[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 110 (Thursday, June 7, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30785-30786]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-14374]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

Federal Railroad Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: New York, NY

AGENCIES: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Railroad 
Administration (FRA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA and FRA are issuing this Notice to advise the public 
that an environmental impact statement will be prepared for a cross 
harbor freight improvement proposal in Kings (Brooklyn) and Richmond 
(Staten Island) Counties in New York and Hudson County (Jersey City) in 
New Jersey.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Alice Cheng, Director, Intermodal 
Planning, New York City Economic Development Corporation, 110 William 
Street-6th Floor, New York, NY 10038, Telephone (212) 619-5000, email 
``[email protected]''; or Richard E. Backlund, Intermodal Transportation 
Coordinator, Federal Highway Administration, New York Division, One 
Bowling Green, Room 428, New York, NY 10004-1415, Telephone (212) 668-
2205, email ``[email protected]''; or Michael Saunders, 
Northeast Corridor Program Manager, Federal Railroad Administration, 
628-2 Hebron Avenue, Suite 303, Glastonbury, Connecticut 06033-5007, 
Telephone (860) 659-6714, email ``[email protected]''.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA and FRA, in cooperation with the 
New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), will prepare 
an environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposal to improve rail 
freight operations across upper New York harbor between the States of 
New Jersey and New York for Jersey City in New Jersey and Brooklyn and 
Staten Island in New York. The proposed improvements could involve the 
implementation of additional rail float services in the New York 
harbor, no action, or the construction of a freight tunnel from the 
Travis branch of the Staten Island Railroad in northern Staten Island, 
New York, or the Greenville float yard in Jersey City, New Jersey, to 
the Bay Ridge rail line in Brooklyn, New York. The FHWA, FRA, and 
NYCEDC are participating with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
in an environmental streamlining pilot for this EIS.
    Specific alternatives under consideration include (1) taking no 
action; (2) an enhanced New York harbor railcar float system from the 
Greenville rail yard, Jersey City, New Jersey to the Bay Ridge rail 
line in Brooklyn, New York; (3) a freight rail tunnel from the Travis 
branch of the Staten Island Railroad, Staten Island, New York to the 
Bay Ridge rail line in Brooklyn, New York; (4) a freight rail tunnel 
from the Greenville rail yard, Jersey City, New Jersey to the Bay Ridge 
rail line, Brooklyn, New York.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State and local agencies, elected 
officials, community organizations, and to private organizations and 
citizens who have previously expressed interest in this proposal. A 
series of public meetings, to be advertised in the local media, will be 
held in Brooklyn, Staten Island and Manhattan in New York and in Hudson 
County, New Jersey regarding this proposal.
    The public will be invited to participate in the scoping process, 
review the draft EIS, and provide input at public meetings. Release of 
the draft EIS for public comment and the public meetings will be 
announced as those dates are established. It is anticipated that the 
EIS study process will take approximately two years.

[[Page 30786]]

    Comments or questions concerning this Notice of Intent and the EIS 
should be directed to the FHWA, FRA or NYCEDC at the addresses noted 
above.

    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 23 CFR 771.123.

    Issued on: May 24, 2001.
Richard E. Backlund,
Intermodal Transportation Coordinator, Federal Highway Administration, 
New York, New York.
[FR Doc. 01-14374 Filed 6-6-01; 8:45 am]
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