Slide 10 of 48

URA Regulation Timeline

The Uniform Relocation Assistance

and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 Pub. L. 91-646

Image: A timeline depicting key dates relating to the Uniform Act. Law Signed: 1971 Federal Agencies issued their own rule: around 1978 Interim Rule: 1985 Unified Rule: 1989 Amended: 1993 Amended: 1999 Symposium: 2001 Rule Updated: 2005

Law Signed: 1971 Federal agencies issued their own rule: around 1978 Interim Rule: 1985 Unified Rule: 1989 Amended: 1993 Amended: 1999 Symposium: 2001 Rule Updated: 2005

Notes:

The URA Timeline

It is important to recognize that the URA is a law with over 30 years of history behind it. Originally the Federal agencies individually implemented their own regulations. Only in 1989 was a unified rule issued. This is the first reissue of a revised rule since then.

A brief history of the transition made over the last 30 years to implement the URA: Track the shift to a unified rule in 1989.

1970 URA enacted January 2, 1971 was implemented by each Federal agency that administered programs requiring acquisition of real property.
By 1978 - the GAO issued a Report to Congress (March 8, 1978 No. GGD-78-6) indicating the goal of Uniform treatment.
The report initiated a movement within government which evolved during the early 80's into publication of a model "Uniform Rule" with FHWA serving as the Lead agency. The model rule was published in 1985. All Federal agencies issued their own rules based on the model.
In 1987 Congress passed The Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act of 1987 (Pub. L. 100-17, April 2, 1987) amending the URA and confirming USDOT as Lead agency.
In 1989 FHWA issued the Final Unified Rule. This action followed all other Federal agencies rescinding their own rule and providing a cross reference to 49 CFR Part 24.
In the early 90's there were a couple of coordination attempts to revise the rule but none took hold and only two minor amendments were made to the rule.
The 1993 Amendments were made to reduce regulatory burden.
The 1999 Amendments were made to prohibit payments to aliens not lawfully present in the United States.

To provide feedback, suggestions or comments for this page, contact Arnold Feldman arnold.feldman@fhwa.dot.gov