including the present 
and probable demand for rail services and a reasonable likelihood that 
the loan will be repaid on a timely basis. (49 CFR part 260, Subpart B-
FRA policies and procedures for Evaluating Applications for Financial 
Assistance)
     The extent to which the project will enhance safety. (49 
CFR 260.7(a))
     The significance of the project on a local, regional, or 
national level in terms of generating economic benefits and improving 
the railroad transportation system. (49 CFR 260.7(c))
     The improvement to the environment that is expected to 
result directly or indirectly by the implementation of the project. (49 
CFR 260.7(b)) and
     The improvement in service or capacity in the railroad 
transportation system or the reduction in service-or capacity-related 
problems that is expected to result directly or indirectly from the 
implementation of the project (45 U.S.C. 822(c))

    Issued in Washington, DC on September 19, 2005.
Joseph H. Boardman,
Federal Railroad Administrator.
[FR Doc. 05-19094 Filed 9-23-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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