[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 11, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 7049]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3461]


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DEPARTMENT Of TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board
[Finance Docket No. 32760]


Union Pacific Railroad Company, Control and Merger; Southern 
Pacific Transportation Company: Reno Mitigation Study, Preliminary 
Mitigation Plan

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION: Issuance of Final Mitigation Plan (FMP), request for public 
comment.

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SUMMARY: The Surface Transportation Board's (Board) Section of 
Environmental Analysis (SEA) issued the Final Mitigation Plan (FMP) for 
the Reno, NV Mitigation Study on February 11, 1998 for public review 
and comment. On August 12, 1996, in Decision No. 44, the Board approved 
the Union Pacific/Southern Pacific merger. As part of its approval, the 
Board directed SEA to conduct a mitigation study to develop further 
tailored environmental mitigation measures, in addition to those 
already imposed in Decision No. 44) to address unique local conditions 
in Reno and Washoe County. The FMP is part of this ongoing Reno 
mitigation study process. The FMP contains SEA's proposed environmental 
conditions at this time for mitigating the potential effects of 
increased train traffic through Reno as a result of the UP/SP merger. 
The FMP also contains comments from over 530 commenters on the 
Preliminary Mitigation Plan (released on September 15, 1997), SEA's 
responses to those comments, and additional technical analysis 
conducted by SEA.
    The Board encourages public comment on the FMP during the 30-day 
review period, which will end on March 12, 1998. SEA will distribute 
copies of the FMP to interested parties, and copies will also be 
available at the Reno and Sparks branches of the Washoe County Public 
Library.
    SEA will consider all timely public comments before making its 
final recommendations to the Board. The Board will consider SEA's final 
recommendations, the Preliminary Mitigation Plan, the Final Mitigation 
Plan, and all public comments when making its final decision imposing 
additional specific mitigation measures for Reno and Washoe County that 
it deems appropriate.
    Individuals who wish to file a comment may submit one original; 
government agencies and businesses are asked to submit an original plus 
10 copies. Public comments should be submitted in writing no later than 
March 12, 1998 to: Office of the Secretary, Case Control Unit, Finance 
Docket No. 32760, Surface Transportation Board, 1925 K Street, NW, Room 
715, Washington, DC 20423-0001. Mark the lower left-hand corner of the 
envelope: Attention: Elaine K. Kaiser, Chief, Section of Environmental 
Analysis, Environmental Filing--Reno.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Harold McNulty, Section of 
Environmental Analysis, Room 500, Surface Transportation Board, 1925 K 
Street, NW, Washington, DC 20423, (202) 565-1539, TDD for the hearing 
impaired: (202) 565-1695.

    By the Board, Elaine K. Kaiser, Chief, Section of Environmental 
Analysis.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-3461 Filed 2-10-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P