[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 55 (Friday, March 21, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13980-13981]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-6836]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Wayne County, MI

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is reissuing this notice (originally published March 
13, 2002) to advise the public that an environmental impact statement 
(EIS) will be prepared for proposed intermodal freight terminal(s) in 
Wayne County and/or Oakland Counties, Michigan. This Notice revises the 
published Notice of Intent of march 13, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James A. Kirschensteiner, Assistant 
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, 315 West 
Allegan Street, Room 207, Lansing, Michigan 48933, Telephone: (517) 
702-1835, or Ms. Geralyn Ayers, Supervisor, Environmental Section, 
Bureau of Transportation Planning, Michigan Department of 
Transportation, P.O. Box 30050, Lansing Michigan 48909, Telephone: 
(517) 373-2227.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Michigan 
Department of Transportation, will prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) for a proposed project to develop existing individual 
intermodal terminals or a complex of terminals operated by several 
railroads to provide consolidated intermodal freight service to 
business and industry. The project could include roadway and rail 
improvements to the existing terminal sites, known as the Detroit-
Livernois Yard, CP Expressway, CP Oak, and CN Moterm. Improvements are 
considered necessary to meet the future need for improved intermodal 
efficiencies regionally and on a national scale. The purpose of the 
project is to support the economic competitiveness of southeastern 
Michigan and the state of Michigan by improving freight transportation 
opportunities and efficiencies for business and industry.
    Existing intermodal rail terminals are generally located as 
follows: (a) The Detroit-Livernois Yard owned/operated by CSX and 
Norfolk Southern Railroads and located west of Livernois Avenue and 
south of John Kronk Street, in Wayne County; (b) the CP (Canadian 
Pacific)--Expressway, east of I-75 and south of Michigan Avenue, behind 
the Michigan Central Depot, in Wayne County; (c) the CP (Canadian 
Pacific)--Oak, in the northwest quadrant of the interchange of I-96 
with the Southfield Freeway, in Wayne County; (d) the CN (Canadian 
National)--Moterm, north of 8 Mile Road and east of Woodward Avenue, in 
Oakland County; and, (e) the NS (Norfolk Southern) intermodal terminals 
in Southwest Detroit and Melvindale known as NS Delray and NS Triple 
Crown, respectively. Norfolk Southern Railroad intends to consolidate 
its intermodal activity at these last two terminals into the Detroit-
Livernois Yard, leaving that as the only NS intermodal terminal 
location for analysis in the Detroit Intermodal Freight Terminal 
Project. Mazda has an intermodal terminal at Flat Rock in Wayne County, 
which is not part of this project because it is not available for non-
Mazda, commercial business purposes.
    Alternatives under consideration include: (1) Taking no action, 
which involves the affected railroads mentioned above, proceeding with 
improvements and developments on the railroads' own schedule to meet 
their current intermodal market demands; (2) improving/expanding 
existing intermodal terminals (a through d, mentioned above) at their 
current locations; and (3) consolidation of regional intermodal 
operations at the Detroit-Livernois Yard. Alternative 3 is to be a 
refinement of the concept identified as Rail Strategy 3 in the Detroit 
Intermodal Freight Terminal Project Feasibility Study, Technical Report 
No. 4. This alternative was the focus of the Notice of Intent published 
March 13, 2002, that notice being hereby revised. The draft EIS will 
describe alternatives for improving intermodal activity in Southwest 
Michigan including those that were considered during the Feasibility 
Study of the Detroit Intermodal Freight Terminal Project. Those 
alternatives considered prudent and feasible will be studied further,.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate federal, state, and local agencies, and to 
private organizations and citizens who have previously

[[Page 13981]]

expressed or are known to have an interest in this proposal.
    A series of public meetings were held during the Feasibility Study 
phase (2001) on March 13, April 24, May 23-24, July 25-26, October 24-
25, and December 13, 2001. An additional public meeting was held on 
July 11, 2002 initiating the NEPA process after the initial March 13, 
2002 Notice of Intent. An early scoping meeting for resource agencies 
was held September 19, 2002. A second scoping meeting for resource 
agencies is anticipated, but not yet scheduled. Other public meetings 
and a public hearing are planned. Public notice will be given of the 
time and place of the meetings and hearing. The draft EIS will be 
available prior to the formal public hearing for public and agency 
review and comment.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments 
and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or 
questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS should be 
directed to the FHWA at the address provided above.


(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing 
Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation of 
Federal programs and activities apply to this program.)

    Issued on: March 13, 2003.
James J. Steele,
Division Administrator, Lansing, Michigan.
[FR Doc. 03-6836 Filed 3-20-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M