[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 110 (Thursday, June 8, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 30328]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-13999]



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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 2218]


New International Railroad Bridge, Laredo, Texas: Finding of No 
Significant Impact

SUMMARY: The Department of State is issuing a finding of no significant 
impact on the environment for the new international railroad bridge 
project sponsored by the Union Pacific Railroad/Missouri Pacific 
Railroad Company. A draft environmental assessment of the proposed 
Laredo international railroad bridge project was prepared by HDR 
Engineering, Inc. of Omaha, Nebraska for the Presidential Permit 
applicant, Union Pacific Railroad/Missouri Pacific Railroad Company 
(Union Pacific Railroad Company), under the guidance and supervision of 
the Department of State. A Public Notice regarding the availability for 
inspection of the Union Pacific Railroad Company's Permit application 
and the draft environmental assessment was published in the Federal 
Register on April 7, 1994, at 59 FR 16682. No comments were received 
from the public.
    Over 20 federal and state agencies reviewed the draft environmental 
assessment. All comments received from these agencies were responded 
to, either by expanding the analysis contained in the draft 
environmental assessment or by proposing mitigation measures, as 
appropriate. Additionally, the Permit applicant corresponded and met 
with several agencies to discuss ways of meeting their concerns and, 
where appropriate, to discuss mitigation measures. The outcome of this 
dialogue was recorded in correspondence. Agencies participating in this 
process were the Immigration and Naturalization Service, Customs 
Service, Food and Drug Administration, Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service, General Services Administration, International 
Boundary and Water Commission--U.S. Section, Department of Defense, 
Department of Transportation, Coast Guard, Federal Highway 
Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, Interstate Commerce 
Commission, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of the 
Interior, Department of Commerce, Environmental Protection Agency, 
Department of State, and the appropriate Texas State agencies--Parks 
and Wildlife Department, Department of Transportation, Historical 
Commission, Railroad Commission, South Texas Development Council and 
Natural Resource Conservation Commission. The draft environmental 
assessment, the comments submitted by the agencies, the response to 
these comments, and all correspondence between the agencies and the 
Permit applicant addressing the agencies' concerns, together, 
constitute the final environmental assessment.
    Based on the final environmental assessment and information 
developed during the review of the Company's application and of the 
draft environmental assessment, the Department has concluded that 
issuance of the Permit will not have a significant impact on the 
quality of the human environment within the United States. In 
accordance with Council on Environmental Quality Regulations, 40 CFR 
1501.4 and 1508.13, and with State Department Regulations, 22 CFR 
161.8(c), an environmental impact statement will therefore not be 
prepared.
    A Finding of No Significant Impact was adopted on May 5, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Finding of No Significant Impact may be 
obtained from Stephen R. Gibson, Coordinator, U.S.-Mexico Border 
Affairs, Office of Mexican Affairs, Room 4258, Department of State, 
Washington, DC 20520 (Telephone 202-647-8529).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of State is charged with 
issuance of Presidential Permits for the construction of international 
bridges under the International Bridge Act of 1972, 86 Stat. 731; 33 
U.S.C. 535 et seq., and Executive Order 11423, 33 FR 11741 (1968), as 
amended by Executive Order 12847 of May 17, 1993, 58 FR 29511 (1993).
    Union Pacific Railroad Company, Texas, requested from the 
Department of State a Permit to build a new railroad bridge between 
Laredo, Texas, and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, a project which 
will include the construction of rail lines in both countries to 
connect the new bridge to existing mainline tracks. The proposed 
railroad bridge will be located 6.5 miles northwest of the existing 
international railroad bridge crossing at Laredo, at about mile 367.97 
on the Rio Grande. The work involves the construction of approximately 
1.7 miles of new track on the United States side; the construction of a 
1,169-foot bridge spanning the Rio Grande and the border; and the 
construction of 8.95 miles of new track in Mexico. It is expected that 
the new rail bridge will:
     Eliminate about 90 percent of Union Pacific rail traffic 
from downtown Laredo;
     Reduce inconvenience to the public due to blocked 
crossings; and
     Allow for anticipated future rail traffic growth generated 
by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
    Earthwork and grading for the project will be designed and 
constructed to permit the operation of a double mainline track. 
However, the second mainline will be constructed in the future as 
demand increases. The proposed rail corridor will be between 200 and 
400 feet wide, with the additional width required for construction of 
the curved transition into the existing tracks.
    The corridor will traverse undeveloped land and will not require 
purchase or relocation of any homes or businesses.

    Dated: June 2, 1995.
Stephen R. Gibson,
Coordinator, U.S.-Mexico Border Affairs, Office of Mexican Affairs.
[FR Doc. 95-13999 Filed 6-7-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-29-P