[Federal Register: May 22, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 99)]
[Notices]
[Page 28044-28045]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22my03-123]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: Rail Corridor--Petersburg,
Virginia (Collier Yard) to Raleigh, North Carolina (Boylan Wye)
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.
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SUMMARY: The FRA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a
Tier II Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for a
138-mile portion of the Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR) Corridor from
Petersburg, Virginia (Collier Yard) to Raleigh, North Carolina (Boylan
Wye).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David Foster, Rail Environmental
Programs Manager, North Carolina Department of Transportation Rail
Division, 1553 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC, 27699-1553, telephone
(919) 508-1917; or Mr. David Valenstein, Environmental Program Manager,
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), 400 Seventh Street, SW., MS 20,
Washington, DC 20590, telephone (202) 493-6368.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FRA, in cooperation with the Federal
Highway Administration (FHWA), the North Carolina Department of
Transportation (NCDOT), and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public
Transportation (VDRPT), will prepare a Tier II Environmental Impact
Statement for a 138-mile portion of the SEHSR Corridor from Petersburg,
Virginia at Collier Yard to Raleigh, North Carolina at the Boylan Wye.
This study will evaluate alternatives and environmental impacts within
the preferred corridor (Alternative A) described in the Tier I Record
of Decision for the SEHSR Corridor from Washington, DC to Charlotte,
North Carolina. The study corridor generally follows the Burgess
Connector rail line from Collier Yard to Burgess, Virginia and the
former Seaboard Air Line (S-line) from Burgess to Raleigh, North
Carolina.
Multiple options within the preferred corridor exist to connect the
S-line from Burgess to Main Street Station in Richmond, Virginia, which
is the destination for intercity rail service in this segment of the
SEHSR Corridor. VDRPT and the FRA propose to address options in this
area in separate environmental documentation to be prepared prior to
construction of the SEHSR between Richmond, Virginia and Raleigh, North
Carolina. Different routings are possible through Petersburg and
capacity issues exist on the A-line particularly crossing the
Appomattox River would be considered in the separate documentation.
This environmental process has four basic goals: (1) Reiterate the
purpose and need as established in the Tier I EIS for the Washington DC
to Charlotte NC portion of the SEHSR corridor; (2) develop alternatives
within the study corridor; (3) conduct a detailed evaluation of
environmental impacts for the alternatives; and (4) select a preferred
alternative.
Scoping and Comments: FRA encourages broad participation in the EIS
process during scoping and
[[Page 28045]]
subsequent review of the resulting environmental documents. Comments
and suggestions are invited from all interested agencies and the public
at large to insure the full range of issues related to the proposed
action and all reasonable alternatives are addressed and all
significant issues are identified. Public agencies with jurisdiction
are requested to advise the FRA and NCDOT of the applicable permit and
environmental review requirements of each agency, and the scope and
content of the environmental information that is germane to the
agency's statutory responsibilities in connection with the proposed
improvements. Agency scoping meetings have been scheduled for June 17
and 18, 2003 at the following locations:
[sbull] June 17, 10:30 am, VDRPT Executive Conference Room, 1313
East Main Street, Suite 300, Richmond, VA.
[sbull] June 18, 10:00 am, NCDOT Photogrammetry Conference Room,
Room 322-A, 1020 Birch Ridge Drive, Building B, Raleigh, NC.
Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies in North
Carolina and Virginia. An iterative public involvement/information
program will support the process. The program will involve newsletters,
a project hotline, informational workshops, small group meetings, and
other methods to solicit and incorporate public input throughout the
planning process.
Comments and questions concerning the proposed action should be
directed to NCDOT or to the FRA at the addresses provided above.
Additional information can be obtained by visiting the project Web site
at http://www.sehsr.org or calling the toll-free project number 1-877-
749-RAIL (7245).
Issued in Washington DC on May 15, 2003.
Mark E. Yachmetz,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Development.
[FR Doc. 03-12812 Filed 5-21-03; 8:45 am]
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