{
  "id": "RL33057",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "RL33057",
  "active": false,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
  "versions": [
    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 307632,
      "date": "2005-09-01",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-07T19:32:42.566029",
      "title": "Surface Transportation Reauthorization: Environmental Issues and Legislative Provisions in SAFETEA-LU (H.R. 3)",
      "summary": "On August 10, 2005, President Bush signed the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient\nTransportation Equity Act of 2005: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU or SAFETEA). The act\nauthorizes federal surface transportation programs (highway, highway safety, and transit programs)\nundertaken by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for FY2005-FY2009. The previous\nauthorization for FY1998-FY2003, the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21,  P.L.\n105-178 ), expired on September 30, 2003. Since then, surface transportation programs operated in\naccordance with a series of extensions.\n \n During the reauthorization process, certain environmental issues garnered significant attention\nfrom both Members of Congress and interested stakeholders (e.g., state transportation agencies,\ntransportation construction organizations, and environmental groups). This attention was due to both\nthe impact that surface transportation projects can have on the environment (and, possibly, the costs\nassociated with addressing those impacts) and the impact that compliance with environmental\nrequirements can have on project delivery.\n \n SAFETEA includes a variety of environmental provisions. Generally, they  authorize\nfunding \nto eliminate, control, mitigate, or minimize environmental impacts associated with surface\ntransportation programs or projects. Funding was authorized both for broad programs (e.g., the\nCongestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program) and for specific types of projects\n(e.g., the purchase of clean fuel vehicles and programs to control noxious weeds). Funding levels\nfor such activities generally increased in actual dollars compared to TEA-21. \n \n The provisions also  specify procedures  that are intended to expedite compliance with\ncertain\nenvironmental requirements. The most attention and debate related to changes in the procedures\nDOT must follow to comply with the Clean Air Act\u2019s conformity requirements; with\nenvironmental\nreview requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); and with DOT requirements\nregarding the use of publicly owned parks, refuges, and historic sites (known as \u201cSection\n4(f)\u201d\nrequirements). In particular, a 180-day statute of limitations was established on judicial claims on\ncertain final agency actions and Section 4(f) was amended to allow the use of parks, refuges, and\nhistoric sites if that use results in de minimis impacts.\n \n Two provisions that generated significant stakeholder interest were  not  included in\nSAFETEA. \nThe first was a provision in the Senate-passed version of  H.R. 3  that would have\nrequired a 2% set-aside of each state\u2019s Surface Transportation Program funds for a\n\u201cHighway\nStormwater Discharge Mitigation Program.\u201d The second was an exemption for aviation\nrefueling\ntrucks from secondary containment requirements of certain provisions of the Clean Water Act. \n \n This report provides background and detail on significant environmental provisions in\nSAFETEA. It will not be updated.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORTS",
      "active": false,
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      ],
      "topics": []
    }
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Environmental Policy"
  ]
}