[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 62 (Wednesday, April 1, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15835-15836]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8461]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Record of Decision on the Final Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Construction of a Rail Connector, Fort Campbell, KY

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DOD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final Environmental 
Impact Statement (FEIS) (February 1997) for the proposed construction 
of a rail connector for Fort Campbell, Kentucky, has been completed.
    The ROD was developed in accordance with Council on Environmental 
Quality Regulations (40 CFR 1505.2), and Army Regulation 200-2, 
Environmental Effects of Army Actions. The Notice of Availability of 
the FEIS for the Fort Campbell rail connector was published in the 
Federal Register on August 11 and August 15, 1997 (62 FR 42968 and 62 
FR 43730, respectively). Following a 30 day post-filing waiting period, 
the Department of the Army prepared the ROD, which is part of the 
environmental documentation presented for the final decision. In 
addition to announcing the Army's decision, the ROD also identified the 
factors that went into the selection of its choice, and described 
mitigation measures the Army would implement to avoid or minimize 
environmental impacts associated with the action. Mitigation measures 
include consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office, 
adherence to Best Management Practices for Stormwater Runoff and 
Erosion Control, limiting clearance activities, and proper maintenance 
of locomotives, railcars, and rail lines. Decisions included in this 
ROD were made in consideration of information developed during a public 
scoping meeting, a public hearing, and written and oral comments 
received during the public comment periods associated with the 
preparation of the FEIS. The Hopkinsville Bypass South has been chosen 
as the preferred alternative for the construction of the rail 
connector.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Army action analyzed in the FEIS was the 
construction of a rail connector between the government-owned line and 
the CSX line in Christian County, Kentucky. The proposed rail connector 
is needed to meet outload deployment mobility requirements of the 101st 
Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The primary mission of 
the 101st Airborne Division is to deploy rapidly during an emergency. A 
1993 evaluation concluded that the present rail system, which can 
handle the transfer of only five cars at a time and goes through 
downtown Hopkinsville, severely limited the Division's ability to get 
its equipment to Jacksonville, Florida, within the required four days 
after notification to mobilize. The construction of a railroad conector 
between the government-owned railroad and the CSX line would 
substantially aid the 101st Airborne Division in meeting this 
requirement.
    The FEIS identified and evaluated five alternative alignments: the 
No-Action Alternative, which would keep

[[Page 15836]]

the current alignment, Hopkinsville Interchange Upgrade; Hopkinsville 
Bypass North; Hopkinsville Bypass South; and Masonville-Casky. The ROD 
documents the decision to select Alternative 2S, the Hopkinsville 
Bypass South. Alternative 2S will involve the construction of a rail 
connector from the Branch Line directly to the CSX main line south of 
Hopkinsville and south of the Hopkinsville Bypass (KY 8546). It also 
incorporates a siding track parallel to the existing Branch Line south 
of Hopkinsville. This was the Army's preferred alternative, and was 
chosen based on economic, engineering, and operational considerations, 
as well as potential environmental impacts and public opinion.
    Questions or Request for ROD: Questions regarding the ROD, or a 
request for copies of the document may be directed to Mr. William Ray 
Haynes, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District, P.O. 59, 
Louisville, Kentucky 40201-6475, or call (502) 582-6475.

    Dated: March 26, 1998.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health) OASA (I, L&E).
[FR Doc. 98-8461 Filed 3-31-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M