[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 21, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3667-3668]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-1013]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Guidelines for Preparation of Environmental Assessments: Notice 
of Withdrawal of Circular

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Withdrawal of Circular.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is providing notice 
that it is withdrawing circular C5620.1, ``Guidelines for Preparing 
Environmental Assessments.'' The circular, which was issued in 1979, is 
outdated and should no longer be relied upon for guidance or cited in 
documents prepared for federally funded transit projects. FTA plans to 
develop new guidance at some point in the future.

DATES: The effective date of the withdrawal of the circular is January 
21, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl Bausch, Office of Planning and 
Environment, Federal Transit Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave

[[Page 3668]]

SE., East Building, Washington, DC 20590, phone: (202) 366-1626; or 
Christopher S. Van Wyk, Office of Chief Counsel, same address, phone: 
(202) 366-1733.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: By this notice, FTA is withdrawing circular 
C5620.1, ``Guidelines for Preparing Environmental Assessments.'' The 
circular was intended to provide guidance on the preparation of 
environmental assessments pursuant to the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 (NEPA). Since the time of the circular's issuance in 1979, 
there have been numerous substantive legal decisions and changes in 
applicable law that significantly affect the way in which environmental 
assessments are prepared pursuant to NEPA. These changes, including a 
major revision of FTA's regulations for implementing NEPA at 23 CFR 
Part 771 issued in 1987, have rendered the circular too inaccurate and 
deficient to continue to provide guidance on the preparation of 
environmental assessments pursuant to NEPA. Thus, FTA is providing this 
notice that the circular is withdrawn, should no longer be used as 
guidance, and should no longer be cited in documents prepared for 
federally funded transit projects.
    The circular will be moved to the ``archive'' section of its public 
Web site on the date of publication of this notice. FTA plans to 
develop new guidance at some point in the future.

    Issued on: January 12, 2009.
Sherry E. Little,
Acting Administrator.
 [FR Doc. E9-1013 Filed 1-16-09; 8:45 am]
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