§ 5334. — Administrative provisions.
[Laws in effect as of January 7, 2003]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 7, 2003 and December 19, 2003]
[CITE: 49USC5334]
TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
SUBTITLE III--GENERAL AND INTERMODAL PROGRAMS
CHAPTER 53--MASS TRANSPORTATION
Sec. 5334. Administrative provisions
(a) General Authority.--In carrying out this chapter, the Secretary
of Transportation may--
(1) prescribe terms for a project under sections 5307 and 5309-
5311 of this title (except terms the Secretary of Labor prescribes
under section 5333(b) of this title);
(2) sue and be sued;
(3) foreclose on property or bring a civil action to protect or
enforce a right conferred on the Secretary of Transportation by law
or agreement;
(4) buy property related to a loan under this chapter;
(5) agree to pay an annual amount in place of a State or local
tax on real property acquired or owned under this chapter;
(6) sell, exchange, or lease property, a security, or an
obligation;
(7) obtain loss insurance for property and assets the Secretary
of Transportation holds;
(8) consent to a modification in an agreement under this
chapter;
(9) include in an agreement or instrument under this chapter a
covenant or term the Secretary of Transportation considers necessary
to carry out this chapter; and
(10) collect fees to cover the costs of training or conferences,
including costs of promotional materials, sponsored by the Federal
Transit Administration to promote mass transportation and credit
amounts collected to the appropriation concerned.
(b) Procedures for Prescribing Regulations.--(1) The Secretary of
Transportation shall prepare an agenda listing all areas in which the
Secretary intends to propose regulations governing activities under this
chapter within the following 12 months. The Secretary shall publish the
proposed agenda in the Federal Register as part of the Secretary's
semiannual regulatory agenda that lists regulatory activities of the
Federal Transit Administration. The Secretary shall submit the agenda to
the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and Appropriations
of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Banking, Housing,
and Urban Affairs and Appropriations of the Senate on the day the agenda
is published.
(2) Except for emergency regulations, the Secretary of
Transportation shall give interested parties at least 60 days to
participate in a regulatory proceeding under this chapter by submitting
written information, views, or arguments, with or without an oral
presentation, except when the Secretary for good cause finds that public
notice and comment are unnecessary because of the routine nature or
insignificant impact of the regulation or that an emergency regulation
should be issued. The Secretary may extend the 60-day period if the
Secretary decides the period is insufficient to allow diligent
individuals to prepare comments or that other circumstances justify an
extension.
(3) An emergency regulation ends 120 days after it is issued.
(4) The Secretary of Transportation shall comply with this section
(except subsections (h) and (i)) and sections 5323(a)(2), 5323(c),
5323(e), 5324(c), 5325(a), 5325(b), 5326(c), and 5326(d) when proposing
or carrying out a regulation governing an activity under this chapter,
except for a routine matter or a matter with no significant impact.
(c) Budget Program and Set of Accounts.--The Secretary of
Transportation shall--
(1) submit each year a budget program as provided in section
9103 of title 31; and
(2) maintain a set of accounts for audit under chapter 35 of
title 31.
(d) Depository and Availability of Amounts.--The Secretary of
Transportation shall deposit amounts made available to the Secretary
under this chapter in a checking account in the Treasury. Receipts,
assets, and amounts obtained or held by the Secretary to carry out this
chapter are available for administrative expenses to carry out this
chapter.
(e) Binding Effect of Financial Transaction.--A financial
transaction of the Secretary of Transportation under this chapter and a
related voucher are binding on all officers and employees of the United
States Government.
(f) Dealing With Acquired Property.--Notwithstanding another law
related to the Government acquiring, using, or disposing of real
property, the Secretary of Transportation may deal with property
acquired under subsection (a)(3) or (4) of this section in any way.
However, this subsection does not--
(1) deprive a State or political subdivision of a State of
jurisdiction of the property; or
(2) impair the civil rights, under the laws of a State or
political subdivision of a State, of an inhabitant of the property.
(g) Transfer of Assets No Longer Needed.--(1) If a recipient of
assistance under this chapter decides an asset acquired under this
chapter at least in part with that assistance is no longer needed for
the purpose for which it was acquired, the Secretary of Transportation
may authorize the recipient to transfer the asset to a local
governmental authority to be used for a public purpose with no further
obligation to the Government. The Secretary may authorize a transfer for
a public purpose other than mass transportation only if the Secretary
decides--
(A) the asset will remain in public use for at least 5 years
after the date the asset is transferred;
(B) there is no purpose eligible for assistance under this
chapter for which the asset should be used;
(C) the overall benefit of allowing the transfer is greater than
the interest of the Government in liquidation and return of the
financial interest of the Government in the asset, after considering
fair market value and other factors; and
(D) through an appropriate screening or survey process, that
there is no interest in acquiring the asset for Government use if
the asset is a facility or land.
(2) A decision under paragraph (1) of this section must be in
writing and include the reason for the decision.
(3) This subsection is in addition to another law related to using
and disposing of a facility or equipment under an assistance agreement.
(4) Proceeds from the sale of transit assets.--
(A) In general.--When real property, equipment, or supplies
acquired with assistance under this chapter are no longer needed for
mass transportation purposes as determined under the applicable
assistance agreement, the Secretary may authorize the sale,
transfer, or lease of the assets under conditions determined by the
Secretary and subject to the requirements of this subsection.
(B) Use.--The net income from asset sales, uses, or leases
(including lease renewals) under this subsection shall be used by
the recipient to reduce the gross project cost of other capital
projects carried out under this chapter.
(C) Relationship to other authority.--The authority of the
Secretary under this subsection is in addition to existing
authorities controlling allocation or use of recipient income
otherwise permissible in law or regulation in effect prior to the
date of enactment of this paragraph.
(h) Transfer of Amounts and Non-Government Share.--(1) Amounts made
available for a mass transportation project under title 23 shall be
transferred to and administered by the Secretary of Transportation under
this chapter. Amounts made available for a highway project under this
chapter shall be transferred to and administered by the Secretary under
title 23.
(2) The provisions of title 23 related to the non-Government share
apply to amounts under title 23 used for mass transportation projects.
The provisions of this chapter related to the non-Government share apply
to amounts under this chapter used for highway projects.
(i) Authority of Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.--The
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall--
(1) carry out section 5312(a) and (b)(1) of this title related
to--
(A) urban transportation systems and planned development of
urban areas; and
(B) the role of transportation planning in overall urban
planning; and
(2) advise and assist the Secretary of Transportation in making
findings under section 5323(a)(1)(A) of this title.
(j) Relationship to Other Laws.--(1) Section 9107(a) of title 31
applies to the Secretary of Transportation under this chapter.
(2) Section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5) applies to a
contract for more than $1,000 for services or supplies related to
property acquired under this chapter.
(Pub. L. 103-272, Sec. 1(d), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 836; Pub. L. 104-
287, Sec. 5(9), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3389; Pub. L. 104-316, title I,
Sec. 127(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3840; Pub. L. 105-178, title III,
Secs. 3023(c), 3025(a), (b)(1), (c), June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 364, 365.)
Historical and Revision Notes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5334(a)............................... 49 App.:1608(a) (1st sentence July 9, 1964, Pub. L. 88-365, Sec.
related to 12:1749a(c) (1)-(3) 12(a), 78 Stat. 306; Sept. 8, 1966,
(1st sentence), (4)-(8), Pub. L. 89-562, Sec. 2(a)(1), 80
(10)). Stat. 715; May 25, 1967, Pub. L. 90-
19, Sec. 20(a), 81 Stat. 25.
5334(b)............................... 49 App.:1608(i)(1), (2). July 9, 1964, Pub. L. 88-365, 78 Stat.
302, Sec. 12(i)(1), (2); added Apr.
2, 1987, Pub. L. 100-17, Sec. 318(a),
101 Stat. 233.
49 App.:1608(i)(3). July 9, 1964, Pub. L. 88-365, 78 Stat.
302, Sec. 12(i)(3); added Dec. 18,
1991, Pub. L. 102-240, Sec. 3017, 105
Stat. 2108.
5334(c)............................... 49 App.:1608(a) (1st sentence
related to 12:1749a(a) (less
proviso)).
5334(d)............................... 49 App.:1608(a) (1st sentence
related to 12:1749a(b), last
sentence).
5334(e)............................... 49 App.:1608(a) (1st sentence
related to 12:1749a(a)
(proviso)).
5334(f)............................... 49 App.:1608(a) (1st sentence
related to 12:1749a(c)(3)
(last sentence)).
5334(g)............................... 49 App.:1608(k). July 9, 1964, Pub. L. 88-365, 78 Stat.
302, Sec. 12(k); added Dec. 18, 1991,
Pub. L. 102-240, Sec. 3018, 105 Stat.
2108.
5334(h)............................... 49 App.:1607(k). July 9, 1964, Pub. L. 88-365, 78 Stat.
302, Sec. 8(k); added Nov. 6, 1978,
Pub. L. 95-599, Sec. 305(b), 92 Stat.
2743; Apr. 2, 1987, Pub. L. 100-17,
Sec. 310, 101 Stat. 227; restated
Dec. 18, 1991, Pub. L. 102-240, Sec.
3012, 105 Stat. 2104; Oct. 6, 1992,
Pub. L. 102-388, Sec. 502(a), 106
Stat. 1566.
5334(i)............................... 49 App.:1608 (note) (related to Reorg. Plan No. 2 of 1968, eff. June
authority and functions 30, 1968, Sec. 1(a)(1) (related to
reserved to Secretary of authority and functions reserved to
Housing and Urban Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development). Development), 82 Stat. 1369.
5334(j)(1)............................ 49 App.:1608(a) (1st sentence
related to 12:1749a(e)).
5334(j)(2)............................ 49 App.:1608(a) (1st sentence
related to 12:1749a(d)).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In subsections (c)-(f), and (j), the relevant substantive provisions
of 12:1749a are substituted for ``shall . . . have the functions,
powers, and duties set forth in section 1749a of title 12, except
subsections (c)(2) and (f) of such section'' for clarity. The reference
to subsection (c)(2) is omitted as obsolete because section 201(d)(1) of
the Housing and Community Development Technical Amendments Act of 1984
(Public Law 98-479, 98 Stat. 2228) repealed 12:1749a(c)(2). The words
``(in addition to any authority otherwise vested in him)'' are omitted
as surplus.
In subsection (a), the text of 49 App.:1608(a) (1st sentence related
to 12:1749a(c)(8)) is omitted as obsolete. Before clause (1), the words
``carrying out this chapter'' are substituted for ``the performance of,
and with respect to, the functions, powers, and duties vested in him by
this chapter'' to eliminate unnecessary words. In clause (1), the words
``(except terms the Secretary of Labor prescribes under section 5333(b)
of this title)'' are added for clarity because 49 App.:1608(a) only
applies to the Secretary of Transportation and does not supersede the
responsibility of the Secretary of Labor. In clause (3), the word
``civil'' is added for clarity. The words ``contract, or other'' are
omitted as surplus. In clause (4), the words ``bid for and . . . at any
foreclosure or any other sale'' are omitted as surplus. In clause (6),
the words ``at public or private sale'', ``real or personal'', and
``upon such terms as he may fix'' are omitted as surplus. Clause (8) is
substituted for 49 App.:1608(a) (1st sentence related to 12:1749a(c)(7))
to eliminate unnecessary words. In clause (9), the word ``provisions''
is omitted as surplus. The words ``carry out this chapter'' are
substituted for ``assure that the purposes of this subchapter will be
achieved'' to eliminate unnecessary words.
In subsection (b), the words ``regulatory'' and ``regulatory
proceeding'' are substituted for ``rulemaking'' for consistency in the
revised title and because ``rule'' and ``regulation'' are synonymous.
In subsection (b)(1), the words ``Federal Transit Administration''
are substituted for ``Urban Mass Transportation Administration'' because
of section 3004(b) of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency
Act of 1991 (Public Law 102-240, 105 Stat. 2088). The words ``also'' and
``required by the first sentence of this paragraph'' are omitted as
surplus.
In subsection (c), before clause (1), the words ``In the performance
of, and with respect to, the functions, powers, and duties vested in him
by this subchapter . . . notwithstanding the provisions of any other
law'' are omitted as surplus. In clause (1), the words ``prepare . . .
and'' and ``for wholly owned Government corporations'' are omitted as
surplus.
Subsection (d) is substituted for 49 App.:1608(a) (1st sentence
related to 12:1749a(b) and last sentence) to eliminate unnecessary
words.
In subsection (e), the words ``such . . . as the making of loans''
are omitted as surplus. The words ``under this chapter'' are added for
clarity. The word ``related'' is substituted for ``in connection with
such financial transactions'' to eliminate unnecessary words. The words
``approved by the Secretary'' are omitted as surplus. The word
``binding'' is substituted for ``final and conclusive'' to eliminate
unnecessary words. The words ``and employees'' are added for consistency
in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code.
In subsection (f), before clause (1), the words ``in any way'' are
substituted for ``complete, administer, remodel and convert, dispose of,
lease and otherwise'' to eliminate unnecessary words. In clause (1), the
words ``civil or criminal'' are omitted as surplus. In clause (2), the
words ``political subdivision of a State'' are substituted for ``local''
for consistency.
In subsection (g)(1), before clause (A), the words ``facilities and
equipment and other'', ``(including land)'', and ``first'' are omitted
as surplus.
In subsection (g)(3), the words ``and not in lieu of'' are omitted
as surplus.
Subsection (i) is substituted for section 1(a)(1) (related to
authority and functions reserved to Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development) of Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1968 to eliminate
unnecessary words. The reference to 49 App.:1602(c)(1) is translated as
a reference to 49 App.:1602(e)(1) because section 2(1) of the Urban Mass
Transportation Assistance Act of 1970 (Public Law 91-453, 84 Stat. 962)
redesignated subsection (c) as subsection (e). The references to 49
App.:1603(a) (1st sentence), 1604, and 1607c(b) and former 49 App.:1607a
are omitted as obsolete because of section 103(a) of the National Mass
Transportation Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-503, 88 Stat. 1567) and
sections 303(b), 305(a), and 307 of the Federal Public Transportation
Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-599, 92 Stat. 2737, 2743, 2747). Reference to
49 App.:1607c(c) is omitted because it was enacted after the
Reorganization Plan and was not intended to be within the scope of the
Plan.
Subsection (j)(1) is substituted for 49 App.:1608(a) (1st sentence
related to 12:1749a(e)) to eliminate unnecessary words.
References in Text
The date of enactment of this paragraph, referred to in subsec.
(g)(4)(C), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 105-178, which was
approved June 9, 1998.
Amendments
1998--Pub. L. 105-178, Sec. 3025(b)(1), inserted ``provisions''
after ``Administrative'' in section catchline.
Subsec. (a)(10). Pub. L. 105-178, Sec. 3025(a), added par. (10).
Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 105-178, Sec. 3023(c), substituted
``5323(a)(2), 5323(c), 5323(e), 5324(c), 5325(a), 5325(b), 5326(c), and
5326(d)'' for ``5323(a)(2), (c) and (e), 5324(c), and 5325 of this
title''.
Subsec. (g)(4). Pub. L. 105-178, Sec. 3025(c), added par. (4).
1996--Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 104-287 substituted ``Transportation
and Infrastructure'' for ``Public Works and Transportation''.
Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 104-316 substituted ``for'' for ``the
Comptroller General shall''.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 5302, 5312, 5338 of this
title.
