Uniform Relocation and Real Property Acquisition for Federal and Federally Assisted Programs; Fixed Payment for Moving Expenses; Residential Moves, 42895-42897 [E8-16893]

Agencies

• Federal Highway Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 142 (Wednesday, July 23, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42895-42897]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-16893]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Uniform Relocation and Real Property Acquisition for Federal and 
Federally Assisted Programs; Fixed Payment for Moving Expenses; 
Residential Moves

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to publish changes in the Fixed 
Residential Moving Cost Schedule for the States and Territories of 
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of 
Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, 
Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, 
Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North 
Dakota, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South 
Dakota, Utah, Virgin Islands, Virginia, and Wyoming as provided for by 
section 4622(b) of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property 
Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, as amended. The schedule amounts for 
the States and Territories not listed above remain unchanged. The 
Uniform Act applies to all programs or projects undertaken by Federal 
agencies or with Federal financial assistance that cause the 
displacement of any person.

DATES: The provisions of this notice are effective August 22, 2008, or 
on such earlier date as an agency elects to begin operating under this 
schedule.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carolyn Winborne James, Office of Real 
Estate Services, (202) 493-0353, Carolyn.James@dot.gov; Federal Highway 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. 
Office hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., e.t., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    An electronic copy of this notice may be downloaded from the Office 
of the Federal Register's home page at: https://www.archives.gov/ and 
the Government Printing Office's database at: https://
www.access.gpo.gov/.

Background

    The Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition 
Policies Act of 1970, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4601-4655 (Uniform Act), 
established a program, which includes the payment of moving and related 
expenses, to assist persons who are displaced because of Federal or 
federally assisted projects. The FHWA is the lead agency for 
implementing the provisions of the Uniform Act and has issued 
governmentwide implementing regulations at 49 CFR part 24.
    The following 17 Federal departments and agencies have, by cross-
reference, adopted the governmentwide regulations: Department of 
Agriculture; Department of Commerce; Department of Defense; Department 
of Education; Department of Energy; Department of Homeland Security; 
Environmental Protection Agency; Federal Emergency Management Agency; 
General Services Administration; Department of Health and Human 
Services; Department of Housing and Urban Development; Department of 
the Interior; Department of Justice; Department of Labor; Department of 
Veterans Affairs; National Aeronautics and Space Administration; 
Tennessee Valley Authority.
    Section 4622(b) of the Uniform Act provides that, as an alternative 
to being paid for actual residential moving and related expenses, a 
displaced individual or family may elect payment for moving expenses on 
the basis of a moving expense schedule established by the head of the 
lead agency. The governmentwide regulations at 49 CFR 24.302 provide 
that the FHWA will develop, approve, maintain, and update this 
schedule, as appropriate.
    The purpose of this notice is to update the schedule published on 
May 16, 2005 (70 FR 25875). The schedule is being updated to reflect 
the increased costs associated with moving personal property and was 
developed from data provided by State highway agencies. This update 
increases the schedule amounts in the States and Territories of 
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of 
Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, 
Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, 
Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North 
Dakota, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South 
Dakota, Utah, Virgin Islands, Virginia, and Wyoming. The schedule 
amounts for the States and Territories not listed above remain 
unchanged. The payments listed in the table below apply on a State-by-
State basis. Two exceptions and limitations apply to all States and 
Territories. Payment is limited to $100.00 if either of the following 
conditions applies:
    (a) A person has minimal possessions and occupies a dormitory style 
room, or
    (b) A person's residential move is performed by an agency at no 
cost to the person.
    The schedule continues to be based on the ``number of rooms of 
furniture'' owned by a displaced individual or family. In the interest 
of fairness and accuracy, and to encourage the use of the schedule (and 
thereby simplify the computation and payment of moving expenses), an 
agency should increase the room count for the purpose of applying the 
schedule if the amount of possessions in a single room or space 
actually constitutes more than the normal contents of one room of 
furniture or other personal property. For example, a basement may count 
as two rooms if the equivalent of two rooms worth of possessions is 
located in the basement. In addition, an agency may elect to pay for 
items stored outside the dwelling unit by adding the appropriate number 
of rooms.

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4622(b) and 4633(b); 49 CFR 1.48 and 
24.302.

    Issued on: July 16, 2008.
James D. Ray,
Acting Federal Highway Administrator.
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 [FR Doc. E8-16893 Filed 7-22-08; 8:45 am]
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