90 FR 103 pgs. 22881-22883 - Rescinding Requirements Regarding the Forest Highway Program
Type: PRORULEVolume: 90Number: 103Pages: 22881 - 22883
Pages: 22881, 22882, 22883Docket number: [Docket No. FHWA-2025-0014]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2025-09722 Filed 5-27-25; 4:15 pm]
Agency: Transportation Department
Sub Agency: Federal Highway Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
23 CFR Part 660
[Docket No. FHWA-2025-0014]
RIN 2125-AG20
Rescinding Requirements Regarding the Forest Highway Program
AGENCY:
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION:
Notice of proposed rulemaking.
SUMMARY:
FHWA proposes to rescind the regulations issued regarding the Forest Highway Program.
DATES:
Comments must be received on or before June 30, 2025.
ADDRESSES:
Mail or hand deliver comments to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Dockets Management Facility, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, or submit electronically at www.regulations.gov. All comments should include the docket number that appears in the heading of this document. All comments received will be available for examination and copying at the above address from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., E.T., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Those desiring notification of receipt of comments must include a self-addressed, stamped postcard or may print the acknowledgment page that appears after submitting comments electronically. Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477) or you may visit www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Corey Bobba, Office of Federal Lands, (202) 366-9489, corey.bobba@dot.gov; or David Serody, Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 366-4241, david.serody@dot.gov, Federal Highway Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., E.T., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Access and Filing
An electronic copy of this document may also be downloaded from the Office of Federal Register's website at www.federalregister.gov and the U.S. Government Publishing Office's website at www.GovInfo.gov.
I. General Discussion
In 1958, Congress codified title 23 of the United States Code (U.S.C.). Public Law 85-767. The Forest Highway Program was codified at 23 U.S.C. 204, along with separate categories for forest development roads and trails (23 U.S.C. 205), park roads and trails (23 U.S.C. 206), parkways (23 U.S.C. 207), Indian reservation roads (23 U.S.C. 208), and public lands highways (23 U.S.C. 209). Under the system at the time, each program received separate appropriations, which the Secretary of Transportation allocated under a previous version of 23 U.S.C. 202. Per the version of 23 U.S.C. 204 that existed at the time, the Secretary of Transportation was authorized to use funds available for forest highways to pay for the cost of construction and maintenance thereof. On May 1961, the Bureau of Public Roads, the predecessor to FHWA, issued regulations for administering the Forest Highway Program under 23 CFR part 15. See 26 FR 4608. These regulations prescribed rules regarding the forest highway system, the forest highway program, and surveys, construction, and maintenance of forest highways. In 1974, this part was later redesignated 23 CFR part 660, subpart A. See 39 FR 10429 (Mar. 20, 1974).
On January 6, 1983, Congress enacted the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 (1982 STAA) (Pub. L. 97-424). Section 126(b) of the 1982 STAA revised 23 U.S.C. 204, combining the previously separately codified programs for "forest highways, public lands highways, park roads, parkways, and Indian reservation roads" into a single Federal lands highway program under 23 U.S.C. 204. Under the structure of the 1982 STAA, however, Congress continued to appropriate funds for the programs separately, including for the Forest Highway Program.
On December 18, 1991, Congress enacted the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA). Section 1032 of ISTEA combined the Forest Highway Program with the public lands highway program; thus, instead of receiving a separate appropriation for forest highways and public lands highways, FHWA would receive a single appropriation for public lands highways, which could then be used on forest highways. In response to these changes, FHWA revised the Forest Highway Program regulations at 23 CFR part 600, subpart A, in 1994, which are the most recent revisions to this subpart. 59 FR 30296 (June 13, 1994).
[top] Congress subsequently modified the Federal lands highway program as part of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) (Pub. L. 112-141) (July 6, 2012). MAP-21 replaced the single Federal lands highway program under 23 U.S.C. 204 with the Tribal Transportation Program (TTP) (23 U.S.C. 202), Federal Lands Transportation Program (FLTP) (23 U.S.C. 203) and Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) (23 U.S.C. 204). Under this new model, instead of being
As such, the regulations in 23 CFR part 660, subpart A, are outdated. For instance, §?660.101 refers to forest highways "funded under the public lands highway category of the coordinated Federal Lands Highway Program," which, as noted above, no longer occurs. Similarly, §?660.107 refers to allocations of public lands highway funds for forest highways, which again is a process that no longer occurs under statute. Other regulations, including §§?660.105 and 660.109 do not reflect the current project delivery process under TTP, FLTP, and FLAP. Finally, FHWA does not believe that regulations concerning general project delivery, such as §§?660.112, 660.113, 660.115, and 660.117, are necessary specifically for forest highways. TTP, FLTP, and FLAP cover a broader range of projects than just forest highways, and FHWA has not found similar regulations necessary in those cases. Accordingly, FHWA proposes to eliminate 23 CFR part 660, subpart A.
II. Rulemaking Analyses and Notices
A. Executive Orders 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review), Executive Order 13563 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review), and DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures
This proposed rule does not meet the criteria of a "significant regulatory action" under Executive Order 12866, as amended by Executive Orders 14215 and 13563. Therefore, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has not reviewed this rule under those orders.
This rulemaking would requirements for projects that are not currently funded. While FHWA believes there are deregulatory benefits to this rule, FHWA believes any monetary benefits or costs to this rule would be minimal. The FHWA seeks comments on any impacts that could result from removing the provisions identified in this NPRM.
These changes would not adversely affect, in a material way, any sector of the economy. In addition, these changes would not interfere with any action taken or planned by another agency and would not materially alter the budgetary impact of any entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs. Consequently, a full regulatory evaluation is not required.
B. Executive Order 14192 (Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation)
This proposed rule is not an E.O. 14192 regulatory action. This rulemaking would not adversely affect, in a material way, any sector of the economy. In addition, these changes would not interfere with any action taken or planned by another agency and would not materially alter the budgetary impacts of any entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs. Consequently, a full regulatory evaluation is not required.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601-612) (as amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996; 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq. ), agencies must prepare and make available for public comment a regulatory flexibility analysis that describes the effect of the rule on small entities ( i.e., small businesses, small organizations, and small government jurisdictions). No regulatory flexibility analysis is required, however, if the head of an agency or an appropriate designee certifies that the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. FHWA has concluded and hereby certifies that this proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities; therefore, an analysis is not included. This proposed rescission would only remove outdated requirements regarding the Forest Highway Program, which is no longer a separate program under statute.
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
This proposed rule does not impose unfunded mandates as defined by the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) (Pub. L. 104-4, 109 Stat. 48) for State, local, and Tribal governments, or the private sector of $100 million or more in any one year. Thus, the rule is not subject to the requirements of sections 202 and 205 of the UMRA.
E. Executive Order 13132 (Federalism Assessment)
This action has been analyzed in accordance with the principles and criteria contained in E.O. 13132. The FHWA has determined that this action does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a federalism assessment. The FHWA has also determined that this action would not preempt any State law or State regulation or affect the States' ability to discharge traditional State governmental functions.
F. Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information, unless the collection displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. This proposed rule is deregulatory and so would not impose any additional information collection requirements.
G. National Environmental Policy Act
FHWA has analyzed this rulemaking pursuant to the NEPA and has determined that it is categorically excluded under 23 CFR 771.117(c)(2), which applies to the promulgation of rules, regulations, and directives. Categorically excluded actions meet the criteria for categorical exclusions under 23 CFR 771.117(a) and normally do not require any further NEPA approvals by FHWA. This rule would rescind regulations regarding the Forest Highway Program, which is no longer a separate program under statute. FHWA does not anticipate any adverse environmental impacts from this proposed rule, and no unusual circumstances are present under 23 CFR 771.117(b).
H. Executive Order 13175 (Tribal Consultation)
Executive Order 13175 requires Federal agencies to consult and coordinate with Tribes on a government-to-government basis on policies that have Tribal implications, including regulations, legislative comments or proposed legislation, and other policy statements or actions that have substantial direct effects on one or more Indian Tribes, on the relationship between the Federal Government and Indian Tribes, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian Tribes. FHWA has assessed the impact of this proposed rule on Indian tribes and determined that this rule would not have tribal implications that require consultation under Executive Order 13175.
I. Regulation Identifier Number
[top] A RIN is assigned to each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulations. The Regulatory Information Service Center publishes the Unified Agenda in the spring and fall of each year. The RIN contained in the heading of this document can be used to cross reference this action with the Unified Agenda.
J. Rulemaking Summary, 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(4)
As required by 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(4), a summary of this rule can be found at regulations.gov, under the docket number.
List of Subjects in 23 CFR Part 660
Government contracts, Grant programs-transportation, Highway safety, Highways and roads, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Traffic regulations.
Issued in Washington, DC, under authority delegated in 49 CFR 1.85.
Gloria M. Shepherd,
Executive Director, Federal Highway Administration.
For the reasons stated in the preamble, FHWA proposes to amend 23 CFR part 660 as set forth below:
PART 660-SPECIAL PROGRAMS (DIRECT FEDERAL)
1. The authority citation for part 660 continues to read as follows:
Authority:
16 U.S.C. 1608-1610; 23 U.S.C. 101, 202, 204, and 315; 49 CFR 1.48.
Subpart A-[Removed and Reserved]
2. Remove and reserve subpart A, consisting of §§?660.101 through 660.117.
[FR Doc. 2025-09722 Filed 5-27-25; 4:15 pm]
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