34 CFR §303.705
Verified against eCFR.gov as of June 20, 2026View official text on eCFR.gov ↗
- (a)Opportunity for hearing. Prior to withholding any funds under part C of the Act, the Secretary provides reasonable notice and an opportunity for a hearing to the lead agency involved, pursuant to the procedures in §§ 303.231 through 303.236.
- (b)Suspension. Pending the outcome of any hearing to withhold payments under paragraph (a) of this section, the Secretary may suspend payments to a recipient, suspend the authority of the recipient to obligate funds under part C of the Act, or both, after the recipient has been given reasonable notice and an opportunity to show cause why future payments or authority to obligate funds under part C of the Act should not be suspended.
- (c)Nature of withholding.
- (1)Limitation. If the Secretary determines that it is appropriate to withhold further payments under section 616(e)(2) or (e)(3) of the Act, the Secretary may determine—
- (i)That such withholding will be limited to programs or projects, or portions of programs or projects, that affected the Secretary's determination under § 303.703(b)(1); or
- (ii)That the lead agency must not make further payments of funds under part C of the Act to specified State agencies, EIS programs or, if the lead agency does not provide part C funds to the EIS program, EIS providers that caused or were involved in the Secretary's determination under § 303.703(b)(1).
- (2)Withholding until rectified. Until the Secretary is satisfied that the condition that caused the initial withholding has been substantially rectified—
- (i)Payments to the State under part C of the Act must be withheld in whole or in part; and
- (ii)Payments by the lead agency under part C of the Act must be limited to State agencies and EIS providers whose actions did not cause or were not involved in the Secretary's determination under § 303.703(b)(1).
- (1)Limitation. If the Secretary determines that it is appropriate to withhold further payments under section 616(e)(2) or (e)(3) of the Act, the Secretary may determine—