[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 59 (Friday, March 27, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14998-14999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8117]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board
[STB Finance Docket No. 33407]


Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad Corporation--Construction 
and Operation of New Rail Facilities in Campbell, Converse, Niobrara, 
and Weston Counties, WY, Custer, Fall River, Jackson, and Pennington 
Counties, SD, and Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Steele Counties, MN

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement 
(EIS), request for comments on the proposed EIS scope, and notice of 
scoping meetings.

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SUMMARY: On February 20, 1998, the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad 
Corporation (DM&E) filed an application with the Surface Transportation 
Board (Board) for authority to construct and operate new rail line 
facilities in east-central Wyoming, southwest South Dakota, and south-
central Minnesota. The project involves a total new construction of 
280.9 miles of rail line. Additionally, DM&E proposes to rebuild 597.8 
miles of existing rail line along its current system to standards 
acceptable for operation of unit coal trains. Because the construction 
and operation of this project has the potential to result in 
significant environmental impact, the Board's Section of Environmental 
Analysis (SEA) has determined that the preparation of an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) is appropriate. SEA will hold agency and public 
scoping meetings as part of the EIS process, at the dates and locations 
described below. The exact locations of the meetings will be advertised 
two weeks prior to the meeting dates.

Dates and Locations

Agency Scoping Meetings

April 29, 1998, Cheyenne, Wyoming 9-11 am
May 14, 1998, St. Paul, Minnesota 1-3 pm
June 17, 1998, Pierre, South Dakota 9-11 am

Public Scoping Meetings

April 29, 1998, Wright, Wyoming 4-7 pm
April 30, 1998, Edgemont, South Dakota 4-7 pm
May 1, 1998, Hot Springs, Wyoming 4-7 pm
May 12, 1998, Mankato, Minnesota 4-7 pm
May 13, 1998, Rochester, Minnesota 4-7 pm
June 16, 1998, Wall, South Dakota 4-7 pm
June 17, 1998, Pierre, South Dakota 4-7 pm
June 18, 1998, Huron, South Dakota 4-7 pm
June 29, 1998, Brookings, South Dakota 4-7 pm
June 30, 1998, Springfield, Minnesota 4-7 pm

    Both the agency and public scoping meetings will be informal 
meetings during which interested persons may ask questions about the 
proposal and the Board's environmental review process, and advise the 
Board's representative about potential environmental effects of the 
project. SEA will make available to the public a draft scope of the EIS 
before the first meeting. SEA will also provide time for the public to 
submit written comments on the draft scope. That period will run 
concurrently with the agency and public meetings. SEA will issue a 
final scope shortly after the final meeting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Victoria Rutson, SEA Project 
Manager, Powder River Basin Expansion Project, (202) 565-1545.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The proposed rail construction project, referred to as the Powder 
River Basin Expansion Project, would involve the construction and 
operation of 280.9 miles of new rail line by the Dakota,

[[Page 14999]]

Minnesota & Eastern Railroad Corporation (DM&E), Brookings, South 
Dakota. The project would provide access for a third rail carrier to 
serve the region's coal mines and transport coal eastward from the 
Powder River Basin. New rail construction would include 262.03 miles of 
rail line extending off DM&E's existing system near Wasta, South 
Dakota, extending generally southwesterly to Edgemont, South Dakota and 
then westerly into Wyoming to connect with existing coal mines located 
south of Gillette, Wyoming. This portion of the new construction would 
traverse portions of Custer, Fall River, Jackson, and Pennington 
Counties, South Dakota and Campbell, Converse, Niobrara, and Weston 
Counties, Wyoming.
    New rail line construction would also include a 13.31 mile line 
segment around Mankato, Minnesota within Blue Earth and Nicollet 
Counties. DM&E currently has trackage on both sides of Mankato, 
accessed by trackage rights on rail line operated by Union Pacific 
Railroad (UP). The proposed Mankato construction would provide DM&E 
direct access between its existing lines, avoid operational conflicts 
with UP, and route rail traffic around the southern side of Mankato, 
avoiding the downtown area.
    The final proposed segment of new rail construction would involve a 
connection between the existing rail systems of DM&E and I&M Rail Link. 
The connection would include construction and operation of 2.94 miles 
of new rail line near Owatonna, Steele County, Minnesota. The 
connection would allow interchange of rail traffic between the two 
carriers.
    In order to transport coal over the existing system, DM&E proposes 
to rebuild 597.8 miles of rail line along its existing system. The 
majority of this--584.95 miles--would be along DM&E's mainline between 
Wasta, South Dakota, and Winona, Minnesota. An additional 12.85 miles 
of existing rail line between Oral and Smithwick, South Dakota would 
also be rebuilt. Rail line rebuilding would include rail and tie 
replacement, additional sidings, signals, grade crossing improvements, 
and other systems.
    DM&E plans to transport coal as its principle commodity. However, 
shippers desiring rail access could ship other commodities in addition 
to coal over DM&E's rail line. Existing shippers along the existing 
DM&E system would continue to receive rail service.

Environmental Review Process

    At this time, the Board's SEA is requesting information and general 
comments on the scope of environmental issues to be addressed in the 
EIS for the proposed project. The National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) process is intended to assist the Board and the public in 
identifying and assessing the potential environmental consequences of a 
proposed action before a decision on the proposed action is made. The 
first stage of the EIS process is scoping. Scoping is an open process 
for determining the scope of environmental issues to be addressed in 
the EIS and their potential for significance. SEA will soon develop and 
make available a draft scope of study for the EIS and provide a period 
for the submission of written comments on it. Concurrently, scoping 
meetings will be held as noted above to provide opportunities for 
public involvement and input into the scoping process. Following the 
issuance of a draft scope and the comment period, SEA will issue a 
final scope of study for the EIS.
    After issuing the final scope of study, SEA will prepare a Draft 
EIS (DEIS) for the project. The DEIS will address those environmental 
issues and concerns identified during the scoping process and detailed 
in the scope of study. It will also contain SEA's preliminary 
recommended environmental mitigation measures. The DEIS will be made 
available upon its completion for public review and comment. A Final 
EIS (FEIS) then will be prepared reflecting SEA's further analysis and 
the comments to the DEIS. In reaching its decision in this case, the 
Board will take into account the DEIS, FEIS, and all environmental 
comments that are received.

Filing Environmental Comments

    SEA encourages broad participation in the EIS process. Interested 
persons and agencies are invited to participate in the scoping phase by 
reviewing the scope of study, attending the scoping meetings, and 
submitting written comments SEA. A signed original and 10 copies of 
comments should be submitted to: Office of the Secretary, Case Control 
Unit, STB Finance Docket No. 33407, Surface Transportation Board, 1925 
K Street, NW., Washington, D.C. 20423-0001.
    To ensure proper handling of your comments, you must mark your 
submission: Attention: Elaine K. Kaiser, Chief, Section of 
Environmental Analysis, Environmental Filing.
    By following this procedure, your comments will be placed in the 
formal Public Record for this case. In addition, SEA will add your name 
to its mailing list for distribution of the final scope of study for 
the EIS, the DEIS, and FEIS.

    Issued: March 27, 1998.

    By the Board, Elaine K. Kaiser, Chief, Section of Environmental 
Analysis.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-8117 Filed 3-26-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P