[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 190 (Monday, October 1, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49999-50000]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-24398]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[Finance Docket No. 34079]


San Jacinto Rail Limited--Construction Exemption--and The 
Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company--Operation Exemption--
Build-Out to the Bayport Loop Near Houston, Harris County, Texas

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: On August 30, 2001, the San Jacinto Rail Limited (San Jacinto) 
and The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) filed a 
petition with the Surface Transportation Board (Board) pursuant to 49 
U.S.C. 10502 for authority for construction by San Jacinto and 
operation by BNSF of a new rail line near Houston, Harris County, 
Texas. The project would involve approximately 12.8 miles of new rail 
line. Because the construction and operation of this project has the 
potential to result in significant environmental impacts, the Board's 
Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) has determined that the 
preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is appropriate. 
The purpose of this Notice of Intent is to notify individuals and 
agencies interested in or affected by the proposed project of the 
decision to require an EIS. SEA will hold public scoping meetings as 
part of the EIS process. Meeting dates and locations will be announced 
at a later date.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The proposed project, known as the Bayport Loop Build-Out includes 
approximately 12.8 miles of new rail line connecting plastics and 
chemical production facilities located in the Bayport Industrial 
District in southeast Houston, Texas, with the former Galveston, 
Henderson and Houston Railroad (GH&H) line, now owned by the Union 
Pacific Railroad Company (UP), near the southeast corner of Ellington 
Field at Texas State Highway 3. As a result of the new construction, 
BNSF would have access to the facilities located in the Bayport Loop 
using the new line, and the facilities would be provided with a choice 
of rail providers in the area. The EIS will analyze the potential 
impacts of the proposed route, the ``no-build'' alternative, and 
possible alternative routes.

Environmental Review Process

    The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process is intended to 
assist the Board and the public in identifying and assessing the 
potential environmental consequences of a proposed action before a 
decision on the proposed action is made. SEA is responsible for 
ensuring that the Board complies with NEPA and related environmental 
statutes. The first stage of the EIS process is scoping. Scoping is an 
open process for determining the scope of environmental issues to be 
addressed in the EIS. SEA will soon develop and make available a draft 
scope of study for the EIS and provide a period for the submission of 
written comments on it. Concurrently, scoping meetings will be held to 
provide further opportunities for public involvement and input into the 
scoping process. The dates and locations for the scoping meetings will 
be announced at a later date. Following the issuance of a draft scope 
and the comment period, SEA will issue a final scope of study for the 
EIS.
    After issuing the final scope of study, SEA will prepare a Draft 
EIS (DEIS) for the project. The DEIS will address those environmental 
issues and concerns identified during the scoping process. It will also 
contain SEA's preliminary recommendations for environmental mitigation 
measures. The DEIS will be made available upon its completion for 
public and agency review and comment. SEA will prepare a Final EIS 
(FEIS) that considers comments on the DEIS from the public and 
agencies. In reaching its decision in this case, the Board will take 
into account the DEIS, the FEIS, and all environmental comments that 
are received.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dana G. White, Section of 
Environmental Analysis, Surface Transportation Board, 1925 K Street, 
NW, Washington, DC 20412-0001, or call SEA's toll-free number for this 
project at 1-888-229-7857 (TDD for the hearing impaired 1-800-877-
8339). The website for the Surface Transportation Board is 
www.stb.dot.gov.


[[Page 50000]]


    By the Board, Victoria Rutson, Chief, Section of Environmental 
Analysis.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-24398 Filed 9-28-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P