Sec. 3. Office of freight planning, permitting, and development
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/bill/114/s/1680/is/section-3·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Section 102 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— by redesignating subsection
(h)as subsection (i); and by inserting after subsection
(g)the following: There is established, in the Office of the Secretary, an Office of Freight Planning, Permitting, and Development (referred to in this subsection as the Office ). The Office shall— coordinate the investment of Federal funding to improve the efficiency of the national multimodal freight network (as defined in section 5401) to move freight in accordance with the policy, goals, and strategies described in section 5402; for projects that involve multiple Federal agencies, designate a lead Federal agency or a modal administrator within the Department of Transportation— to serve as the primary point of contact; and to actively monitor and identify the progress of the permitting process; establish a process to give priority consideration to the freight projects receiving freight investment grants under section 5410 when— coordinating and facilitating the permit review process; and advancing project delivery objectives if there is duplication of processes; facilitate communication among government, public, and private freight transportation stakeholders; support the Secretary in the development of the national multimodal freight strategic plan (as defined in section 5401); provide guidance or best practices on the development of the State freight plans under section 5406; and carry out other duties, as prescribed by the Secretary. The Office shall— be headed by the Assistant Secretary of Freight Planning, Permitting, and Development; be structured out of existing resources and funding within the Department of Transportation, to the extent feasible; and serve to consolidate freight staffing from all modal administrations to improve collaboration between freight transportation modes (as defined in section 5401), especially in permitting oversight, and otherwise support the efficiency of the national multimodal freight network. . Section 102(e)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 5 and inserting 6 ; in subparagraph (C), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon; by redesignating subparagraph
(D)as subparagraph (E); and by inserting after subparagraph
(C)the following: an Assistant Secretary of Freight Planning, Permitting, and Development, who shall be appointed by the Secretary, with the approval of the President; and . Section 5316 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting Assistant Secretary of Freight Planning, Permitting, and Development, Department of Transportation. after Assistant Secretary for Administration, Department of Transportation. .