[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 61 (Tuesday, March 31, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17137-17138]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07288]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Transfer of Federally Assisted Facility

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), United States Department 
of Transportation (USDOT).

ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to transfer Federally assisted facility.

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SUMMARY: Section 5334(h) of the Federal Transit Laws, as codified, 49 
U.S.C. 5301, et. seq., permits the Administrator of the Federal Transit 
Administration (FTA) to authorize a recipient of FTA funds to transfer 
land or a facility to a public body for any public purpose with no 
further obligation to the Federal Government if, among other things, no 
Federal agency is interested in acquiring the asset for Federal use. 
Accordingly, FTA is issuing this Notice to advise Federal agencies that 
the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) intends to 
transfer the facility located at

[[Page 17138]]

274 Winkler's Creek Road, Boone, NC 28607, on behalf of a subrecipient, 
AppalCART, to Watauga County, NC. AppalCART, the transportation 
authority serving all of Watauga County, used the location as an 
administrative and maintenance facility from 1981-2013 (32 yrs). 
AppalCART can no longer use the property because construction on a new 
administrative and maintenance facility was completed in August 2013.
    Watauga County will be utilizing the property as a County 
maintenance department. Watauga County is charged with maintaining all 
county vehicles and facilities, including snow removal. This transfer 
would provide a number of benefits to the county and its residents. The 
site is more centrally located than the current location of the County 
maintenance department; the new location would allow quicker and more 
efficient dispatch of maintenance crews for snow removal and other 
services to County facilities. The interior space at this property will 
allow maintenance equipment and vehicles to be sheltered and maintained 
indoors, saving them from the wear currently experienced due to the 
harsh climate of the area. Also, the site and facilities have adequate 
space for other county usage, such as storage for other departments and 
a possible impound lot for the Sheriff's Office. The transfer will 
allow the property to be put to good use. The County has agreed to 
ensure that this use will be maintained for no less than five (5) 
years.

DATES: Effective Date: Any Federal agency interested in acquiring the 
facility must notify the FTA Region IV office of its interest no later 
than 30 days from the date of publication of the Federal Register 
notice.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties should notify the Regional Office by 
writing to Yvette G. Taylor, Regional Administrator, Federal Transit 
Administration, 230 Peachtree NW., Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30303.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Micah M. Miller, Regional Counsel, 
(404) 865-5474.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    49 U.S.C. 5334(h) provides guidance on the transfer of capital 
assets. Specifically, if a recipient of FTA assistance decides an asset 
acquired under this chapter at least in part with that assistance is no 
longer needed for the purpose for which it was acquired, the Secretary 
of Transportation may authorize the recipient to transfer the asset to 
a local governmental authority to be used for a public purpose with no 
further obligation to the Government. 49 U.S.C. 5334(h)(1).

Determinations

    The Secretary may authorize a transfer for a public purpose other 
than mass transportation only if the Secretary decides:
    (A) The asset will remain in public use for at least 5 years after 
the date the asset is transferred;
    (B) There is no purpose eligible for assistance under this chapter 
for which the asset should be used;
    (C) The overall benefit of allowing the transfer is greater than 
the interest of the Government in liquidation and return of the 
financial interest of the Government in the asset, after considering 
fair market value and other factors; and
    (D) Through an appropriate screening or survey process, that there 
is no interest in acquiring the asset for Government use if the asset 
is a facility or land.

Federal Interest in Acquiring Land or Facility

    This document implements the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 
5334(h)(1)(D) of the Federal Transit Laws. Accordingly, FTA hereby 
provides notice of the availability of the facility further described 
below. Any Federal agency interested in acquiring the affected facility 
should promptly notify the FTA. If no Federal agency is interested in 
acquiring the existing facility, FTA will make certain that the other 
requirements specified in 49 U.S.C. 5334(h)(1)(A) through (C) are met 
before permitting the asset to be transferred.

Additional Description of Land or Facility

    The subject property is identified as parcel identification number 
2910-23-0273-000 by the Watauga County Tax Supervisor's office. The 
subject property contains 1.549-acres improved with a one-story metal & 
brick garage/office/warehouse building and a one-story brick equipment 
vehicle wash building, both in fair condition. Site improvements 
include asphalt pavement, chain-link fencing, and landscaping. The 
subject was formerly used as an office and maintenance facility for 
AppalCART, a public transportation system serving Watauga County. 
AppalCART moved to a new facility in late 2013 and the subject 
facilities are currently vacant. Public utilities include water, sewer, 
electric, telephone and cable.

Yvette G. Taylor,
Regional Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Atlanta, GA.
[FR Doc. 2015-07288 Filed 3-30-15; 8:45 am]
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