80 FR 18796 - Notice of Availability of Proposed Interim Policy Guidance for the Capital Investment Grant Program
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 67 (April 8, 2015)
Federal Transit Administration
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 67 (April 8, 2015)
| Page Range | 18796-18797 | |
| FR Document | 2015-08063 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 67 (Wednesday, April 8, 2015)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 18796-18797] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-08063] [[Page 18796]] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Transit Administration 49 CFR Part 611 [Docket No. FTA-2015-0007] RIN 2132-ZA03 Notice of Availability of Proposed Interim Policy Guidance for the Capital Investment Grant Program AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of availability of proposed interim policy guidance; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) invites public comment on interim policy guidance the agency is proposing for the Capital Investment Grant (CIG) program. The proposed interim guidance has been placed in the docket and posted on the FTA Web site. If adopted, this proposed interim policy guidance will complement FTA's regulations that govern the CIG program by providing a deeper level of detail about the methods for applying the project justification and local financial commitment criteria for rating and evaluating New Starts, Small Starts, and Core Capacity Improvement projects, and the procedures for getting through the steps in the process required by law. DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 8, 2015. Any comments received beyond this deadline will be considered to the extent practicable. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments to DOT docket number FTA-2015-0007 by any of the following methods: Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for submitting comments. U.S. Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building, Room W12- 140, Washington, DC 20590-0001. Hand Delivery or Courier: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Fax: 202-493-2251. Instructions: You must include the agency name (Federal Transit Administration) and docket number (FTA-2015-0007) for this notice at the beginning of your comments. You must submit two copies of your comments if you submit them by mail. If you wish to receive confirmation FTA received your comments, you must include a self- addressed, stamped postcard. Due to security procedures in effect since October 2001, mail received through the U.S. Postal Service may be subject to delays. Parties submitting comments may wish to consider using an express mail firm to ensure prompt filing of any submissions not filed electronically or by hand. All comments received will be posted, without charge and including any personal information provided, to http://www.regulations.gov, where they will be available to internet users. You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement published in the Federal Register on April 11, 2000, at 65 FR 19477. For access to the docket and to read background documents and comments received, go to http://regulations.gov at any time or to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Docket Management Facility, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Day, FTA Office of Planning and Environment, telephone (202) 366-5159 or [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 5309(g)(5), FTA is obliged to publish policy guidance on the review and evaluation process and criteria for projects eligible for Federal funding under the CIG program each time the agency makes significant changes to the process and criteria, and in any event, at least once every two years. Also, FTA is obliged to invite public comment on the guidance, and to publish its response to comments. In brief, the policy guidance that FTA periodically issues for the discretionary Capital Investment Grant (``CIG'') program complements the FTA regulations that govern the CIG program, codified at 49 CFR part 611. The regulations set forth the process that grant applicants must follow to be considered eligible for discretionary funding under the CIG program, and the procedures and criteria FTA uses to rate and evaluate the projects eligible for that discretionary funding. The policy guidance provides a greater level of detail about the methods FTA uses to apply the criteria for both project justification and local financial commitment, and the sequential steps a sponsor must follow in developing a project. The interim policy guidance FTA is proposing today is available in its entirety on the agency's public Web site at http://www.fta.dot.gov, and in the docket at http://www.regulations.gov. It is approximately 100 typewritten pages in length, arranged in three stand-alone chapters for each of the three types of projects eligible for CIG funds: New Starts, Small Starts, and Core Capacity Improvements. Each chapter provides a short introduction, a discussion of eligibility for that type of project, a summary of the requirements for entry into and getting through each step of the CIG process, information on each of the project evaluation criteria, and an explanation of how FTA will determine the overall rating for a project. Each type of project in the CIG program--a New Start, Small Start, or Core Capacity Improvement--is governed by a unique set of requirements, although there are many similarities amongst the three sets of requirements. Most importantly, the guidance proposed today addresses four subjects not addressed in either the regulations or previous policy guidance for the CIG program. These are, specifically: (1) The measures and breakpoints for the congestion relief criterion applicable to New Starts and Small Starts projects; (2) the evaluation and rating process for Core Capacity Improvement projects, including the measures and breakpoints for all the project justification and local financial commitment criteria applicable to those projects; (3) the prerequisites for entry into each phase of the CIG process for each type of project in the CIG program, and the requirements for completing each phase of that process; and (4) ways in which certain New Starts, Small Starts, and Core Capacity Improvement projects can qualify for ``warrants'' entitling them to automatic ratings on some of the evaluation criteria. Readers should please direct their comments to these four subjects. All the other material in this guidance document has been developed through public notice-and-comment for the regulations at 49 CFR part 611 or the previous policy guidance for the CIG program. The newly proposed requirements are clearly identified in the text of each chapter, and in an accompanying table, for easy reference. This proposed policy guidance is characterized as ``interim'' in that, in the near future, FTA will initiate a rulemaking to amend the regulations at 49 CFR part 611 to fully carry out the authorization statute for the CIG program, 49 U.S.C. 5309, as amended by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (Pub. L. 112-141; July 6, 2012) (``MAP-21''). The information gained through the public comment [[Page 18797]] process on this proposed interim policy guidance will inform the future rulemaking. After reviewing and responding to the comments received on this proposed guidance, FTA will issue a final iteration of the interim guidance, and then initiate the rulemaking. Therese W. McMillan, Acting Federal Transit Administrator. [FR Doc. 2015-08063 Filed 4-7-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P
![18796 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 67 / Wednesday, April 8, 2015 / Proposed Rules
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION to receive confirmation FTA received entirety on the agency’s public Web site
your comments, you must include a at http://www.fta.dot.gov, and in the
Federal Transit Administration self-addressed, stamped postcard. Due docket at http://www.regulations.gov. It
to security procedures in effect since is approximately 100 typewritten pages
49 CFR Part 611 October 2001, mail received through the in length, arranged in three stand-alone
[Docket No. FTA–2015–0007] U.S. Postal Service may be subject to chapters for each of the three types of
delays. Parties submitting comments projects eligible for CIG funds: New
RIN 2132–ZA03 may wish to consider using an express Starts, Small Starts, and Core Capacity
mail firm to ensure prompt filing of any Improvements. Each chapter provides a
Notice of Availability of Proposed submissions not filed electronically or short introduction, a discussion of
Interim Policy Guidance for the Capital by hand. eligibility for that type of project, a
Investment Grant Program All comments received will be posted, summary of the requirements for entry
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration without charge and including any into and getting through each step of the
(FTA), DOT. personal information provided, to CIG process, information on each of the
http://www.regulations.gov, where they project evaluation criteria, and an
ACTION: Notice of availability of
will be available to internet users. You explanation of how FTA will determine
proposed interim policy guidance;
may review DOT’s complete Privacy Act the overall rating for a project. Each type
request for comments.
Statement published in the Federal of project in the CIG program—a New
SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Register on April 11, 2000, at 65 FR Start, Small Start, or Core Capacity
Administration (FTA) invites public 19477. For access to the docket and to Improvement—is governed by a unique
comment on interim policy guidance read background documents and set of requirements, although there are
the agency is proposing for the Capital comments received, go to http:// many similarities amongst the three sets
Investment Grant (CIG) program. The regulations.gov at any time or to the U.S. of requirements.
proposed interim guidance has been Department of Transportation, 1200 Most importantly, the guidance
placed in the docket and posted on the New Jersey Avenue SE., Docket proposed today addresses four subjects
FTA Web site. If adopted, this proposed Management Facility, West Building not addressed in either the regulations
interim policy guidance will Ground Floor, Room W12–140, or previous policy guidance for the CIG
complement FTA’s regulations that Washington, DC 20590 between 9 a.m. program. These are, specifically: (1) The
govern the CIG program by providing a and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, measures and breakpoints for the
deeper level of detail about the methods except Federal holidays. congestion relief criterion applicable to
for applying the project justification and New Starts and Small Starts projects; (2)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
local financial commitment criteria for the evaluation and rating process for
Elizabeth Day, FTA Office of Planning
rating and evaluating New Starts, Small Core Capacity Improvement projects,
and Environment, telephone (202) 366–
Starts, and Core Capacity Improvement including the measures and breakpoints
5159 or Elizabeth.Day@dot.gov.
projects, and the procedures for getting for all the project justification and local
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant financial commitment criteria
through the steps in the process to 49 U.S.C. 5309(g)(5), FTA is obliged
required by law. applicable to those projects; (3) the
to publish policy guidance on the prerequisites for entry into each phase
DATES: Comments must be received on review and evaluation process and of the CIG process for each type of
or before May 8, 2015. Any comments criteria for projects eligible for Federal project in the CIG program, and the
received beyond this deadline will be funding under the CIG program each requirements for completing each phase
considered to the extent practicable. time the agency makes significant of that process; and (4) ways in which
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments changes to the process and criteria, and certain New Starts, Small Starts, and
to DOT docket number FTA–2015–0007 in any event, at least once every two Core Capacity Improvement projects can
by any of the following methods: years. Also, FTA is obliged to invite qualify for ‘‘warrants’’ entitling them to
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to public comment on the guidance, and to automatic ratings on some of the
http://www.regulations.gov and follow publish its response to comments. In evaluation criteria. Readers should
the online instructions for submitting brief, the policy guidance that FTA please direct their comments to these
comments. periodically issues for the discretionary four subjects. All the other material in
U.S. Mail: Docket Management Capital Investment Grant (‘‘CIG’’) this guidance document has been
Facility, U.S. Department of program complements the FTA developed through public notice-and-
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey regulations that govern the CIG program, comment for the regulations at 49 CFR
Avenue SE., West Building, Room W12– codified at 49 CFR part 611. The part 611 or the previous policy guidance
140, Washington, DC 20590–0001. regulations set forth the process that for the CIG program. The newly
Hand Delivery or Courier: U.S. grant applicants must follow to be proposed requirements are clearly
Department of Transportation, 1200 considered eligible for discretionary identified in the text of each chapter,
New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building, funding under the CIG program, and the and in an accompanying table, for easy
Ground Floor, Room W12–140, procedures and criteria FTA uses to rate reference.
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and evaluate the projects eligible for This proposed policy guidance is
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, that discretionary funding. The policy characterized as ‘‘interim’’ in that, in the
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
except Federal holidays. guidance provides a greater level of near future, FTA will initiate a
Fax: 202–493–2251. detail about the methods FTA uses to rulemaking to amend the regulations at
Instructions: You must include the apply the criteria for both project 49 CFR part 611 to fully carry out the
agency name (Federal Transit justification and local financial authorization statute for the CIG
Administration) and docket number commitment, and the sequential steps a program, 49 U.S.C. 5309, as amended by
(FTA–2015–0007) for this notice at the sponsor must follow in developing a the Moving Ahead for Progress in the
beginning of your comments. You must project. 21st Century Act (Pub. L. 112–141; July
submit two copies of your comments if The interim policy guidance FTA is 6, 2012) (‘‘MAP–21’’). The information
you submit them by mail. If you wish proposing today is available in its gained through the public comment
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![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 67 / Wednesday, April 8, 2015 / Proposed Rules 18797
process on this proposed interim policy 0003, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, Snowy Grouper Commercial and
guidance will inform the future complete the required fields, and enter Recreational ACLs
rulemaking. After reviewing and or attach your comments.
In 2013, a standard stock assessment
responding to the comments received on • Mail: Submit written comments to
this proposed guidance, FTA will issue for snowy grouper was conducted using
Nikhil Mehta, Southeast Regional
a final iteration of the interim guidance, the Southeast Data, Assessment, and
Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South,
and then initiate the rulemaking. Review (SEDAR) process (SEDAR 36).
St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
SEDAR 36 indicates the snowy grouper
Therese W. McMillan, Instructions: Comments sent by any stock is no longer undergoing
Acting Federal Transit Administrator. other method, to any other address or overfishing, remains overfished, and is
individual, or received after the end of rebuilding.
[FR Doc. 2015–08063 Filed 4–7–15; 8:45 am]
the comment period, may not be
BILLING CODE P
considered by NMFS. All comments Snowy grouper is in a rebuilding plan
received are a part of the public record and catch levels are currently being held
and will generally be posted for public constant as the stock rebuilds. While the
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE viewing on www.regulations.gov amendment states that it is changing the
without change. All personal identifying rebuilding strategy, the effect of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric action is to adopt the acceptable
information (e.g., name, address, etc.),
Administration biological catch (ABC) chosen by the
confidential business information, or
otherwise sensitive information Council as recommended by the
50 CFR Part 622 Council’s Scientific and Statistical
submitted voluntarily by the sender will
[Docket No. 140611492–5308–01] be publicly accessible. NMFS will Committee (SSC) based upon the stock
accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/ assessment. The Council’s SSC
RIN 0648–BE30 recommended an ABC equal to the yield
A’’ in the required fields if you wish to
remain anonymous). at 75 percent of the fishing mortality at
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of maximum sustainable yield (FMSY),
Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper- Electronic copies of the regulatory which would allow ABC to increase as
Grouper Fishery Off the Southern amendment, which includes an the stock rebuilds.
Atlantic States; Regulatory environmental assessment and an initial
Amendment 20 regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA), The current ABC is 87,254 lb (39,578
may be obtained from the Southeast kg), which equals the total allowable
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Regional Office Web site at http:// catch specified by the rebuilding
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_ strategy in Amendment 15A to the FMP.
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), fisheries/s_atl/sg/2015/reg_am20/ As described in Regulatory Amendment
Commerce. index.html. 20, the ABC would increase to 139,098
ACTION: Proposed rule; request for lb (63,094 kg) in 2015; 151,518 lb
comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: (68,727 kg) in 2016; 163,109 lb (73,985
Nikhil Mehta, telephone: 727–824– kg) in 2017; 173,873 lb (78,867 kg) in
SUMMARY: NMFS proposes regulations to 5305, or email: nikhil.mehta@noaa.gov. 2018; and 185,464 lb (84,125 kg) in 2019
implement Regulatory Amendment 20 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Snowy and subsequent fishing years.
to the Fishery Management Plan for the grouper is in the snapper-grouper SEDAR 36 updated the historical
Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South fishery of the South Atlantic and is landings data for snowy grouper from
Atlantic Region (FMP) (Regulatory managed under the FMP. The FMP was the Marine Recreational Fisheries
Amendment 20), as prepared and prepared by the Council and is Statistical Survey (MRFSS) to the
submitted by the South Atlantic Fishery implemented through regulations at 50 Marine Recreational Information
Management Council (Council). If CFR part 622 under the authority of the Program (MRIP). Additionally,
implemented, this proposed rule would Magnuson-Stevens Act. recreational landings from Monroe
revise the snowy grouper annual catch County, Florida, which encompasses the
limits (ACLs), commercial trip limit, Background
islands of the Florida Keys, were
and recreational fishing season. The The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires included in the SEDAR 36 stock
purpose of this rule is to help achieve NMFS and regional fishery management assessment. The recreational landings
optimum yield (OY) and prevent councils to achieve on a continuing data from Monroe County were not
overfishing of snowy grouper while basis the OY from federally-managed included in the first stock assessment
enhancing socio-economic fish stocks. This mandate is intended to conducted for snowy grouper in 2004
opportunities within the snapper- ensure that fishery resources are (SEDAR 4) because it was not possible
grouper fishery in accordance with the managed for the greatest overall benefit at that time to separate out the data from
requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens to the nation, particularly with respect Monroe County from the landings data
Fishery Conservation and Management to providing food production and for the rest of the west coast of Florida.
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). recreational opportunities, and However, in 2013, a method was
DATES: Written comments must be protecting marine ecosystems. developed for extracting and separating
received on or before May 8, 2015. the recreational landings from Monroe
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Management Measures Contained in
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments County from the rest of the west coast
This Proposed Rule
on the proposed rule, identified by of Florida and therefore, the Monroe
‘‘NOAA–NMFS–2015–0003’’ by either This proposed rule would revise the County recreational data were included
of the following methods: snowy grouper ACLs for both the in SEDAR 36. When applying the
• Electronic Submission: Submit all commercial and recreational sectors, existing allocation formula for snowy
electronic public comments via the revise the commercial trip limits, and grouper to the change in landings from
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to revise the recreational fishing season. the SEDAR 36 assessment, a shift results
www.regulations.gov/ All weights described in the preamble of in the sector ACLs from 95 percent
#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2015- this proposed rule are in gutted weight. commercial and 5 percent recreational
VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:40 Apr 07, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\08APP1.SGM 08APP1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_18863/page/2.svg)
Document Created: 2018-02-21 10:06:55
Document Modified: 2018-02-21 10:06:55
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Proposed Rules | |
| Action | Notice of availability of proposed interim policy guidance; request for comments. | |
| Dates | Comments must be received on or before May 8, 2015. Any comments received beyond this deadline will be considered to the extent practicable. | |
| Contact | Elizabeth Day, FTA Office of Planning and Environment, telephone (202) 366-5159 or [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 18796 | |
| RIN Number | 2132-ZA03 |
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