Action
Final rule.
Summary
FHWA, FRA, and FTA are issuing this final rule to establish the regulations governing the DOT Program for Eliminating Duplication of Environmental Reviews (Pilot Program). Section 1309 of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, as further amended, directed the Secretary of Transportation to establish a pilot program authorizing up to two States to conduct environmental reviews and make approvals for projects under State environmental laws and regulations, instead of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), under certain circumstances. Section 1309(c) requires the Secretary, in consultation with the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), to promulgate regulations to implement the requirements of the Pilot Program, including application requirements and criteria necessary to determine whether State laws and regulations are at least as stringent as the applicable Federal law. This final rule also implements Section 1308 of the FAST Act, which amends the corrective action period of the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program (Section 327 Program).