Proposed Third Renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Assigning Certain Federal Environmental Responsibilities to the State of Utah, Including National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Authority for Certain Categorical Exclusions (CEs)

The FHWA and the State of Utah, acting by and through its Department of Transportation (State), propose a renewal of the State's participation in the State Assumption of Responsibility for Categorical Exclusions. This program allows FHWA to assign to States its authority and responsibility for determining whether certain designated activities within the geographic boundaries of the State, as specified in the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), are categorically excluded from preparation of an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement under the National Environmental Policy Act. An amended MOU would renew the State's participation in the program. The MOU will be amended by incorporating the following change: FHWA may terminate the State's participation in this program if FHWA provides the State a notification of noncompliance, and a period of not less than 120 days to take corrective action as FHWA determines necessary, and if the state fails to take satisfactory corrective action as determined by FHWA (Section 1307 of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation [FAST] Act [Pub. L. 114-94]).