PUBLIC NOTICE
PROGRAMMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT NORTH COAST RAILROAD PROJECT 


The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which has been incorporated into the Department of Homeland Security, Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate, has received an application from the North Coast Railroad Authority (NCRA) to fund a series of repairs and modifications to an existing but inoperable railroad line. The proposed actions (collectively, the South End Railroad Project) would be carried out within the railroad right-of-way between Willits in Mendocino County and Lombard in Napa County.  

FEMA has prepared a draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for the subject actions, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (PL 91-190) and FEMA’s implementing regulations at 44 CFR Part 10. The PEA evaluates the impacts of the proposed actions on the human environment.  

FEMA is making the draft PEA available for public review and comment. The draft PEA is available on-line at: http://www.fema.gov/ehp/docs.shtm.  A hard copy of the document may also be viewed at the following locations:

Willits Library, Willits, (707) 459-5908
Healdsburg Regional Library, Healdsburg, (707) 433-3772
Santa Rosa Central Library, Santa Rosa, (707) 545-0831

Comments regarding the draft PEA should be sent to the following address:

Environmental Officer
FEMA, Region IX
1111 Broadway, Suite 1200
Oakland, California 94607

Based upon the conditions and the information contained in the PEA for the South End Railroad Project (November 2003), and in accordance with FEMA’s regulations in 44 CFR Part 10, the following is concluded:

A Finding of No Significant Impact. Therefore, an environmental impact statement will not be prepared, based on the fact that there will be no long-term adverse impacts to the natural environment resulting from the proposed action.

FEMA will take no further action regarding the PEA until December 11, 2003.