Announcement To Amend the Outdoor Advertising Federal/State Agreements

Victor M. Mendez
Federal Highway Administration
2 January 2014

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 1 (Thursday, 2 January 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 181]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-31233]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Announcement To Amend the Outdoor Advertising Federal/State 
Agreements

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of 
Transportation.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces the process for amending the outdoor 
advertising agreements between the States and the Secretary of 
Transportation acting by and through the Federal Highway Administrator, 
commonly known as the Federal/State Agreements.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about the program 
discussed herein, contact Dawn Horan, FHWA Office of Real Estate 
Services, (202) 366-4842, or via email at Dawn.M.Horan@dot.gov. For 
legal questions, please contact Bob Black, FHWA Office of the Chief 
Counsel, (202) 366-1359, or via email at Robert.Black@dot.gov. Business 
hours for the FHWA are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., e.t., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Electronic Access

    You may retrieve a copy of the notice through the Federal 
eRulemaking portal at: http://www.regulations.gov. The Web site is 
available 24 hours each day, every day of the year. Electronic 
submission and retrieval help and guidelines are available under the 
help section of the Web site.
    An electronic copy of this document may also be downloaded from 
Office of the Federal Register's home page at: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register and the Government Printing Office's Web page at: 
http://www.gpoaccess.gov.

Background

    Congress enacted the Highway Beautification Act of 1965 (HBA) to 
control the erection and maintenance of outdoor advertising signs 
adjacent to certain Federal-aid highways in order to protect the public 
investment in such highways, promote the safety and recreational value 
of public travel, and preserve natural beauty (23 U.S.C. 131). 23 
U.S.C. 131 required each State to enter into a Federal/State Agreement 
that includes specific outdoor advertising parameters that States must 
adhere to. These Federal/State Agreements were written in the late 
1960's and early 1970's and most have not been amended since the 
original agreements were executed. Accordingly, we believe it is timely 
to review whether these Federal/State Agreements are consistent with 
the State's current outdoor advertising objectives and address the 
evolving technology being used or that could be used in the future by 
the outdoor advertising industry.

Purpose of This Notice

    The purpose of this notice is twofold: (1) To encourage States to 
work with their FHWA Division Offices to amend their Federal/State 
Agreements, and (2) to describe the next steps in the Federal/State 
Agreement amendment process.

Planned Process

    The following is the proposed process to amend the Federal/State 
Agreements. Key milestones include:
    1. State initiates Federal/State Agreement amendment process by 
notifying their FHWA Division Office they would like to begin this 
process.
    2. State works with their FHWA Division Office to outline the 
methods for public and stakeholder outreach and participation, 
including any State requirements, during the process to amend the 
Federal/State Agreement.
    3. State works with their FHWA Division Office to draft an amended 
Federal/State Agreement.
    4. State submits the Federal/State Amendment modification proposal 
in writing, including full justification for all changes, to the FHWA 
Division Offices.
    5. State works with their FHWA Division Office to fulfill the 
public process outlined as well as consider all comments submitted.
    6. State submits Final Draft Federal/State Agreement for FHWA 
Division Office and FHWA Headquarters review.
    7. Amended Federal/State Agreement executed between the State and 
the Secretary of Transportation acting by and through the Federal 
Highway Administrator.

    Issued on: December 20, 2013.
Victor M. Mendez,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-31233 Filed 12-31-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P