Source: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/23/327
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 01:58:25+00:00

Document:
The Secretary shall carry out a surface transportation project delivery program (referred to in this section as the “program”).
Subject to the other provisions of this section, with the written agreement of the Secretary and a State, which may be in the form of a memorandum of understanding, the Secretary may assign, and the State may assume, the responsibilities of the Secretary with respect to one or more highway projects within the State under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
responsibility for any conformity determination required under section 176 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7506).
A State shall assume responsibility under this section subject to the same procedural and substantive requirements as would apply if that responsibility were carried out by the Secretary.
Any responsibility of the Secretary not explicitly assumed by the State by written agreement under this section shall remain the responsibility of the Secretary.
Nothing in this section preempts or interferes with any power, jurisdiction, responsibility, or authority of an agency, other than the Department of Transportation, under applicable law (including regulations) with respect to a project.
The Secretary may not require a State, as a condition of participation in the program, to forego project delivery methods that are otherwise permissible for projects.
A State assuming the responsibilities of the Secretary under this section for a specific project may use funds apportioned to the State under section 104(b)(2) for attorneys’ fees directly attributable to eligible activities associated with the project.
All States are eligible to participate in the program.
evidence of the notice and solicitation of public comment by the State relating to participation of the State in the program, including copies of comments received from that solicitation.
Each State that submits an application under this subsection shall give notice of the intent of the State to participate in the program not later than 30 days before the date of submission of the application.
The State shall provide notice and solicit public comment under this paragraph by publishing the complete application of the State in accordance with the appropriate public notice law of the State.
the head of the State agency having primary jurisdiction over highway matters enters into a written agreement with the Secretary described in subsection (c).
If a State applies to assume a responsibility of the Secretary that would have required the Secretary to consult with another Federal agency, the Secretary shall solicit the views of the Federal agency before approving the application.
The United States district courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any civil action against a State for failure to carry out any responsibility of the State under this section.
A civil action under paragraph (1) shall be governed by the legal standards and requirements that would apply in such a civil action against the Secretary had the Secretary taken the actions in question.
The Secretary shall have the right to intervene in any action described in paragraph (1).
A State that assumes responsibility under subsection (a)(2) shall be solely responsible and solely liable for carrying out, in lieu of and without further approval of the Secretary, the responsibilities assumed under subsection (a)(2), until the program is terminated as provided in subsection (j).
Nothing in this section permits a State to assume any rulemaking authority of the Secretary under any Federal law.
ensure that the time period for completing an annual audit, from initiation to completion (including public comment and responses to those comments), does not exceed 180 days.
An audit conducted under paragraph (1) shall be provided to the public for comment.
Not later than 60 days after the date on which the period for public comment ends, the Secretary shall respond to public comments received under subparagraph (A).
An audit conducted under paragraph (1) shall be carried out by an audit team determined by the Secretary, in consultation with the State, in accordance with subparagraph (B).
Consultation with the State under subparagraph (A) shall include a reasonable opportunity for the State to review and provide comments on the proposed members of the audit team.
After the fourth year of the participation of a State in the program, the Secretary shall monitor compliance by the State with the written agreement, including the provision by the State of financial resources to carry out the written agreement.
The Secretary shall submit to Congress an annual report that describes the administration of the program.
the State, after the notification and period provided under subparagraph (B), fails to take satisfactory corrective action, as determined by the Secretary.
The State may terminate the participation of the State in the program at any time by providing to the Secretary a notice by not later than the date that is 90 days before the date of termination, and subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary may provide.
to promote information sharing and collaboration among States that are participating in the assignment program under this section.
provide guidance and training on consolidating and minimizing the documentation and environmental analyses necessary for sponsors of a locally administered project to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and any comparable requirements under State law.
The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, referred to in subsecs. (a)(2)(A), (B)(ii), (iii) and (l)(2), is Pub. L. 91–190, Jan. 1, 1970, 83 Stat. 852, which is classified generally to chapter 55 (§ 4321 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 4321 of Title 42 and Tables.
The date on which amendments to this section by the MAP-21 take effect, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), is Oct. 1, 2012, see section 3(a) of Pub. L. 112–141, set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 2012 Amendment note under section 101 of this title.
2015—Pub. L. 114–94, § 1446(d)(3), amended directory language of Pub. L. 112–141, § 1313(a)(1). See 2012 Amendment note below.
Subsec. (a)(2)(B)(iii). Pub. L. 114–94, § 1308(1), substituted “(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.)” for “(42 U.S.C. 13 4321 et seq.)”.
Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 114–94, § 1308(2), inserted “reasonably” before “considers necessary”.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 114–94, § 1308(3), inserted “and without further approval of” after “in lieu of”.
Subsec. (g)(3). Pub. L. 114–94, § 1308(4)(B), added par. (3).
Subsecs. (k), (l). Pub. L. 114–94, § 1308(6), added subsecs. (k) and (l).
2012—Pub. L. 112–141, § 1313(a)(1), as amended by Pub. L. 114–94, § 1446(d)(3), struck out “pilot” before “program” in section catchline.
Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 112–141, § 1313(a)(2), struck out “pilot” before “program (referred to”.
Subsec. (a)(2)(F), (G). Pub. L. 112–141, § 1313(b)(2), added subpars. (F) and (G).
Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 112–141, § 1313(c)(2), substituted “date on which amendments to this section by the MAP-21 take effect, the Secretary shall amend, as appropriate,” for “date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall promulgate” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (c)(4) to (6). Pub. L. 112–141, § 1313(d), added pars. (4) to (6).
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 112–141, § 1313(e), substituted “subsection (j)” for “subsection (i)”.
Subsec. (g)(1)(B). Pub. L. 112–141, § 1313(f), substituted “of the third and fourth years” for “subsequent year”.
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 112–141, § 1313(g)(2), added subsec. (h). Former subsec. (h) redesignated (i).
Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 112–141, § 1313(g)(1), redesignated subsec. (h) as (i). Former subsec. (i) redesignated (j).
Subsec. (i)(1). Pub. L. 112–140 substituted “September 30, 2012” for “the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this section”.
Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 112–141, § 1313(h), amended subsec. (j) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (j) related to termination of the original pilot program on Sept. 30, 2012, and termination of State participation by the Secretary.
Pub. L. 112–141, § 1313(g)(1), redesignated subsec. (i) as (j).
2010—Subsec. (i)(1). Pub. L. 111–322 substituted “7 years after” for “6 years after”.
Except as otherwise provided, amendment by Pub. L. 114–94 effective Oct. 1, 2015, see section 1003 of Pub. L. 114–94, set out as a note under section 5313 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
Pub. L. 114–94, div. A, title I, § 1446(d), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1438, provided that the amendment made by section 1446(d)(3) is effective as of July 6, 2012, and as if included in Pub. L. 112–141 as enacted.

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