[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 139 (Thursday, July 19, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 37721]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-18111]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Environmental Impact Statement for the Baltimore-Washington 
Maglev Proposal

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

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SUMMARY: FRA is issuing this notice to advise the public that FRA will 
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Baltimore-
Washington Maglev proposal linking the Camden Yards area in Baltimore, 
MD and Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) with Union 
Station in Washington, DC; to solicit public and agency input into the 
development of the EIS; and, to advise the public that outreach 
activities conducted by the program participants will be considered in 
the preparation of the EIS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Suhair Alkhatib, Maryland Mass 
Transit Administration, William Donald Schaefer Tower, 6 St. Paul 
Street, Baltimore, MD 21202-1614, Telephone: (410) 767-3751, email: 
[email protected] or Michael Saunders, Federal Railroad 
Administration, 628-2 Hebron Avenue, Suite 303, Glastonbury, CT 06033-
5007, Telephone: (860) 659-6714, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FRA prepared a programmatic EIS (PEIS) to address the selection 
process and the potential for significant environmental impact from the 
maglev deployment program authorized in Section 1218 (23 U.S.C. 322) of 
the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA 21). The notice 
of availability of the final PEIS was published in the Federal Register 
on May 4, 2001. In addition, the Maryland Mass Transit Administration 
prepared an environmental assessment for the Maryland project in 
February, 2000 which was used by the FRA to assist the agency in 
preparing the PEIS. The PEIS is available on the FRA website at: http://www.fra.dot.gov/s/env/maglev/MagPEIS.htm.
    The Secretary of Transportation, consistent with FRA's Maglev 
Deployment Program regulation (49 CFR Part 268), selected two locations 
(including this proposal) for further analysis and the development of a 
site specific EIS. This could lead to the selection of a single project 
for Federal capital assistance for construction, depending on the 
appropriation of funds by the U.S. Congress.
    The FRA, in cooperation with the Maryland Mass Transit 
Administration, will prepare a site-specific EIS on a proposal to build 
a Maglev project linking downtown Baltimore to BWI Airport and Union 
Station in Washington DC. The FRA, in cooperation with the Port 
Authority of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, will also prepare a site-
specific EIS for the other location selected for further analysis and 
development.
    It is anticipated that the EIS will consider alternatives 
including: (1) yaking no action, and (2) various alignment and station 
locations from downtown Baltimore to BWI Airport and Union Station in 
Washington, DC, and possibly a Capital Beltway station.

Scoping and Comments

    FRA encourages broad participation in the EIS process and review of 
the resulting environmental documents. Comments and suggestions related 
to the project and potential environmental concerns are invited from 
all interested agencies and the public at large to ensure that the full 
range of issues related to the proposed action and all reasonable 
alternatives are addressed and all significant issues are identified. 
The public will be invited to participate in the scoping process, 
review the Draft EIS, and provide input at public meetings. Letters 
describing the proposed scope of the EIS 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. 
Several public meetings to be advertised in the local media will be 
held in the project area regarding this proposal. Release of the Draft 
EIS for public comment and public meetings and hearings will be 
announced as those dates are established.
    Comments or questions concerning this notice of intent and the EIS 
should be directed to the FRA or the Maryland Mass Transit 
Administration at the addresses noted above.

    Issued in Washington DC on: July 13, 2001.
Arrigo P. Mongini,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Railroad Development, Federal 
Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 01-18111 Filed 7-18-01; 8:45 am]
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