Notice of Availability of Revised Guidance on the Environmental Review Process, 13458-13459 [2015-05786]

Download as PDF 13458 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 49 / Friday, March 13, 2015 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration [Docket No. FRA–2015–0009] Filing Process for Petitions for Waiver and Other Exemptions, Applications, and Special Approvals Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: This document provides the public notice that FRA has created an electronic mailbox to receive petitions for waivers and exemptions from railroad safety rules and regulations, as well as applications for modification or discontinuance of railroad signal systems (block signal applications) and certain special approvals from railroad safety rules and regulations. The email address for this inbox is FRAWaivers@ dot.gov. FRA requests that all railroad safety waiver and exemption requests, as well as block signal applications and special approval applications be submitted either to FRA’s Docket Clerk in accordance with the existing requirements in Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 211, Rules of Practice, or to this email address. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Milicent D. White, Program Specialist, 202–493–1328, Milicent.White@dot.gov, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document announces FRA’s establishment of an electronic mailbox to receive petitions for waivers, certain petitions for special approvals and exemptions from railroad safety rules and regulations, as well as block signal applications. The email address for this inbox is FRAWaivers@dot.gov. FRA anticipates providing a link on its Web page (www.fra.dot.gov) to this mailbox to further streamline the filing process. FRA created this electronic mailbox in order to streamline the filing process for certain documents typically filed in accordance with 49 CFR 211.7, Filing Requirements, including petitions for waiver of any FRA rule or regulation, applications for special approval under 49 CFR 211.55 or 238.21, restricted car approvals under 49 CFR 215.203, grandfathering approvals under 238.203, and signal applications under 49 CFR parts 235 and 236 (block signal applications). FRA is providing the flexibility for electronic filing of these petitions and applications also with the intent to avoid lost, misplaced, delayed, damaged or illegible hardcopy mail. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:27 Mar 12, 2015 Jkt 235001 FRA requests that all railroad safety waiver and exemption requests, as well as block signal applications and special approval applications (including new requests, requests for extensions of existing waivers or approvals, or withdrawals, along with all supporting documentation), be submitted to either FRA’s Docket Clerk at the address provided in 49 CFR 211.1(b)(4) in accordance with the existing requirements of 49 CFR 211.7 or to the above-referenced email address. FRA is providing for the electronic filing of waivers and other requests for regulatory relief traditionally filed in hard copy through FRA’s Docket Clerk in order to increase the efficiency of the process both internally and externally. FRA anticipates following this notice with a rulemaking modifying the applicable procedural regulations (49 CFR part 211) to specifically provide for the electronic filing of the aboveidentified documents. In anticipation of this rulemaking, any interested party may submit comments regarding the use of this electronic mailbox for submission of railroad safety waiver and exemption requests, block signal applications, and special approval applications. A copy of this notice, as well as any written communications concerning the notice, is available for review online at www.regulations.gov and in person at the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Docket Operations Facility, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., W12–140, Washington, DC 20590. The Docket Operations Facility is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays. Interested parties may submit written views, data, or comments regarding the use of an electronic mailbox as described in this notice. All written submissions should be submitted by May 12, 2015. All communications concerning this notice should identify the appropriate docket number and may be submitted by any of the following methods: • Web site: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. • Fax: 202–493–2251. • Mail: Docket Operations Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., W12–140, Washington, DC 20590. • Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Room W12–140, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays. Anyone is able to search the electronic form of any written communications and comments PO 00000 Frm 00137 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the document, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the public to better inform its processes. DOT posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information the commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records notice (DOT/ALL– 14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at www.dot.gov/privacy. See also https:// www.regulations.gov/#!privacyNotice for the privacy notice of regulations.gov. Issued in Washington, DC, on March 10, 2015. Ron Hynes, Director of Technical Oversight. [FR Doc. 2015–05751 Filed 3–12–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–06–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration Federal Transit Administration [Docket Number: FHWA–2015–0001] Notice of Availability of Revised Guidance on the Environmental Review Process Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, DOT. ACTION: Notice of availability; Request for comments. AGENCY: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announce the availability of its revised Section 139 Environmental Review Process guidance (previously referred to as the SAFETEA–LU Environmental Review Process Final Guidance), which was amended to reflect provisions of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP–21). The document provides guidance on environmental review process requirements and best management practices for transportation projects funded or approved by the FHWA, FTA, or both agencies. The revisions to the joint guidance reflect the FHWA and FTA’s proposed implementation of the MAP–21 changes within their statutory environmental review process requirements, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other Federal laws. The FHWA and FTA request public comments on the proposed guidance. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\13MRN1.SGM 13MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 49 / Friday, March 13, 2015 / Notices Comments must be received by May 12, 2015. Late filed comments will be considered to the extent practicable. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments to Docket No. FHWA–2015–0001 by any of the following methods: Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Mail: Docket Management Facility: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, Washington, DC 20590–0001. Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Fax: (202) 493–2251. Instructions: You must include the agency name (Federal Highway Administration or Federal Transit Administration) and the Docket Number of this notice at the beginning of your comments. Note that all comments received will be posted without change to www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. You may review DOT’s complete Privacy Act Statement published in the Federal Register on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477). DATES: For the FHWA: Neel Vanikar, Office of Project Development and Environmental Review, (202) 366–2068, or Jomar Maldonado, Office of Chief Counsel, (202) 366–1373. For FTA: Chris Van Wyk, Office of Environmental Programs, (202) 366–1733, or Helen Serassio, Office of Chief Counsel, (202) 366–1974. The FHWA and FTA are located at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Background The FHWA and FTA, hereafter referred to as the ‘‘Agencies,’’ are proposing the issuance of revised joint guidance on the environmental review process based on revisions to 23 U.S.C. 139 (Efficient environmental rules for project decisionmaking) by various MAP–21 provisions. The proposed guidance would update and supersede the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA–LU) Environmental Review Process Final Guidance issued on November 16, 2006. The MAP–21 added requirements and refinements to the project development VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:27 Mar 12, 2015 Jkt 235001 procedures found in 23 U.S.C. 139 (Section 139), which contains statutory requirements supplemental to the process required by NEPA, the Council on Environmental Quality regulations at 40 CFR 1500, and the FHWA/FTA joint environmental regulations at 23 CFR part 771. Section 139 provides the roles of the project sponsor and the lead, participating, and cooperating agencies; sets requirements for coordinating and scheduling agency reviews; identifies the authority of States to use Federal funding to ensure timely environmental reviews; specifies a process for resolving interagency disagreements; and establishes a statute of limitations on claims against transportation projects. The MAP–21 amended Section 139 by emphasizing a framework for setting deadlines for decisionmaking in the environmental review process; modifying the process for issue resolution and referral; establishing penalties for Federal agencies that do not make a timely decision; and, providing an option for complex projects stalled in the environmental review process to receive technical assistance with a goal of completing the environmental review process (i.e., issuance of a record of decision (ROD)) within 4 years. In addition, MAP–21 mandated the combination of the Final Environmental Impact Statement and ROD into one document under certain circumstances, to the maximum extent practicable, although that process change was not codified in Section 139. The Agencies request comments on the revised guidance, which is available in the docket (FHWA–2015–0001) and on FHWA’s and FTA’s MAP–21 Web sites. The Agencies will respond to comments received on the guidance in a second Federal Register notice, to be published after the close of the comment period. That second notice will also announce the availability of final guidance that reflects any changes implemented as a result of comments received. Authority: 23 U.S.C. 139; Pub. L. 112–141, 126 Stat. 551. Issued on: February 27, 2015. Gregory G. Nadeau, Deputy Administrator, Federal Highway Administration. Therese W. McMillan, Acting Administrator, Federal Transit Administration. [FR Doc. 2015–05786 Filed 3–12–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–22–P PO 00000 Frm 00138 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 13459 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration [Docket Number FRA–2015–0013] Petition for Waiver of Compliance In accordance with Part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this document provides the public notice that by a document dated January 26, 2015, the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM) has petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety regulations. Specifically, IRM requests relief from certain provisions of 49 CFR part 230, Steam Locomotive Inspection and Maintenance Standards. FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA–2015–0013. IRM is a railroad museum that maintains and operates Number 1630, a 2–10–0 ‘‘Decapod’’ type steam locomotive built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1918. IRM typically operates Number 1630 for 31 or fewer service days per year and expects to do so for the future. IRM requests relief from performing the fifth annual inspection as it pertains to the inspection of flexible staybolt caps every 5 years as required by 49 CFR 230.41(a), and requests to extend the inspection interval to 2,760 calendar days (7.5 years) after the locomotive entered service on May 24, 2014. IRM will perform all other inspections as required by 49 CFR 230.16, Annual inspection. IRM’s justification for requesting this relief is that the current level of safety would be maintained due to the low number of service days accrued in this engine since the last flexible staybolt cap inspection. There will be a significant cost savings as the IRM shop forces would not be required to remove the cab, piping, jacketing, and insulation to gain access to the caps to perform the flexible staybolt cap inspection. A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications concerning the petition, is available for review online at www.regulations.gov and in person at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Docket Operations Facility, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., W12–140, Washington, DC 20590. The Docket Operations Facility is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays. Interested parties are invited to participate in these proceedings by submitting written views, data, or comments. FRA does not anticipate scheduling a public hearing in connection with these proceedings since E:\FR\FM\13MRN1.SGM 13MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 49 (Friday, March 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13458-13459]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-05786]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

Federal Transit Administration

[Docket Number: FHWA-2015-0001]


Notice of Availability of Revised Guidance on the Environmental 
Review Process

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, 
DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability; Request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit 
Administration (FTA) announce the availability of its revised Section 
139 Environmental Review Process guidance (previously referred to as 
the SAFETEA-LU Environmental Review Process Final Guidance), which was 
amended to reflect provisions of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 
21st Century Act (MAP-21). The document provides guidance on 
environmental review process requirements and best management practices 
for transportation projects funded or approved by the FHWA, FTA, or 
both agencies. The revisions to the joint guidance reflect the FHWA and 
FTA's proposed implementation of the MAP-21 changes within their 
statutory environmental review process requirements, in accordance with 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other Federal laws. 
The FHWA and FTA request public comments on the proposed guidance.

[[Page 13459]]


DATES: Comments must be received by May 12, 2015. Late filed comments 
will be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments to Docket No. FHWA-2015-0001 by any 
of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov and follow 
the online instructions for submitting comments.
    Mail: Docket Management Facility: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 
p.m. e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    Instructions: You must include the agency name (Federal Highway 
Administration or Federal Transit Administration) and the Docket Number 
of this notice at the beginning of your comments. Note that all 
comments received will be posted without change to www.regulations.gov, 
including any personal information provided. You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement published in the Federal Register on 
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For the FHWA: Neel Vanikar, Office of 
Project Development and Environmental Review, (202) 366-2068, or Jomar 
Maldonado, Office of Chief Counsel, (202) 366-1373. For FTA: Chris Van 
Wyk, Office of Environmental Programs, (202) 366-1733, or Helen 
Serassio, Office of Chief Counsel, (202) 366-1974. The FHWA and FTA are 
located at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. Office 
hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FHWA and FTA, hereafter referred to as the ``Agencies,'' are 
proposing the issuance of revised joint guidance on the environmental 
review process based on revisions to 23 U.S.C. 139 (Efficient 
environmental rules for project decisionmaking) by various MAP-21 
provisions. The proposed guidance would update and supersede the Safe, 
Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy 
for Users (SAFETEA-LU) Environmental Review Process Final Guidance 
issued on November 16, 2006.
    The MAP-21 added requirements and refinements to the project 
development procedures found in 23 U.S.C. 139 (Section 139), which 
contains statutory requirements supplemental to the process required by 
NEPA, the Council on Environmental Quality regulations at 40 CFR 1500, 
and the FHWA/FTA joint environmental regulations at 23 CFR part 771. 
Section 139 provides the roles of the project sponsor and the lead, 
participating, and cooperating agencies; sets requirements for 
coordinating and scheduling agency reviews; identifies the authority of 
States to use Federal funding to ensure timely environmental reviews; 
specifies a process for resolving interagency disagreements; and 
establishes a statute of limitations on claims against transportation 
projects. The MAP-21 amended Section 139 by emphasizing a framework for 
setting deadlines for decisionmaking in the environmental review 
process; modifying the process for issue resolution and referral; 
establishing penalties for Federal agencies that do not make a timely 
decision; and, providing an option for complex projects stalled in the 
environmental review process to receive technical assistance with a 
goal of completing the environmental review process (i.e., issuance of 
a record of decision (ROD)) within 4 years. In addition, MAP-21 
mandated the combination of the Final Environmental Impact Statement 
and ROD into one document under certain circumstances, to the maximum 
extent practicable, although that process change was not codified in 
Section 139.
    The Agencies request comments on the revised guidance, which is 
available in the docket (FHWA-2015-0001) and on FHWA's and FTA's MAP-21 
Web sites. The Agencies will respond to comments received on the 
guidance in a second Federal Register notice, to be published after the 
close of the comment period. That second notice will also announce the 
availability of final guidance that reflects any changes implemented as 
a result of comments received.

    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 139; Pub. L. 112-141, 126 Stat. 551.

    Issued on: February 27, 2015.
Gregory G. Nadeau,
Deputy Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
Therese W. McMillan,
Acting Administrator, Federal Transit Administration.
[FR Doc. 2015-05786 Filed 3-12-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P

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