[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 16, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 12594]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-5565]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Surface Transportation Board
[STB Finance Docket No. 35095]
Alaska Railroad Corporation--Construction and Operation
Exemption--A Rail Line Extension to Port Mackenzie, AK
AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement,
Notice of Public Meetings.
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SUMMARY: On December 5, 2008, Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) filed
a petition with the Surface Transportation Board (Board) pursuant to 49
United States Code (U.S.C.) 10502 and 10901 for the authority to
construct and operate approximately 30 to 45 miles of new rail line.
The proposed rail line would connect the Port MacKenzie District in
Matanuska-Susitna Borough (MSB) to a point on the existing ARRC main
line between Wasilla and just north of Willow, Alaska. Implementation
of the proposed rail line would extend ARRC's existing freight rail
service to the Port MacKenzie area, and would include construction of
related structures, such as communications towers and sidings. Because
construction and operation of this proposed rail line has the potential
to result in significant environmental impacts, the Board's Section of
Environmental Analysis (SEA) and three cooperating agencies prepared a
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS). The cooperating
agencies include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District;
Federal Railroad Administration; and U.S. Coast Guard, Seventeenth
District.
The purpose of this Notice of Availability is to notify individuals
and agencies interested in or affected by the proposed action of the
availability of the Draft EIS for review and comment, and of public
meetings on the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS analyzes the potential
environmental impacts of the proposed action and alternatives,
including the no-action alternative. The Draft EIS addresses
environmental issues and concerns identified during the scoping
process. It also contains SEA's preliminary recommendations for
environmental mitigation measures, and ARRC's voluntary mitigation
measures.
Public Meetings: SEA and the cooperating agencies are holding six
public meetings on the Draft EIS during which interested parties may
make oral comments in a formal setting and/or submit written comments.
SEA will begin each meeting with a brief overview of the proposed
action and environmental review process. The overview will be followed
by a formal comment period during which each interested individual will
be given several minutes to address the meeting participants and convey
his or her oral comments. A court reporter will be present to record
these oral comments. If time permits, the court reporter will be
available at the conclusion of the formal segment of the meeting to
record oral comments from individuals not interested in addressing the
meeting as a whole. The dates, locations and times of the public
meetings are shown below:
April 6, 2010, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Wilda Marston Theater,
3600 Denali Street, Anchorage, AK.
April 7, 2010, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Big Lake Elementary
School, 3808 South Big Lake Road, Big Lake, AK.
April 8, 2010, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Menard Sports Center,
1001 S Mack Drive, Wasilla, AK.
April 12, 2010, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Houston Middle School,
12801 W. Hawk Lane, Houston, AK.
April 13, 2010, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at Willow Community
Center, Mile 70 Parks Highway, Willow, AK.
April 14, 2010, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Knik Elementary School
Gym, 6350 Hollywood Boulevard, Wasilla, AK.
Next Steps: Following the close of the comment period on the Draft
EIS (May 10, 2010), SEA and the cooperating agencies will issue a Final
Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) that considers comments on
the Draft EIS. The Board will then issue a final decision based on the
Draft and Final EISs and all public and agency comments in the public
record for this proceeding. The final decision will address the
transportation merits of the proposed project and the entire
environmental record. That final decision will take one of three
actions: approve the proposed project, deny it, or approve it with
mitigation conditions, including environmental conditions.
Written Comments: Any interested party may submit written comments
on the Draft EIS regardless of whether they participate in any of the
six public meetings and provide oral comments. The procedures for
submitting written comments are outlined below:
Mail: Written comments should be mailed to: David Navecky, STB
Finance Docket No. 35095, Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street,
SW., Washington, DC 20423.
Electronically: Written comments on the Draft EIS may also be filed
electronically on the Board's Web site, http://www.stb.dot.gov, by
clicking on the ``E-FILING'' link. Then select ``Environmental
Comments,'' which does not require a Login Account. It is not necessary
to mail written comments that have been filed electronically.
DATES: Written comments on the Draft EIS, which was served March 16,
2010, must be postmarked by May 10, 2010. Electronically filed comments
must be received by May 10, 2010.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Navecky by mail at the address
above, by telephone at 202-245-0294 [FIRS for the hearing impaired (1-
800-877-8339)], or by e-mail at [email protected]. Further
information about the project is also available by calling SEA's toll-
free number at 1-888-257-7560, and at the Board's project-specific Web
site at http://www.stbportmacraileis.com.
By the Board.
Victoria Rutson,
Chief, Section of Environmental Analysis.
Kulunie L. Cannon,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2010-5565 Filed 3-15-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P