[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 88 (Friday, May 8, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 21734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-10667]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Finance Docket No. 34936; STB Finance Docket No. 34936 (Sub-No. 
1)]


Port of Moses Lake--Construction Exemption--Moses Lake, WA; Port 
of Moses Lake--Acquisition Exemption--Moses Lake, WA

    Co-Lead Agencies: Surface Transportation Board and Washington State 
Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Assessment.

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SUMMARY: By petition filed on August 28, 2008, the Port of Moses Lake 
(Port) seeks an exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502 from the prior approval 
requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10901 to construct rail lines in Grant 
County, Washington. In the same petition, the Port also seeks an 
exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502 from the prior approval requirements of 
49 U.S.C. 10901 to acquire an existing segment of rail line from 
Columbia Basin Railroad Company, Inc. The proposed project, known as 
the Northern Columbia Basin Railroad Project, includes the construction 
of two new rail line segments and the acquisition and refurbishment of 
an existing rail segment to provide rail access to land designated and 
zoned for industrial uses along Wheeler Road (Road 3 NE) and at the 
Grant County International Airport. The entire proposed route would 
extend approximately 11.5 miles.
    The Board, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 10901, is the agency responsible 
for granting authority for the construction and operation of new rail 
line facilities. The Board's Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) 
and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), as co-
lead agencies responsible for the environmental review of the proposed 
rail project, issued an Environmental Assessment (EA) on November 7, 
2008. The EA was made available to Federal, state and local agencies; 
tribes; the public; and interested parties for a 30-day public comment 
period, and SEA and WSDOT received 29 comments. The Final Environmental 
Assessment (Final EA) responds to comments; considers new alternatives, 
including an alignment modification; clarifies, corrects or adds to 
information that was in the EA, primarily regarding impacts to 
wetlands, impacts to irrigated farmland, and cumulative impacts; and 
makes final environmental recommendations to the Board.
    Based on an independent analysis of all information available to 
date, SEA and WSDOT conclude that the proposed action would not result 
in any significant environmental impacts if the mitigation measures 
recommended in the Final EA are imposed and implemented. Accordingly, 
SEA recommends that any decision by the Board approving the proposed 
action impose conditions requiring the Port to comply with the 
mitigation measures set forth in Chapter Five of the Final EA. Because 
the proposed action, as mitigated, would not have the potential for 
significant environmental effects, preparation of an EA for this case 
is appropriate and the full Environmental Impact Statement process is 
unnecessary.
    The Board will now consider the entire environmental record, 
including the final recommended mitigation measures and all 
environmental comments received in this proceeding, in making its final 
decision as to whether to approve the proposed action, and if so, what 
mitigation to impose.
    Copies of the Final EA have been served on all interested parties 
and will be made available to additional parties upon request. The 
entire Final EA is also available for review on the Board's Web site 
(http://www.stb.dot.gov) by going to ``E-LIBRARY,'' clicking on the 
``Decisions and Notices'' link, and then searching by the Service Date 
(May 8, 2009) or Docket Number (FD 34936).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christa Dean, Attorney and Project 
Manager, at (202) 245-0299; e-mail: [email protected], or 
Elizabeth Phinney, WSDOT Rail Environmental Manager, at (360) 705-7902; 
e-mail: [email protected]. Federal Information Relay Service for the 
hearing impaired: 1-800-877-8339.

    By the Board, Victoria Rutson, Chief, Section of Environmental 
Analysis.

    Decided: May 8, 2009.
Kulunie L. Cannon,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. E9-10667 Filed 5-7-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P