[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 22, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47121-47122]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-4109]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

Federal Railroad Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: High-Speed Ground Transportation 
from Atlanta, GA to Chattanooga, TN

AGENCIES: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Railroad 
Administration (FRA), Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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

SUMMARY: FRA and FHWA are issuing this notice to advise the public that 
they will jointly prepare a Tier I Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and the Tennessee 
Department of Transportation (TDOT) to evaluate the environmental and 
related impacts of constructing and operating high-speed ground 
transportation (HSGT) service between Atlanta, Georgia and Chattanooga, 
Tennessee. FRA and FHWA are also issuing this notice to solicit public 
and agency input into the development of the scope of the EIS and to 
advise the public that outreach activities conducted by GDOT and its 
representatives will be considered in the preparation of the EIS.

DATES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS should be provided to 
GDOT by October 4, 2007. Comments may also be provided orally or in 
writing at the scoping meetings scheduled at the following locations:
Agency Scoping Meetings--Both From 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Eastern 
Daylight Time
    1. Tuesday, September 18, 2007, Georgia Department of 
Transportation, Office of Environment/Location, 3993 Aviation Circle, 
Atlanta, Georgia.
    2. Thursday, September 20, 2007, Chattanooga Hamilton County 
Bicentennial Library, 1001 Broad Street, Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Public Scoping Meetings--All Three From 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Eastern 
Daylight Time
    1. Tuesday, September 18, 2007, McEachern High School, 2400 New 
Macland Road, Powder Springs, Georgia.
    2. Wednesday, September 19, 2007, Rome Civic Center, 400 Civic 
Center Drive, Rome, Georgia.
    3. Thursday, September 20, 2007, Chattanooga Hamilton County 
Bicentennial Library, 1001 Broad Street, Chattanooga, Tennessee.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope should be sent to Mr. Glenn 
Bowman, P.E., State Environmental/Location Engineer, Georgia Department 
of Transportation, 3993 Aviation Circle, Atlanta, GA 30336, telephone 
(404) 699-4401.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David Valenstein, Environmental 
Program Manager, Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont Avenue, 
NW., Mail Stop 20, Washington, DC 20590, telephone (202) 493-6368; Mr. 
Wayne Fedora, P.E., Major Projects Engineer, Federal Highway 
Administration, Georgia Division, 61 Forsyth Street, Suite 17T100, 
Atlanta, GA 30303, telephone (404) 562-3651; Mr. George Coleman, 
Transportation Specialist, Tennessee Department of Transportation, 505 
Deadrick Street, Suite 1800, Nashville, TN 37243, telephone (615) 741-
1341; or Mr. Bowman of GDOT at the above address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FRA and FHWA, in cooperation with the GDOT 
and the TDOT, will prepare a Tier I EIS for a HSGT system in the 110-
mile corridor between Hartsfield International Airport and Atlanta, in 
Georgia, and Chattanooga, Tennessee. The EIS will evaluate 
environmental impacts of a HSGT system in the Atlanta to Chattanooga 
corridor.
    This corridor has seen significant growth, both in population and 
employment, during the past few decades. It continues to be one of the 
fastest growing areas in the country. Future growth is projected to 
result in increased travel demand for both goods and people. The 
existing highway, transit, and aviation transportation infrastructure 
that would serve this demand are all projected to be at or above 
capacity. GDOT and TDOT believe that HSGT could provide a 
transportation alternative, thereby reducing congestion and travel time 
within the corridor, and could provide safe and reliable transportation 
for passengers between Hartsfield International Airport, Chattanooga

[[Page 47122]]

airport and metropolitan area, and points in between.
    The Tier I EIS will be carried out in accordance with Council on 
Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (40 CFR part 1500 et seq.) 
implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), FRA's 
Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts (64 FR 28545; May 26, 
1999), and FHWA regulations (23 CFR part 771 et seq.).
    In addition to NEPA, the Tier I EIS will address other applicable 
statutes, regulations, and executive orders, including the 1990 Clean 
Air Act Amendments, Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, the National 
Historic Preservation Act of 1966, Section 4(f) of the Department of 
Transportation Act, the Endangered Species Act, and Executive Order 
12898 on Environmental Justice.
    The goals of the EIS are to: (1) Examine the regional 
transportation implications of the project concept; (2) evaluate the 
modal and technology alternatives available to provide HSGT between the 
two cities; (3) develop and evaluate location alternatives; and (4) 
determine the logical segments to be carried forward for detailed 
evaluation in subsequent (Tier II) environmental documents.
    In a Tier I EIS, alternatives will be evaluated at a broad level of 
analysis. Proposed alternatives include a No-Build Alternative (used as 
a baseline for comparison of all alternatives), HSGT in a corridor that 
roughly parallels Interstate-75, one or more corridors utilizing a 
portion of an existing CSX transportation rail line, and a corridor 
that roughly parallels U.S. Route 411. Other possible corridor 
locations are expected to be identified during the alternatives 
development phase of the study.
    GDOT will contact appropriate federal, state, and local agencies, 
as well as other organizations and individuals who have previously 
expressed interest, or are known to be interested, in this proposal to 
describe the proposed scope and solicit comments. Formal scoping 
meetings have been scheduled as indicated above.
    Additional public information meetings and public hearings will be 
held during the development of the Tier I EIS. Public notice will be 
given of the times and locations of scoping meetings, public 
information meetings, and public hearings. The Draft Tier I EIS will be 
made available for review and comment prior to the public hearings.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed and all significant issues are identified, 
comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. 
Comments or questions concerning this proposed action and the Tier I 
EIS should be directed to GDOT at the addresses provided above.

    Issued in Washington, DC on August 16, 2007.
Rodney Barry, P.E.,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Atlanta, GA.
Mark E. Yachmetz,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Development, Federal Railroad 
Administration, Washington, DC.
[FR Doc. 07-4109 Filed 8-21-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P