[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 224 (Wednesday, November 20, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70109-70110]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-29329]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[Finance Docket No. 33928]


Norfolk Southern Corporation and Norfolk Southern Railway--
Construction and Operation in Indiana County, PA

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability of environmental assessment and request 
for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Norfolk Southern Corporation and Norfolk Southern Railway 
(Norfolk Southern) has petitioned the Surface Transportation Board 
(Board) for authority to construct and operate a 5.26-mile line of 
railroad between Saltsburg and Clarksburg, in Indiana County, 
Pennsylvania (the Saltsburg Connection). The Surface Transportation 
Board's (Board) Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) has prepared a 
Environmental Assessment (EA) for this project. Based on the 
information provided and the environmental analysis conducted to date, 
the EA preliminarily concludes that this proposal should not 
significantly affect the quality of the human environment if the 
recommended mitigation measures set forth in the EA are implemented. 
Accordingly, SEA recommends, that if the Board approves this project, 
Norfolk Southern be required to implement the mitigation set forth in 
the EA. Copies of the EA have been served on all interested parties and 
will be made available to additional parties upon request. SEA will 
consider all comments received when making its final environmental 
recommendation to the Board. The Board will consider SEA's final 
recommendations and the complete environmental record in making its 
final decision in this proceeding.

DATES: The EA is available for public review and comment for 30 days. 
Parties should provide written comments to the Board no later than 
December 19, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments (an original and 10 copies) regarding this EA 
should be submitted in writing to: Surface Transportation Board, Case 
Control Unit, 1925 K Street, NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20423 to the 
attention of Ms. Phillis Johnson-Ball, Environmental Comments, Finance 
Docket 33929.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Phillis Johnson-Ball, 
Environmental Project Manager, at (202) 565-1530 (TDD for the hearing 
impaired (1-800-877-8339). To obtain a copy of the EA, contact Da 2 Da 
Legal, 1925 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20006, phone (202) 293-7776 
or visit the Board's Web site at http://www.stb.dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The construction and operation of the 
Saltsburg Connection is part of a larger Norfolk Southern project, the 
Keystone Project, which would also involve the rehabilitation of 10.89 
miles of an out-of-service line between Clarksburg and Shelocta and the 
modification of the existing Keystone Connection near Shelocta by the 
addition of 1,450 feet of new single track that will connect the 
rehabilitated Clarksburg Segment with an existing industrial track that 
services the Keystone Plant. The Keystone Project would create a new 
route from the south, the Southern Route, for Norfolk Southern to serve 
the Keystone Plant. The proposed rehabilitation of the Clarksburg 
Segment and the modification of the Keystone Connection are not actions 
before the

[[Page 70110]]

Board and do not trigger an environmental review under the National 
Environmental Policy Act or the Board's environmental rules at 49 CFR 
1105. Board approval is not required to improve or upgrade an existing 
line that does not extend the railroad's territory. Nor is approval 
required to construct or modify an existing connection, so long as the 
purpose and effect is not to extend the railroad's territory.

    By the Board, Victoria J. Rutson, Chief, Section of 
Environmental Analysis.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-29329 Filed 11-19-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P