((a)) ** .—** In this section, the following definitions apply:

((1)) ** .—** The term “cooperating authority” means a Department of Transportation operating administration or secretarial office that has expertise but is not the lead authority with respect to a proposed multimodal project.

((2)) ** .—** The term “lead authority” means a Department of Transportation operating administration or secretarial office that has the lead responsibility for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( et seq.) with respect to a proposed multimodal project.

((3)) ** .—** The term “multimodal project” has the meaning given the term in .

((b)) ** .—** The authorities granted in this section may be exercised for a multimodal project, class of projects, or program of projects that are carried out under this title or title 23.

((c)) ** .—** In considering the environmental impacts of a proposed multimodal project, a lead authority may apply categorical exclusions designated under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( et seq.) in implementing regulations or procedures of a cooperating authority for a proposed multimodal project, subject to the conditions that—

((1)) the lead authority makes a determination, with the concurrence of the cooperating authority—

((A)) on the applicability of a categorical exclusion to a proposed multimodal project; and

((B)) that the project satisfies the conditions for a categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( et seq.) and this section;

((2)) the lead authority follows the implementing regulations of the cooperating authority or procedures under that Act; and

((3)) the lead authority determines that—

((A)) the proposed multimodal project does not individually or cumulatively have a significant impact on the environment; and

((B)) extraordinary circumstances do not exist that merit additional analysis and documentation in an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment required under that Act.

((d)) ** .—** A cooperating authority shall provide expertise to the lead authority on aspects of the multimodal project in which the cooperating authority has expertise.