[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 139 (Thursday, July 19, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37721-37722]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-18112]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Environmental Impact Statement for Pennsylvania Maglev Proposal

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), 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 Pennsylvania 
Maglev proposal linking Pittsburgh International Airport to Pittsburgh 
and its eastern suburbs in Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties; 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. Bruce W. Ahern, Port Authority of 
Allegheny County, 2235 Beaver Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15233-1080, 
Telephone: (412) 237-6121, 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

[[Page 37722]]

May 4, 2001. In addition, the Port Authority of Allegheny County 
prepared an environmental assessment for the Pennsylvania 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 Port Authority of Allegheny 
County, will prepare a site-specific EIS on a proposal to build a 
Maglev project linking Pittsburgh International Airport to Pittsburgh 
and its eastern suburbs. The FRA, in cooperation with the Maryland Mass 
Transit Administration, 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) Taking no action, and (2) various alignment and station 
locations from the airport to downtown Pittsburgh and the eastern 
suburbs of Monroeville and Greensburg.

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 Port Authority of Allegheny County 
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. 01-18112 Filed 7-18-01; 8:45 am]
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