♦Manual Notice 2023-1
►1. Administrative Requirements Preliminary to Formal Authority for Right of Way Acquisition
- ►1. Delineation between Right of Way Acquisition and Preliminary Engineering
  - ♦ROW CSJ (Project ID) Costs Versus Construction CSJ (Controlling Project ID) Costs
- ►2. Requesting a ROW CSJ (Project ID)
  - ♦Procedures
- ►3. Federal Project Authorization and Agreement (FPAA)
  - ♦Overview
  - ♦Procedures
- ►4. Schematic Layout for Transportation Project
  - ♦Process
- ►5. Environmental Clearance
  - ♦Process
- ►6. Public Involvement (Public Hearing)
  - ♦Process
- ►7. ROW Program Office Formal Authority to Proceed for Right of Way Acquisition
  - ♦Determination of Eligibility
- ►8. Federal Project Numbers on Records
  - ♦Requirement
►2. Types of Project Authorities
- ►1. Authority Types
- ►2. Authority for Right of Way Acquisition
  - ♦Additional Requirements
- ►3. Authority for Advanced Acquisition
  - ♦Procedures
►3. Advance Acquisition of Right of Way
- ►1. Advance Acquisition (for State)
  - ♦Definition
- ►2. Policy on Advance Acquisition (for State)
  - ♦Policy
- ►3. General Requirements for Advance Acquisition (for State)
  - ♦Requirements
- ►4. Additional Requirements for Submissions for Advance Acquisition through Donation (for State)
  - ♦Requirements
- ►5. Approval of Advance Acquisition (for State)
  - ♦Process
  - ♦Reimbursement
- ►6. Advance Acquisition of Right of Way (for LPA)
  - ♦Requirements
- ►7. Disposition of Advance Acquired Properties
  - ♦Overview
►4. Administrative Requirements after Formal Authority for Right of Way Acquisition
- ►1. State Cost Participation in Local Government Right of Way Acquisition
- ►2. Effect of Approved Values on Authorized Right of Way Funds
  - ♦Process
►5. Right of Way Property Acquisition
- ►1. Right of Way Property Acquisition Policies and Procedures
  - ♦Basic Acquisition Responsibilities (for State)
  - ♦Basic Acquisition Responsibilities (for LPA)
- ►2. TxDOT Monitoring of LPA Acquisitions
  - ♦Procedure
- ►3. Informational Notice to Owners Required (for State and LPA)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►4. Pre-Appraisal Contact
  - ♦Procedure
- ►5. Establishment of Just Compensation Required (for State and LPA)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►6. Policies on Appraisal and State Acquisition of Improvements (for State and LPA)
  - ♦Policy
- ►7. Landowner’s Bill of Rights and Written Initial Offer to Purchase as Required Elements of a Bona Fide Offer (for State and LPA)
  - ♦Landowner’s Bill of Rights
  - ♦Methods of Providing the Landowner’s Bill of Rights
  - ♦Documenting Compliance with the Landowner’s Bill of Rights Statute
  - ♦Initial Written Offer to Purchase
  - ♦Elements of Required “Bona Fide Offer”
- ►8. Owner Retention of Improvements (for State and LPA)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►9. Negotiation Contacts and Reports (for State)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►10. Negotiation Contacts and Reports (for LPA)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►11. Updating Offer of Just Compensation (for State and LPA)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►12. Control of Access Rights (for State and LPA)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►13. Policy on “Uneconomic Remainders” (Excess Takings) (for State)
  - ♦Policy
  - ♦Discretionary Remainder Acquisitions
- ►14. Policy on “Uneconomic Remainders” (Excess Takings) (for LPA)
  - ♦Policy
- ►15. Overlooked Items in Property Valuation (for State)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►16. Change in Property Status during Negotiations (for State)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►17. Adverse Possession Involved in Acquisition (for State)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►18. Encroachments (for State)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►19. Acquisition of Undivided Interests in Property Acquired (for State)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►20. Acquisition of Separate Easement Interests (for State)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►21. Acquisition of Leasehold Interests (for State)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►22. Information for Income Tax Purposes for Property Owners (for State)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►23. Information for Income Tax Purposes for Property Owners (for LPA)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►24. Rest Areas (or Roadside Parks) (for State)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►25. Irrigation and Drainage Canals (for State and LPA)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►26. Cemeteries (for State)
  - ♦Procedure
  - ♦Impact Categories
- ►27. Acquisition of TxDOT Employee’s Property (for State and LPA)
  - ♦Procedures
- ►28. Requesting Federal Assistance in Acquiring Private Property (for State)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►29. Administrative Settlements (for State)
  - ♦Procedure
  - ♦Enhanced Negotiations
  - ♦Enhanced Negotiations Process
- ►30. Administrative Settlements (for LPA)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►31. Possession and Use Agreements (for State)
  - ♦Procedure
  - ♦For LPA
►6. Right of Way Donations and Exchanges
- ►1. Overview
  - ♦For State
- ►2. Legal Requirements to Accept Donations (for State)
  - ♦Statutory Requirements
  - ♦Rules Requirements
- ►3. Exchanges (for State)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►4. Procedures for Receiving Donations (for State)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►5. Donation Requests Not Associated With Projects (for State)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►6. Procedures for Receiving Donations (for LPA)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►7. Matching Fund Credits
  - ♦Matching Fund Credits to LPA (State-Funded Project; No Federal-Aid)
  - ♦Matching Fund Credits (Federal-aid Project)
►7. Procedures Regarding Commercial Sign Interests
- ►1. Negotiation for Commercial Signs (for State)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►2. Conveyance of Commercial Sign Interests (for State)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►3. Payment for Negotiated Commercial Sign Interests (for State)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►4. Acquisition of Commercial Sign Interests by Eminent Domain (for State)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►5. Removal and Relocation of Certain Commercial Signs (for State)
  - ♦Overview
- ►6. General Procedures (for LPA)
  - ♦Overview
- ►7. Leasehold Signs (for LPA)
  - ♦Procedure
►8. Fencing Policies and Procedures
- ►1. Fencing Policies (for State)
  - ♦Policy
- ►2. Control of Access Fences (for State)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►3. Jointly Owned Property Line Fences (for State)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►4. Fencing Procedure (for LPA)
  - ♦Procedure
►9. Passes, Stock Passes, and Cattle Guards
- ►1. Pass Policies (for State)
  - ♦Policy
- ►2. Guidelines for Land Use Facilities (TxDOT) (for State)
  - ♦Overview
  - ♦Passes
  - ♦Procedure
- ►3. Inclusion of Pass Privileges in Instruments of Conveyance (for State)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►4. Permits for Passes (for State)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►5. Conveyance and Title Requirements for Passes (for State)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►6. Negotiation for Passes (for State)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►7. Submission for Payment When Pass Involved (for State)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►8. Cost Charge for Passes (for State)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►9. Pass Policies (for LPA)
  - ♦Commission Policy
- ►10. Cost Charge for Passes (for LPA)
  - ♦Negotiation
  - ♦Deeds and Title Requirements
  - ♦Special Purchase Agreement
  - ♦Cost Charge
►10. Acquisition of State-Owned Lands for Right of Way
- ►1. Appraising State-Owned Property
  - ♦Valuation
- ►2. Property Adjustment Work on State-Owned Lands
  - ♦Procedure
- ►3. General Submission Requirements for Formal Negotiations
  - ♦Procedure
- ►4. Texas Departments of State Health Services and of Aging and Disability Services Lands
  - ♦Procedure
- ►5. Parks and Wildlife Department Lands
  - ♦Procedure
- ►6. University of Texas Lands
  - ♦Procedure
- ►7. Permanent School Fund Lands and General Land Office Lands
  - ♦Procedure
  - ♦General Land Office Lands
- ►8. Veterans Land Board Land Under Contract to a Veteran
- ►9. TxDOT Lands
  - ♦Procedure
- ►10. LPA As Acquiring Agent
  - ♦Procedure
▼11. ROW Acquisition of Federal Lands
- ►1. Regulations Governing Acquisition of Federal Lands
  - ♦Overview
- ►2. Acquisition Procedures for Federal Lands (for State)
- ►3. Acquisition Procedures for Federal Lands (for LPA)
  - ♦General
  - ♦Property Adjustment Work on Federal Lands (by LPA)
►12. ROW Acquisition of County or City Property
- ►1. For State and LPA
  - ♦Authority
  - ♦General
- ►2. Acquisition of Property for LPA Exchange
  - ♦Authority
- ►3. Acquisition of Replacement Lands (Federally funded projects)
  - ♦For State and LPA
►13. Instruments of Conveyance for On-System Projects
- ►1. General Requirements for Proper Conveyance
  - ♦Requirements
- ►2. Standard Conveyance Forms
  - ♦Procedure
  - ♦Special Clause for Reserving Minerals
  - ♦Use of Correction Deeds
  - ♦Special Warranty Deeds
  - ♦Possession and Use Agreement
  - ♦Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
►14. Special Clauses for Conveyance Instruments
- ►1. Overview
  - ♦Policy (for State and LPA)
- ►2. Approved Special Clauses for Use in Conveyance Instruments
►15. Title Requirements and Title Insurance
- ►1. Title Requirements: Policy Regarding Title to be Acquired (for State or LPA)
  - ♦Overview
- ►2. Title Insurance Requirements (for State)
  - ♦General
- ►3. Title Insurance Requirements (for LPA)
  - ♦General
- ►4. Title Insurance Requirements: Donations, Taxes (for State and LPA)
  - ♦General Requirements for Lands Acquired
  - ♦Donated Parcels
  - ♦Past Due or Delinquent Taxes
  - ♦Current Taxes
  - ♦Hotel/Motel Occupancy Taxes
- ►5. Curative Work and Acceptable Title Insurance Commitment and Title Insurance Policy Exceptions
  - ♦Curative Work
  - ♦Liens, Defects, and Encumbrances
  - ♦Restrictive Covenants
  - ♦Restrictions
  - ♦Survey Exceptions
  - ♦Tax Exceptions
  - ♦Easement Exceptions
  - ♦Public Utility Easements Exceptions
  - ♦Lease and Private Rights Exceptions
  - ♦Mineral Exceptions
  - ♦Retention of Improvements
  - ♦Other Property Interests
  - ♦Rights of Parties in Possession
- ►6. Approved Title Insurance Companies
  - ♦General
- ►7. Procuring Title Data
  - ♦General
- ►8. Title Insurance Policy Commitments
  - ♦General
- ►9. Title Insurance Policies
  - ♦For State
  - ♦For LPA
- ►10. Fees for Title Services
  - ♦General
- ►11. Certificates Required of Title Insurance Companies
  - ♦General
- ►12. Closing by Title Insurance Company
  - ♦Procedure
- ►13. Title Insurance Company’s Closing Statement
  - ♦Procedure
- ►14. Recording of Legal Instruments
  - ♦Procedure (for State)
  - ♦Procedure (for LPA)
- ►15. Escrow Services by Title Insurance Company
  - ♦Procedure
►16. Hazardous Materials
- ►1. List of Terms Used in this Chapter
  - ♦CERCLA
- ►2. TxDOT Objectives in Regard to Hazardous Materials
  - ♦Preventative or Corrective Action
  - ♦Cost Recovery
  - ♦Objectives
  - ♦Standard Operating Procedure
- ►3. Procedure Overview
  - ♦Overview
- ►4. Petroleum Storage Tank Systems (PSTS)
- ►5. Asbestos in Buildings
  - ♦Overview
  - ♦Management
- ►6. Hazardous Waste Contamination
  - ♦CERCLA Immunity
►17. Environmental Covenants for Contaminated Property
- ►1. Background
- ►2. Federal and State Corrective Action Standards
  - ♦Standards
- ►3. TxDOT Standards
  - ♦Standards
- ►4. TxDOT Documentation Requirements
  - ♦Requirements
- ►5. Notice Requirements
  - ♦Notice Requirements
  - ♦Notice Language Requirements
  - ♦Notice Submission Requirements
  - ♦Review of Public Comments
- ►6. Environmental Covenant Information
  - ♦Environmental Covenant Information
- ►7. Texas Transportation Commission Review
  - ♦TTC Review
- ►8. Entering the Environmental Covenant
  - ♦Entering the Environmental Covenant
- ►9. Zoning or Land Use Controls by Local Governments
  - ♦Local Government Controls
- ►10. Cost Recovery for Third Party Environmental Covenants
  - ♦Cost Recovery
- ►11. Tracking the Environmental Covenant for Future Reference
  - ♦Tracking the Covenant
►18. General Payment Policies and Procedures for State and LPA
- ►1. General Payment Policy
  - ♦Overview
- ►2. Refund to State Based on Final Judgment
  - ♦Overview
- ►3. Billings for Fee Appraisers, Technical Experts, and Expert Witnesses
- ►4. Payment Submissions for Negotiated Parcels (for State)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►5. Payment Procedures for Negotiated Parcels (for LPA)
  - ♦Procedure
- ►6. Payment When Escrow Procedure is Used
  - ♦Procedure
- ►7. Payment for Recording Instruments of Conveyance
  - ♦Procedure
- ►8. Payments for Leasehold Interests (for State and LPA)
  - ♦Payment Procedure When Leasehold and Fee Interests Are Negotiated
- ►9. Payment for Title Work
  - ♦Payment for Title Insurance Company Expenses (for State and LPA)
- ►10. Payment and Pay Procedures for LPA Acquisition
  - ♦Overview
- ►11. State Reimbursement for LPA Acquired Right of Way
  - ♦LPA's Requests for Reimbursement
  - ♦LPA Reimbursement Forms
- ►12. Submission for Reimbursement of Right of Way Fencing
  - ♦Lump Sum
  - ♦Actual Cost
►19. Incidental Expenses on Transfer of Real Property
- ►1. General Requirements (for State and LPA)
►20. Railroads
- ►1. Terms Used in This Chapter
  - ♦Terms
- ►2. Purpose
  - ♦Purpose of Chapter
- ►3. Acquisition of Abandoned Railroad Interests
- ►4. Acquisition of Operating Railroad Interests
- ►5. Railroad Agreements
  - ♦Overview
  - ♦Crossing Agreements
  - ♦Longitudinal Agreements
- ►6. Railroad Relocation Procedures
  - ♦Overview

Chapter 11: ROW Acquisition of Federal Lands

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Section 1: Regulations Governing Acquisition of Federal Lands

Overview

If federal property is managed or controlled by the Army, Air Force, Navy, or Veterans Administration, TxDOT negotiates directly with these agencies and representatives as follows:

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Army or Air Force: Installation commander and the appropriate U. S. Army Corps of Engineers district engineer.

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Navy: District public works officer of the naval district involved.

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Veterans Administration: Director, Veterans Administration, Washington, D. C.

If federal lands are donated for highway purposes, the Executive Director (or the ROW Division Director) may accept the donation. If the value of the donated federal land/easement exceeds $500, the Commission must acknowledge the donation by Minute Order (see Legal Requirements to Accept Donation (for State).)