[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 112 (Friday, June 9, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 36755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-14652]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement for the Burlington Northern Santa 
Fe Rail Yard; Vancouver, WA

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared for a proposed 
rail improvement at the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) rail yard 
in Vancouver, Washington, and for the possible elimination of the 39th 
Street Crossing, which falls within the limits of the yard.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary S. Hughes, Federal Highway 
Administration, Evergreen Plaza Building, 711 South Capitol Way, Suite 
501, Olympia, Washington 98501, Telephone: (360) 753-9025; Mr. James 
Slakey, Washington State Department of Transportation, 310 Maple Park 
East, Olympia, Washington, 98504, Telephone: (360) 705-7920.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA in cooperation with the Washington 
State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) on the Vancouver Rail Project, a 
proposal to construct a multi-track bypass of the existing Burlington 
Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) yard facility in Vancouver, Washington, 
including the possible elimination of the 39th Street at-grade crossing 
located within the limits of the BNSF yard.
    Six preliminary alternatives, including the no-action, are 
currently under consideration. The five build alternatives all include 
construction of a multi-track bypass along the eastern edge of the BNSF 
yard, but differ on what would be done to the 39th Street at-grade 
crossing. The alternatives for the 39th Street crossing include leaving 
the crossing as is, closing the crossing, closing the crossing and 
providing a pedestrian/bicycle overpass of the tracks, closing the 
crossing and carrying 39th Street over the tracks on structure, and 
closing the crossing and improving other nearby streets.
    Agency and public involvement programs have been on-going in the 
Vancouver area since the proposal to institute intercity passenger 
service on the corridor was introduced several years ago. These have 
described the proposed action and solicited comment from citizens, 
organizations, and federal, state, and local agencies. Numerous public 
and agency meetings and open houses have been held, and comments and 
questions solicited and accepted via telephone, internet, public 
meetings, and the mail. In addition, targeted direct mail, 
advertisements, and media relations efforts have been used to reach the 
public and agencies. These types of efforts will continue throughout 
the environmental process for this proposal.
    Advertisements offering interested persons the opportunity to 
attend and offer comments at a public hearing will be published prior 
to circulation of the draft environmental impact statement. Public 
notice of actions related to the proposal that identify the date, time, 
place of meetings, and the length of review periods will be published 
when appropriate.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
improvement program and its reasonable alternatives are addressed and 
all significant issues are identified, comments and suggestions are 
invited from all interested parties. Comments or questions concerning 
this proposed action and the EIS should be directed to the FHWA or FRA 
at the addresses provided above.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations 
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental 
consultation of federal programs and activities apply to this 
program)

    Issued on: May 26, 2000.
Gary S. Hughes,
Operations Team Leader, Federal Highway Administration, Washington 
Division.
[FR Doc. 00-14652 Filed 6-8-00; 8:45 am]
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