YOUR RIGHTS AND BENEFITS AS A DISPLACED PERSON UNDER THE FEDERAL RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM DECLARATION OF POLICY Introduction In a changing America, government programs designed to benefit the public as a whole often result in acquisition of private property, and sometimes in the displacement of people from their residences, businesses for farms. As a means of providing uniform and equitable treatment for those persons displaced, your government passed the "Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970," and the "Uniform Relocation Act Amendments of 1987." These two laws are the foundation for the information discussed in this brochure. The brochure provides general information regarding relocation assistance advisory services and relocation payments. Section I contains information important to persons displaced from residences. Section II provides information about relocation assistance advisory services. Section III contains information for displaced businesses, farms and nonprofit organizations. These policies and provisions are now contained in the governmentwide single rule published in the Federal Register of March 2, 1989 under 49 CFR Part 24. The rule provides the regulations for all Federal and Federally-aided programs and projects. If you are required to move as a result of a Federal or federally assisted program or project, a relocation counselor will contact you. The counselor will answer your specific questions and provide additional information you may need. If you have a disability that prevents you from reading or understanding this brochure, you will be provided appropriate assistance. You should notify the Agency of any special requirements for assistance. Some Important Definitions
Program or Project: Any Activity or series of activities undertaken by a Federal agency, or any activity undertaken by a State or local agency with Federal financial assistance in any purchase of the activity. Agency: In practically all States and Territories, relocation assistance advisory services and payments are administered at the local level by an Agency responsible for the acquisition of real property and/or the displacement of people from property to be used for a federally funded program or project. The Agency may be a Federal agency, a State agency, or a local political Subdivision such as a county or a city, or a person carrying out a program or project with Federal financial assistance. An Agency may also contract with a qualified individual or firm to administer the relocation program, but the Agency remains responsible for the program. Displaced Person: Any person (individual, family, partnership, association or corporation) who moves from real property or moves personal property from real property as a direct result of 1.) The acquisition of the real property, in whole or in part, 2.) A written notice of intent to acquire from the Agency, 3.) The initiation of negotiations for the purchase of the real property by the Agency, or, 4.) A written notice requiring a person to vacate real property for the purpose of rehabilitation or demolition of the improvements (s), provided the displacement is permanent and the property is needed for a Federal or federally assisted program or project. Business: Any lawful activity, with the exception of a farm operation, conducted primarily for the purchase, sale, lease, and rental of personal or real property, or for the manufacture, processing, and/or marketing of products, commodities, or any other personal property; or for the sale of services to the public; or solely for the purpose of this Act, an outdoor advertising display or displays, when the display(s) must be moved as a result of the project. A "small business" is a business having not more than 500 employees working at a site which is the location of economic activity and: 1.) The site will be acquired for a program or project, or 2.) The business will be displaced by a program or project. This does not include outdoor advertising signs, displays, or devices.
Farm: Any activity conducted solely or primarily for the production of one or more agricultural products or commodities, including timber, for sale and home use, and customarily producing such products or commodities in sufficient quantity to be capable of contributing materially to the operator's support. Nonprofit Organization: A public or private entity that has established its nonprofit status under applicable Federal or State law. Next
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