[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 209 (Monday, October 30, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 55282]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-26843]



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INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION

[Finance Docket No. 32530]


Kansas City Southern Railway Company; Construction and Operation 
Exemption; Geismar Industrial Area Near Gonzales and Sorrento, LA

    The Commission's Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) notifies 
all interested parties that SEA will prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) in this proceeding and conduct a public scoping 
meeting, Thursday, November 30, 1995. The Kansas City Southern Railway 
Company (KCS) filed a petition for exemption for authority to construct 
and operate an 8.8 mile rail line from the KCS mainline near Sorrento 
to the Geismar Industrial area in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. Because 
of the potential for significant environmental impacts which may be 
associated with the proposed construction and operation, SEA has 
determined that preparation of an EIS is appropriate.
    SEA will prepare a Draft EIS (DEIS) that will address the 
environmental impacts associated with this proposed construction and 
operation. SEA will serve the DEIS on all the parties to the proceeding 
and will make it available to the public upon request. There will be a 
45-day comment period from the date the DEIS is served to allow the 
public opportunity to comment. After assessing all of the comments to 
the DEIS, SEA will then issue a Final Environmental Impact Statement 
(FEIS) that will include SEA's final recommendations to the Commission. 
The Commission will consider the FEIS and the environmental record in 
making its decision.
    The purpose of the scoping process is to identify significant 
environmental issues and determine the scope of issues SEA will address 
in the DEIS. Issues typically addressed include alternatives to the 
proposed action, including the no-build alternative, impacts on 
transportation systems, land use, socio-economic impacts directly 
related to changes in the physical environment, energy resources, air 
quality, noise, public health and safety, biological resources, water 
quality, historic resources, coastal zone management consistency 
review, and mitigation to reduce or avoid impacts on the environment.
    Anyone who cannot attend the scoping meeting may submit questions 
and comments regarding environmental concerns in writing by December 
30, 1995 (30 days after the date of the scoping meeting). Attendees may 
also submit written comments at the scoping meeting or directly to the 
Commission by December 30, 1995. SEA will hold a public scoping meeting 
on the following date: Thursday, November 30, 1995, Gonzales Civic 
Center, 219 South Irma Boulevard, Gonzales, LA.
    SEA will begin the scoping meeting at 4:30 p.m. with a one hour 
informal discussion period. At 5:30 p.m., SEA will open the formal 
portion of the scoping meeting with a brief overview of the 
environmental review process, and introduce the independent third party 
contractors and the KCS representatives who will also make brief 
presentations. At approximately 6:00 p.m., SEA will open the meeting 
for questions and/or comments from the audience concerning the issues 
to be addressed during the environmental review process. To allow all 
interested persons the opportunity to comment on the proposal, speakers 
will have up to five (5) minutes for their oral comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Dalton at (202) 927-6202 or 
Elaine Kaiser at (202) 927-6248, Section of Environmental Analysis, 
Room 3219, Office of Economic and Environmental Analysis, 12th and 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Interstate Commerce Commission, Washington, 
DC. TDD for hearing impaired: (202) 927-5721.

    By the Commission, Elaine K. Kaiser, Chief, Section of 
Environmental Analysis.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-26843 Filed 10-27-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7035-01-P