(a) It is the policy of the United States Government that special effort should be made to preserve the natural beauty of the countryside and public park and recreation lands, wildlife and waterfowl refuges, and historic sites.
(b) The Secretary of Transportation shall cooperate and consult with the Secretaries of the Interior, Housing and Urban Development, and Agriculture, and with the States, in developing transportation plans and programs that include measures to maintain or enhance the natural beauty of lands crossed by transportation activities or facilities.
(c)
(1) there is no prudent and feasible alternative to using that land; and
(2) the program or project includes all possible planning to minimize harm to the park, recreation area, wildlife and waterfowl refuge, or historic site resulting from the use.
(d)
(1)
(A)
(B)
(C)
(2)
(A) the Secretary has determined, in accordance with the consultation process required under section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470f), that—
(i) the transportation program or project will have no adverse effect on the historic site; or
(ii) there will be no historic properties affected by the transportation program or project;
(B) the finding of the Secretary has received written concurrence from the applicable State historic preservation officer or tribal historic preservation officer (and from the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation if the Council is participating in the consultation process); and
(C) the finding of the Secretary has been developed in consultation with parties consulting as part of the process referred to in subparagraph (A).
(3)
(A) the Secretary has determined, after public notice and opportunity for public review and comment, that the transportation program or project will not adversely affect the activities, features, and attributes of the park, recreation area, or wildlife or waterfowl refuge eligible for protection under this section; and
(B) the finding of the Secretary has received concurrence from the officials with jurisdiction over the park, recreation area, or wildlife or waterfowl refuge.
(Pub. L. 97–449, §1(b), Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2419; Pub. L. 100–17, title I, §133(d), Apr. 2, 1987, 101 Stat. 173; Pub. L. 109–59, title VI, §6009(a)(2), Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1875.)
| Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
|---|---|---|
| 303(a) | 49:1651(b)(2). | Oct. 15, 1966, Pub. L. 89–670, §2(b)(2), 80 Stat. 931. |
| 49:1653(f) (1st sentence). | Oct. 15, 1966, Pub. L. 89–670, §4(f), 80 Stat. 934; restated Aug. 23, 1968, Pub. L. 90–495, §18(b), 82 Stat. 824. | |
| 303(b) | 49:1653(f) (2d sentence). | |
| 303(c) | 49:1653(f) (less 1st, 2d sentences). |
In subsection (a), the words “hereby declared to be” before “the policy” are omitted as surplus. The words “of the United States Government” are substituted for “national” for clarity and consistency.
In subsection (b), the words “crossed by transportation activities or facilities” are substituted for “traversed” for clarity.
In subsection (c), before clause (1), the words “After August 23, 1968” after “Secretary” are omitted as executed. The word “transportation” is inserted before “program” for clarity. In clause (2), the words “or project” are added for consistency.
2005—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 109–59, §6009(a)(2)(A), inserted heading and substituted “Subject to subsection (d), the Secretary” for “The Secretary” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 109–59, §6009(a)(2)(B), added subsec. (d).
1987—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 100–17 inserted “(other than any project for a park road or parkway under section 204 of title 23)” after “program or project”.
Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title X, §1079, Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 1916, provided that: “No military flight operation (including a military training flight), or designation of airspace for such an operation, may be treated as a transportation program or project for purposes of section 303(c) of title 49, United States Code.”