Renewal Package From the State of Texas to the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program and Proposed Second Renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Assigning Environmental Responsibilities to the State

<NOTICE> DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION <SUBAGY>Federal Highway Administration</SUBAGY> <DEPDOC>[Docket No. FHWA-2019-0013]</DEPDOC> <SUBJECT>Renewal Package From the State of Texas to the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program and Proposed Second Renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Assigning Environmental Responsibilities to the State</SUBJECT> <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD> Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD> Notice of proposed MOU and request for comments. <SUM> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD> This notice announces that FHWA has received and reviewed a renewal package from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) requesting participation in the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program (Program). This Program allows FHWA to assign, and States to assume, responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and all or part of FHWA's responsibilities for environmental review, consultation, or other actions required under any Federal environmental law with respect to one or more Federal highway projects within the State. The FHWA has determined the renewal package to be complete, and developed a draft renewal MOU with TxDOT outlining how the State will implement the Program with FHWA oversight. The public is invited to comment on TxDOT's request, including its renewal package and the proposed renewed MOU, which includes the proposed assignments and assumptions of environmental review, consultation, and other activities. </SUM> <DATES> <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD> Please submit comments by December 9, 2024. </DATES> <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD> To ensure that you do not duplicate your docket submissions, please submit them by only one of the following means: • <E T="03">Federal eRulemaking Portal:</E> Go to <E T="03">http://www.regulations.gov</E> and follow the online instructions for submitting comments. • <E T="03">Facsimile (Fax):</E> 1-202-493-2251. • <E T="03">Mail:</E> Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, West Building Ground Floor Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001. • <E T="03">Hand Delivery:</E> West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20590 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. <E T="03">Instructions:</E> You must include the agency name and docket number at the beginning of your comments. All comments received will be posted without change to <E T="03">http://www.regulations.gov,</E> including any personal information provided. <FURINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD> <E T="03">For FHWA:</E> Tom Bruechert by email at <E T="03">tom.bruechert@dot.gov</E> or by telephone at 512-536-5948. The FHWA Texas Division office's normal business hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Central Time), Monday-Friday, except for Federal holidays. <E T="03">For the State of Texas:</E> Doug Booher by email at <E T="03">Doug.Booher@txdot.gov</E> or by telephone at 512-466-7435. State business hours are the same as above although State holidays may not completely coincide with Federal holidays. </FURINF> <SUPLINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD> <HD SOURCE="HD1">Electronic Access</HD> You may submit or retrieve comments online through the Federal eRulemaking portal at: <E T="03">http://www.regulations.gov.</E> The website is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. Please follow the instructions. Electronic submission and retrieval help and guidelines are available under the help section of the website. An electronic copy of this document may also be downloaded from the Office of the Federal Register's home page at: <E T="03">https://www.archives.gov</E> and the U.S. Government Publishing Office's web page at: <E T="03">https://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.</E> <HD SOURCE="HD1">Background</HD> Section 327 of title 23, United States Code (23 U.S.C. 327), allows the Secretary of DOT to assign, and a State to assume, the responsibilities under the NEPA of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 <E T="03">et seq.</E> ) and all or part of the responsibilities for environmental review, consultation, or other actions required under certain Federal environmental laws with respect to one or more Federal-aid highway projects within the State. The FHWA is authorized to act on behalf of the Secretary with respect to these matters. The TxDOT entered the Program on December 16, 2014, after submitting its application to FHWA, obtaining FHWA's approval, and entering into a MOU in accordance with 23 U.S.C. 327 and FHWA's application regulations for the program (23 CFR part 773). On December 1, 2023, after coordination with FHWA, TxDOT submitted the renewal package in accordance with the renewal regulations in 23 CFR 773.115. Under the proposed renewal MOU, FHWA would assign to the State, through TxDOT, the responsibility for making decisions on the following types of highway projects: 1. All Class I, or environmental impact statement projects, both on the State highway system (SHS) and local government projects off the SHS that are funded by FHWA or require FHWA approvals. 2. All Class II, or categorically excluded projects, both on the SHS and local government projects off the SHS that are funded by FHWA or require FHWA approvals. 3. All Class III, or environmental assessment projects, both on the SHS and local government projects off the SHS that are funded by FHWA or require FHWA approvals. 4. Projects funded by other Federal agencies (or projects without any Federal funding) of any Class that also include funding by FHWA or require FHWA approvals. For these projects, TxDOT would not assume the NEPA responsibilities of other Federal agencies. 5. Projects funded under a discretionary grant program whereby USDOT awards funding directly to a grantee. Excluded from assignments are highway projects authorized under 23 U.S.C. 202 and 203, highway projects under 23 U.S.C. 204 unless the project will be designed and constructed by TxDOT, projects that cross State boundaries, and projects that cross or are adjacent to international boundaries. The assignment also would give TxDOT the responsibility to conduct the following environmental review, consultation, and other related activities: <HD SOURCE="HD2">Air Quality</HD> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">• Clean Air Act (CAA), 42 U.S.C. 7401-7671q, with the exception of any conformity determinations</FP> <HD SOURCE="HD2">Noise</HD> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">• Noise Control Act of 1972, 42 U.S.C. 4901-4918</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">• Compliance with the noise regulations in 23 CFR part 772</FP> <HD SOURCE="HD2">Wildlife</HD> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">• Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C. 1531-1544</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">• Marine Mammal Protection Act, 16 U.S.C. 1361-1423h</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">• Anadromous Fish Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. 757a-757f</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">• Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, 16 U.S.C. 661-667d</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">• Migratory Bird Treaty Act, 16 U.S.C. 703-712</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1"> • Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1801-1891d <E T="03">et seq.,</E> with Essential Fish Habitat requirements at 16 U.S.C. 1855(b)(1)(B) </FP> <HD SOURCE="HD2">Historic and Cultural Resources</HD> <FP SOURCE="FP-1"> • National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, 54 U.S.C. 300101, <E T="03">et seq.</E> </FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">• Archeological Resources Protection Act, 16 U.S.C. 470aa-mm</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">• Archeological and Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, 54 U.S.C. 312501-312508</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">• Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3001-3013; 18 U.S.C. 1170</FP> <HD SOURCE="HD2">Social and Economic Impacts</HD> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">• American Indian Religious Freedom Act, 42 U.S.C. 1996</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">• Farmland Protection Policy Act, 7 U.S.C. 4201-4209</FP> <HD SOURCE="HD2">Water Resources and Wetlands</HD> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">• Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1251-1387 (Section 401, 402, 404, 408, and Section 319)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">• Coastal Barrier Resources Act, 16 U.S.C. 3501-3510</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">• Coastal Zone Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1451-1466</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">• Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. 300f-300j-26</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1"> • General Bridge Act of 1946, 33 U.S.C. 525-533 </FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">• Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, 33 U.S.C. 401-406</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">• Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, 16 U.S.C. 1271-1287</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">• Emergency Wetlands Resources Act, 16 U.S.C. 3921</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">• Wetlands Mitigation, 23 U.S.C. 119(g), 133(b)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">• Flood Disaster Protection Act, 42 U.S.C. 4001-4130</FP> <HD SOURCE="HD2">Parklands and Other Special Land Uses</HD> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">• Section 4(f), 23 U.S.C. 138 and 49 U.S.C. 303</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">• FHWA/FTA Section 4(f) Regulations at 23 CFR 774</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">• Land and Water Conservation Fund Act, 54 U.S.C. 200302-200310</FP> <HD SOURCE="HD2">FHWA-Specific</HD> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">• Planning and Environmental Linkages, 23 U.S.C. 168, with the exception of those FHWA responsibilities associated with 23 U.S.C. 134 and 135.</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">• Programmatic Mitigation Plans, 23 U.S.C. 169 with the exception of those FHWA responsibilities associated with 23 U.S.C. 134 and 135</FP> <HD SOURCE="HD2">Executive Orders (E.O.) Relating to Highway Projects</HD> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">• E.O. 11990, Protection of Wetlands</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">• E.O. 11988, Floodplain Management (except approving design standards and determinations that a significant encroachment is the only practicable alternat ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Preview showing 10k of 13k characters. Full document text is stored and available for version comparison. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━