[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 61 (Tuesday, March 31, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17137-17138]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07288]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Transfer of Federally Assisted Facility
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), United States Department
of Transportation (USDOT).
ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to transfer Federally assisted facility.
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SUMMARY: Section 5334(h) of the Federal Transit Laws, as codified, 49
U.S.C. 5301, et. seq., permits the Administrator of the Federal Transit
Administration (FTA) to authorize a recipient of FTA funds to transfer
land or a facility to a public body for any public purpose with no
further obligation to the Federal Government if, among other things, no
Federal agency is interested in acquiring the asset for Federal use.
Accordingly, FTA is issuing this Notice to advise Federal agencies that
the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) intends to
transfer the facility located at
[[Page 17138]]
274 Winkler's Creek Road, Boone, NC 28607, on behalf of a subrecipient,
AppalCART, to Watauga County, NC. AppalCART, the transportation
authority serving all of Watauga County, used the location as an
administrative and maintenance facility from 1981-2013 (32 yrs).
AppalCART can no longer use the property because construction on a new
administrative and maintenance facility was completed in August 2013.
Watauga County will be utilizing the property as a County
maintenance department. Watauga County is charged with maintaining all
county vehicles and facilities, including snow removal. This transfer
would provide a number of benefits to the county and its residents. The
site is more centrally located than the current location of the County
maintenance department; the new location would allow quicker and more
efficient dispatch of maintenance crews for snow removal and other
services to County facilities. The interior space at this property will
allow maintenance equipment and vehicles to be sheltered and maintained
indoors, saving them from the wear currently experienced due to the
harsh climate of the area. Also, the site and facilities have adequate
space for other county usage, such as storage for other departments and
a possible impound lot for the Sheriff's Office. The transfer will
allow the property to be put to good use. The County has agreed to
ensure that this use will be maintained for no less than five (5)
years.
DATES: Effective Date: Any Federal agency interested in acquiring the
facility must notify the FTA Region IV office of its interest no later
than 30 days from the date of publication of the Federal Register
notice.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties should notify the Regional Office by
writing to Yvette G. Taylor, Regional Administrator, Federal Transit
Administration, 230 Peachtree NW., Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30303.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Micah M. Miller, Regional Counsel,
(404) 865-5474.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
49 U.S.C. 5334(h) provides guidance on the transfer of capital
assets. Specifically, if a recipient of FTA assistance 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. 49 U.S.C. 5334(h)(1).
Determinations
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.
Federal Interest in Acquiring Land or Facility
This document implements the requirements of 49 U.S.C.
5334(h)(1)(D) of the Federal Transit Laws. Accordingly, FTA hereby
provides notice of the availability of the facility further described
below. Any Federal agency interested in acquiring the affected facility
should promptly notify the FTA. If no Federal agency is interested in
acquiring the existing facility, FTA will make certain that the other
requirements specified in 49 U.S.C. 5334(h)(1)(A) through (C) are met
before permitting the asset to be transferred.
Additional Description of Land or Facility
The subject property is identified as parcel identification number
2910-23-0273-000 by the Watauga County Tax Supervisor's office. The
subject property contains 1.549-acres improved with a one-story metal &
brick garage/office/warehouse building and a one-story brick equipment
vehicle wash building, both in fair condition. Site improvements
include asphalt pavement, chain-link fencing, and landscaping. The
subject was formerly used as an office and maintenance facility for
AppalCART, a public transportation system serving Watauga County.
AppalCART moved to a new facility in late 2013 and the subject
facilities are currently vacant. Public utilities include water, sewer,
electric, telephone and cable.
Yvette G. Taylor,
Regional Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Atlanta, GA.
[FR Doc. 2015-07288 Filed 3-30-15; 8:45 am]
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