[Federal Register: July 19, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 139)]
[Notices]
[Page 37721-37722]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19jy01-126]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Environmental Impact Statement for Pennsylvania Maglev Proposal
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: FRA is issuing this notice to advise the public that FRA will
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Pennsylvania
Maglev proposal linking Pittsburgh International Airport to Pittsburgh
and its eastern suburbs in Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties; to
solicit public and agency input into the development of the EIS; and,
to advise the public that outreach activities conducted by the program
participants will be considered in the preparation of the EIS.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Bruce W. Ahern, Port Authority of
Allegheny County, 2235 Beaver Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15233-1080,
Telephone: (412) 237-6121, email Bahern@PortAuthority.org or Michael
Saunders, Federal Railroad Administration, 628-2 Hebron Avenue, Suite
303, Glastonbury, CT 06033-5007, Telephone: (860) 659-6714, email
Michael.Saunders@fhwa.dot.gov
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FRA prepared a programmatic EIS (PEIS) to address the selection
process and the potential for significant environmental impact from the
maglev deployment program authorized in Section 1218 (23 U.S.C. 322) of
the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA 21). The notice
of availability of the final PEIS was published in the Federal Register
on
[[Page 37722]]
May 4, 2001. In addition, the Port Authority of Allegheny County
prepared an environmental assessment for the Pennsylvania project in
February, 2000 which was used by the FRA to assist the agency in
preparing the PEIS. The PEIS is available on the FRA website at:
http://www.fra.dot.gov/s/env/maglev/MagPEIS.htm.
The Secretary of Transportation, consistent with FRA's Maglev
Deployment Program regulation (49 CFR part 268), selected two locations
(including this proposal) for further analysis and the development of a
site specific EIS. This could lead to the selection of a single project
for Federal capital assistance for construction, depending on the
appropriation of funds by the U.S. Congress.
The FRA, in cooperation with the Port Authority of Allegheny
County, will prepare a site-specific EIS on a proposal to build a
Maglev project linking Pittsburgh International Airport to Pittsburgh
and its eastern suburbs. The FRA, in cooperation with the Maryland Mass
Transit Administration, will also prepare a site-specific EIS for the
other location selected for further analysis and development.
It is anticipated that the EIS will consider alternatives
including: (1) Taking no action, and (2) various alignment and station
locations from the airport to downtown Pittsburgh and the eastern
suburbs of Monroeville and Greensburg.
Scoping and Comments
FRA encourages broad participation in the EIS process and review of
the resulting environmental documents. Comments and suggestions related
to the project and potential environmental concerns are invited from
all interested agencies and the public at large to ensure that the full
range of issues related to the proposed action and all reasonable
alternatives are addressed and all significant issues are identified.
The public will be invited to participate in the scoping process,
review the draft EIS, and provide input at public meetings. Letters
describing the proposed scope of the EIS and soliciting comments will
be sent to appropriate Federal, State and local agencies, elected
officials, community organizations, and to private organizations and
citizens who have previously expressed interest in this proposal.
Several public meetings to be advertised in the local media will be
held in the project area regarding this proposal. Release of the draft
EIS for public comment and public meetings and hearings will be
announced as those dates are established.
Comments or questions concerning this notice of intent and the EIS
should be directed to the FRA or the Port Authority of Allegheny County
at the addresses noted above.
Issued in Washington DC on: July 13, 2001.
Arrigo P. Mongini,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Railroad Development, Federal
Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 01-18112 Filed 7-18-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P