to reduce FHWA monitoring of projects by extending the Secondary Road Plan concept to all projects on Federal-aid systems except the Interstate System.
A secondary road project through the mountains of northwestern Montana.
The Certification Acceptance procedures superseded the highly successful Secondary Road Plan, but unfortunately, it did not succeed very well. The success of the Secondary Road Plan lay in the fact that the State was certifying that “. . . the plans, design, and construction for such projects are in accord with the standards and procedures of such State applicable to projects in this category . . .” [italics supplied] which the Federal Government (Secretary of Commerce) had approved. The Certification Acceptance procedure required the State to certify that “. . . such projects will be carried out in accordance with State laws, regulations, directives, and standards establishing requirements at least equivalent to those contained in, or issued pursuant to, [title 23].” [Italics supplied.] Thus, Federal program demands and complexities still governed. It also prescribed that the new optional procedure would not affect or discharge any responsibility or obligation of the FHWA under any Federal law outside of title 23, U.S. Code, such as the environmental impact statements, right-of-way acquisition methods, relocation assistance, minimum wage rates, etc. None of the complexities w T ere eliminated since the States had to have requirements equivalent to Federal laws. Because the secondary road system now came under the Certification Acceptance procedure, more work actually was generated. As a result, States did not elect to use Certification Acceptance procedures.
Congress then took another look at the situation, and in the 1976 Highway Act, the Certification Acceptance section of title 23, U.S. Code, was amended by striking out “. . . establishing requirements at least equivalent to those contained in, or issued pursuant to, this title” and substituting “. . . which will accomplish the policies and objectives contained in or issued pursuant to this title.” In addition, the Act reinstated the Secondary Road Plan.
It is too soon to know just how or to what extent the amended Certification Acceptance procedure will be accepted by the States. However, the States and FHWA are continuing to work together to reduce paperwork, needless duplication, and unnecessary delays in administering the highway program, giving full recognition to the capabilities of State organiza-
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