[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 135 (Tuesday, July 15, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41352-41353]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16533]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


FTA Fiscal Year 2014 Apportionments, Allocations, and Program 
Information

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.

ACTION: Correction.

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

SUMMARY: On March 10, 2014, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) 
published a notice in the Federal Register apportioning funds 
appropriated by law. The notice provided information on the FY 2014 
funding available for the FTA assistance programs, and provides program 
guidance and requirements, and information on several program issues 
important in the current year. This notice provides a needed correction 
to that notice regarding pre-award authority.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information about this 
notice contact Jamie Pfister, Director, Office of Transit Programs, at 
(202) 366-2053. Please contact the appropriate FTA regional office for 
any specific requests for information or technical assistance. A list 
of FTA regional offices and contact information is available on the FTA 
Web site under the heading ``Regional Offices'' at http://www.fta.dot.gov. An FTA headquarters contact for each major program 
area is included in the discussion of that program in the text of the 
notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    In the Federal Register of March 10, 2014 in FR Doc. 14-4759, on 
page 13482, in the second column, correct the sixth and seventh 
paragraphs to read as follows:

    ``FTA has modified its approach to pre-award authority, and the 
date that costs may be incurred is as follows. For design and 
environmental review, costs may be incurred as of the date of the 
authorization of formula funds or the date of the announcement of 
the discretionary allocation of funds for the project. For property 
acquisition, demolition, construction, and acquisition of vehicles, 
equipment, or construction materials for projects that qualify for a 
categorical exclusion pursuant to 23 CFR 771.118(c), costs may be 
incurred as of the date of the authorization of formula funds or the 
date of the announcement of the discretionary allocation of funds 
for the project. For property acquisition, demolition, construction, 
and acquisition of vehicles, equipment, or construction materials 
for projects that require a categorical exclusion pursuant to 23 CFR 
771.118(d), an environmental assessment, or an environmental impact 
statement, costs may be incurred as of the date that FTA completes 
the environmental review process required by NEPA and its 
implementing regulations (i.e., through issuance of a Section 
771.118(d) categorical exclusion determination, a Finding of No 
Significant Impact (FONSI), or a Record of Decision (ROD)). For pre-
award authority triggered by the completion of the NEPA process, the 
completion of planning and air quality requirements is a 
prerequisite, as those activities are completed prior to conclusion 
of the environmental review process.

[[Page 41353]]

    The requirement that a project be included in a locally-adopted 
Metropolitan Transportation Plan, the metropolitan transportation 
improvement program and federally approved statewide transportation 
improvement program (23 CFR Part 450) must be satisfied before the 
grantee may advance the project beyond planning and preliminary 
design with non-Federal funds under pre-award authority triggered by 
the completion of the NEPA process. If the project is located within 
an EPA-designated non-attainment or maintenance area for air 
quality, the conformity requirements of the Clean Air Act, 40 CFR 
Part 93, must also be met before the project may be advanced into 
implementation-related activities under pre-award authority 
triggered by the completion of the NEPA process. For projects that 
qualify for a categorical exclusion pursuant to 23 CFR 771.118(c), 
if a project is subsequently found not to qualify for this CE, it 
will be ineligible for FTA assistance. For all other projects, 
compliance with NEPA and other environmental laws and executive 
orders (e.g., protection of parklands, wetlands, and historic 
properties) must be completed before State or local funds are spent 
on implementation activities, such as site preparation, 
construction, and acquisition, for a project that is expected to be 
subsequently funded with FTA funds.''

    Issued in Washington, DC, this 9th day of July, 2014.
Therese McMillan,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2014-16533 Filed 7-14-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P