[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 240 (Friday, December 12, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75811-75812]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-29448]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Finance Docket No. 34658]


Alaska Railroad Corporation--Petition for Exemption--To Construct 
and Operate a Rail Line Between North Pole, Alaska and Delta Junction, 
AK

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement, 
Notice of Public Meetings.

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SUMMARY: On July 6, 2007, Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) filed a 
petition with the Surface Transportation Board (Board) pursuant to 49 
United States Code (U.S.C.) 10502 for the authority to construct and 
operate approximately 80 miles of new rail line from North Pole, 
Alaska, to Delta Junction, Alaska. Because construction and operation 
of this proposed action has the potential to result in significant 
environmental impacts, the Board's Section of Environmental Analysis 
(SEA) and eight cooperating agencies prepared a Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (Draft EIS). The cooperating agencies include the U.S. 
Bureau of Land Management, Alaska State Office; U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Alaska District; U.S. Department of Defense, Alaskan 
Command; U.S. Air Force 354th Fighter Wing, Eielson Air Force Base; 
Federal Transit Administration; Federal Railroad Administration; U.S. 
Coast Guard, Seventeenth District; and Alaska Department of Natural 
Resources. The purpose of this Notice of Availability is to notify 
individuals and agencies interested in or affected by the proposed 
action of the availability of the Draft EIS for review and comment, and 
of public meetings on the Draft EIS.
    Implementation of the proposed project would extend ARRC's existing 
freight and passenger rail service to the region south of the community 
of North Pole, and would include construction of related structures, 
such as a passenger facility, communications towers, and sidings.
    The Draft EIS analyses the potential environmental impacts of the 
proposed action and alternatives, including the no-action alternative. 
The Draft EIS addresses environmental issues and concerns identified 
during the scoping process. It also contains SEA's preliminary 
recommendations for environmental mitigation measures, ARRC's voluntary 
mitigation measures, and encourages mutually acceptable negotiated 
agreements to mitigate adverse environmental impacts should the Board 
approve the proposed.
    SEA and the cooperating agencies are also holding four public 
meetings on the Draft EIS during which interested parties can make oral 
comments in an orderly fashion before meeting participants and/or 
submit written comments. A court reporter will be present to record the 
oral comments. The dates, locations and times of the public meetings 
are shown below:
    January 12, 2009, 5-8 p.m., Pike's Waterfront Lodge, 1850 Hoselton 
Road, Fairbanks, AK.
    January 13, 2009, 5-8 p.m., City Council Chambers, 125 Snowman 
Lane, North Pole, AK.
    January 14, 2009, 5-8 p.m., Salcha Senior Center, 6062 Johnson 
Road, Salcha, AK.
    January 15, 2009, 5-8 p.m., Jarvis West Building, Milepost 1420.5 
Alaska Highway, Delta Junction, AK.
    The Alaska Department of Natural Resources will be attending the 
meetings to hear public comments on the proposed project pursuant to 
their obligations under Alaska statute 42.40.460.
    SEA and the cooperating agencies will prepare a Final Environmental 
Impact Statement (Final EIS) that considers comments on the Draft EIS. 
The Board

[[Page 75812]]

will then issue a final decision, based on all public and agency 
comments in the public record for this proceeding, that will address 
the transportation merits of the proposed project and the entire 
environmental record including the Draft EIS and Final EIS. That final 
decision will approve the proposed project, deny it, or approve it with 
mitigation conditions, including environmental conditions.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent in writing to: David Navecky, STB 
Finance Docket No. 34658, Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20423. Comments on the Draft EIS may also be filed 
electronically on the Board's Web site, http://www.stb.dot.gov, by 
clicking on the ``E-FILING'' link. Then select ``Environmental 
Comments,'' which does not require a Login Account.

DATES: Written comments on the Draft EIS, which was served December 12, 
2008, must be postmarked by February 2, 2009. E-filed comments must be 
received by February 2, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Navecky by mail at the address 
above, by telephone at 202-245-0294 [FIRS for the hearing impaired (1-
800-877-8339)], or by e-mail at [email protected]. Further 
information about the project is also available by calling SEA's toll-
free number at 1-800-359-5142.

    Decided: December 12, 2008.

    By the Board, Victoria Rutson, Chief, Section of Environmental 
Analysis.
Kulunie L. Cannon,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. E8-29448 Filed 12-11-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P