Side-by-side comparison of 23 CFR 710 Subpart C-Project Development

Side-by-side comparison of 23 CFR 710 Subpart C–Project Development

Old Rule	Updated (New) Rule
§710.301 General.	§710.301 General.
The project development process typically follows a sequence of actions and approvals in order to qualify for funding. The key steps in this process are provided in this subpart.	The project development process typically follows a sequence of actions and approvals in order to qualify for funding. The key steps in this process typically are planning, environmental review, project agreement/authorization, acquisition, construction advertising, and construction.
§710.303 Planning.
State and local governments conduct metropolitan and statewide planning to develop coordinated, financially constrained system plans to meet transportation needs for local and statewide systems, under FHWA's planning regulations contained in 23 CFR part 450. In addition, air quality non-attainment areas must meet the requirements of the U.S. EPA Transportation conformity regulations (40 CFR parts 51 and 93). Projects must be included in an approved State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) in order to be eligible for Federal-aid funding.
§710.305 Environmental analysis.
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, as described in FHWA's NEPA regulations in 23 CFR part 771, normally must be conducted and concluded with a record of decision (ROD) or equivalent before Federal funds can be placed under agreement for acquisition of right-of-way. Where applicable, a State also must complete Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.) project level conformity analysis. In areas in which the Clean Air Act conformity determination has lapsed, acquiring agencies must coordinate with Federal Highway Administration for special instructions prior to initiating new projects or continuing activity on existing projects. At the time of processing an environmental document, a State may request reimbursement of costs incurred for early acquisition, provided conditions prescribed in 23 U.S.C. 108(c) and 23 CFR 710.501, are satisfied.
§710.307 Project agreement.	§710.303 Project authorization and agreements.
As a condition of Federal-aid, the STD shall obtain FHWA authorization in writing or electronically before proceeding with any real property acquisitions, including hardship acquisition and protective buying (see 23 CFR 710.503). The STD must prepare a project agreement in accordance with 23 CFR part 630, subpart C. The agreement shall be based on an acceptable estimate for the cost of acquisition. On projects where the initial project agreement was executed after June 9, 1998, a State may request credit toward the non-Federal share, for early acquisitions, donations, or other contributions applied to the project provided conditions in 23 U.S.C. 323 and 23 CFR 710.501, are satisfied.	As a condition of Federal funding under title 23, the grantee shall obtain FHWA authorization in writing or electronically before proceeding with any real property acquisition using title 23 funds, including early acquisitions under §710.501(e) and hardship acquisition and protective buying under §710.503. For projects funded under chapter 1, title 23, United States Code, the grantee must prepare a project agreement in accordance with 23 CFR part 630, subpart A. Authorizations and agreements shall be based on an acceptable estimate for the cost of acquisition.
§710.309 Acquisition.	§710.305 Acquisition.
The process of acquiring real property includes appraisal, appraisal review, establishing just compensation, negotiations, administrative and legal settlements, and condemnation. The State shall conduct acquisition and related relocation activities in accordance with 49 CFR part 24.	(a) General. The process of acquiring real property includes appraisal, appraisal review, waiver valuations, establishing estimates of just compensation, negotiations, relocation assistance, administrative and legal settlements, and court settlements and condemnations. Grantees must ensure all acquisition and related relocation assistance activities are performed in accordance with 49 CFR part 24 and this part. If a grantee does not directly own the real property interests used for a title 23 project, the grantee must have an enforceable subgrant agreement or other agreement with the owner of the ROW that permits the grantee to enforce applicable Federal requirements affecting the real property interests, including real property management requirements under subpart D. (b) Adequacy of real property interest. The real property interests acquired for any project funded under title 23 must be adequate to fulfill the purpose of the project. Except in the case of an Early Acquisition Project, this means adequate for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the resulting facility, and for the protection of both the facility and the traveling public. (c) Establishment and offer of just compensation. The amount believed to be just compensation shall be approved by a responsible official of the acquiring agency. This shall be done in accordance with 49 CFR 24.102(d). (d) Description of acquisition process. The acquiring agency shall provide persons affected by projects or acquisitions advanced under title 23 of the United States Code with a written description of its real property acquisition process under State law and this part, and of the owner's rights, privileges, and obligations. The description shall be written in clear, non-technical language and, where appropriate, be available in a language other than English in accordance with 49 CFR 24.5, 24.102(b), and 24.203.
§710.311 Construction advertising.	§710.307 Construction advertising.
The State must manage real property acquired for a project until it is required for construction. Clearance of improvements can be scheduled during the acquisition phase of the project using sale/removal agreements, separate demolition contracts, or be included as a work item in the construction contract. On Interstate projects, prior to advertising for construction, the State shall develop ROW availability statements and certifications related to project acquisitions as required by 23 CFR 635.309. For non-Interstate projects, the oversight agreement must specify responsibility for the review and approval of the ROW availability statements and certifications. Generally, for non-NHS projects, the State has full responsibility for determining that right-of-way is available for construction.	(a) The grantee must manage real property acquired for a project until it is required for construction. Except for properties acquired under the early acquisition provisions of 23 CFR 710.501(e), clearance of improvements can be scheduled during the acquisition phase of the project using sale/removal agreements, separate demolition contracts, or be included as a work item in the construction contract. The grantee shall develop ROW availability statements and certifications related to project acquisitions as described in 23 CFR 635.309. (b) The FHWA-SDOT Stewardship/Oversight Agreement will specify SDOT responsibility for the review and approval of the ROW availability statements and certifications in accordance with applicable law. Generally, for non-National Highway System projects, the SDOT has full responsibility for determining that right-of-way is available for construction. For non-SDOT grantees, FHWA will be responsible for the review and approval.
§710.313 Design-build projects.	§710.309 Design-build projects.
(a) In the case of a design-build project, right-of-way must be acquired and cleared in accordance with the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, as amended, and STD right-of-way procedures. The STD shall submit a right-of-way certification in accordance with 23 CFR 635.309(p) when requesting FHWA's authorization. If the right-of-way services are included in the Request for Proposal document, the STD shall ensure that right-of-way is available prior to the start of physical construction on individual properties.	(a) In the case of a design-build project, ROW must be acquired and cleared in accordance with the Uniform Act and the FHWA-approved ROW manual or RAMP, as provided in §§710.201(c) and (d) of this part. The grantee shall submit a ROW certification in accordance with 23 CFR 635.309(p) when requesting FHWA's authorization. The grantee shall ensure that ROW is available prior to the start of physical construction on individual properties.
(b) The decision to advance a right-of-way segment to the construction stage shall not impair the safety or in anyway be coercive in the context of 49 CFR 24.102(h) with respect to unacquired or occupied properties on the same or adjacent segments of project right-of-way.	(b) The decision to advance a ROW segment to the construction stage shall not impair the safety or in any way be coercive in the context of 49 CFR 24.102(h) with respect to unacquired or occupied properties on the same or adjacent segments of project ROW.
(c) Certain right-of-way acquisition and clearance services may be incorporated into the design-build contract if allowed under State law. The contract may include language that provides that construction will not commence until all property is acquired and relocations have been completed; or, the construction could be phased or segmented to allow right-of-way activities to be completed on individual properties or a group of properties, thereby allowing certification in a manner satisfactory to the STD for each phase or segment.	(c) The grantee may choose not to allow construction to commence until all property is acquired and relocations have been completed; or, the grantee may permit the construction to be phased or segmented to allow ROW activities to be completed on individual properties or a group of properties, with ROW certifications done in a manner satisfactory to the grantee for each phase or segment.
(d) If the STD elects to include right-of-way services in the design-build contract, the following provisions must be addressed in the request for proposals document:	(d) If the grantee elects to include ROW services within the design-builder's scope of work for the design-build contract, the following provisions must be addressed in the request for proposals document:
(1)(i) The design-builder must submit written acquisition and relocation procedures to the STD for approval prior to commencing right-of-way activities. These procedures should contain a prioritized appraisal, acquisition, and relocation strategy as well as check points for STD approval, such as approval of just compensation, replacement housing payment calculations, replacement housing payment and moving cost claims, appraisals, administrative and stipulated settlements that exceed determined thresholds based on a risk management analysis, etc. STD's which have an FHWA approved procedures manual, in accordance with 23 CFR 710.201(c), may comply with this section by requiring the design-builder to execute a certification in its proposal that it has received the approved right-of-way manual and will comply with the procedures.	(1) The design-builder must submit written certification in its proposal that it will comply with the process and procedures in the FHWA-approved ROW manual or RAMP as provided in §710.201(c) and (d) of this part.
(ii) The written relocation plan must provide reasonable time frames for the orderly relocation of residents and businesses on the project as provided at 49 CFR 24.205. It should be understood that these time frames will be based on best estimates of the time it will take to acquire the right-of-way and relocate families in accordance with certain legal requirements and time frames which may not be violated. Accordingly, the time frames estimated for right-of-way acquisition will not be compressed in the event other necessary actions preceding right-of-way acquisition miss their assigned due dates.(2)(i) The design-builder must establish a project tracking system and quality control system. This system must show the appraisal, acquisition and relocation status of all parcels. (ii) The quality control system may be administered by an independent consultant with the necessary expertise in appraisal, acquisition and relocation policies and procedures, who can make periodic reviews and reports to the design-builder and the STD.
(3) The STD may consider the establishment of a hold off zone around all occupied properties to ensure compliance with right-of-way procedures prior to starting construction activities in affected areas. The limits of this zone should be established by the STD prior to the design-builder entering on the property. There should be no construction related activity within the hold off zone until the property is vacated. The design-builder must have written notification of vacancy from the right-of-way quality control consultant or STD prior to entering the hold off zone.	(2) When relocation of displaced persons from their dwellings has not been completed, the grantee or design-builder shall establish a hold off zone around all occupied properties to ensure compliance with ROW procedures prior to starting construction activities in affected areas. The limits of this zone should be established by the grantee prior to the design-builder entering onto the property. There should be no construction-related activity within the hold off zone until the property is vacated. The design-builder must have written notification of vacancy from the grantee prior to entering the hold off zone.
(4) Adequate access shall be provided to all occupied properties to insure emergency and personal vehicle access. (5) Utility service must be available to all occupied properties at all times prior to and until relocation is completed. (6) Open burning should not occur within 305 meters (1,000 feet) of an occupied dwelling.	(3) Contractors activities must be limited to those that the grantee determines do not have a material adverse impact on the quality of life of those in occupied properties that have been or will be acquired.
(7) The STD will provide a right-of-way project manager who will serve as the first point of contact for all right-of-way issues.	(4) The grantee will provide a ROW project manager who will serve as the first point of contact for all ROW issues.
(e) If the STD elects to perform all right-of-way services relating to the design-build contract, the provisions in §710.311 will apply. The STD will notify potential offerors of the status of all right-of-way issues in the request for proposal document.[67 FR 75935, Dec. 10, 2002]	(e) If the grantee elects to perform all ROW services relating to the design-build contract, the provisions in §710.307 will apply. The grantee will notify potential offerors of the status of all ROW issues in the request for proposal document.