[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 16, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 12594]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-5565]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Finance Docket No. 35095]


Alaska Railroad Corporation--Construction and Operation 
Exemption--A Rail Line Extension to Port Mackenzie, 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 December 5, 2008, Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) filed 
a petition with the Surface Transportation Board (Board) pursuant to 49 
United States Code (U.S.C.) 10502 and 10901 for the authority to 
construct and operate approximately 30 to 45 miles of new rail line. 
The proposed rail line would connect the Port MacKenzie District in 
Matanuska-Susitna Borough (MSB) to a point on the existing ARRC main 
line between Wasilla and just north of Willow, Alaska. Implementation 
of the proposed rail line would extend ARRC's existing freight rail 
service to the Port MacKenzie area, and would include construction of 
related structures, such as communications towers and sidings. Because 
construction and operation of this proposed rail line has the potential 
to result in significant environmental impacts, the Board's Section of 
Environmental Analysis (SEA) and three cooperating agencies prepared a 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS). The cooperating 
agencies include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District; 
Federal Railroad Administration; and U.S. Coast Guard, Seventeenth 
District.
    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. The Draft EIS analyzes 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, and ARRC's voluntary mitigation 
measures.
    Public Meetings: SEA and the cooperating agencies are holding six 
public meetings on the Draft EIS during which interested parties may 
make oral comments in a formal setting and/or submit written comments. 
SEA will begin each meeting with a brief overview of the proposed 
action and environmental review process. The overview will be followed 
by a formal comment period during which each interested individual will 
be given several minutes to address the meeting participants and convey 
his or her oral comments. A court reporter will be present to record 
these oral comments. If time permits, the court reporter will be 
available at the conclusion of the formal segment of the meeting to 
record oral comments from individuals not interested in addressing the 
meeting as a whole. The dates, locations and times of the public 
meetings are shown below:
     April 6, 2010, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Wilda Marston Theater, 
3600 Denali Street, Anchorage, AK.
     April 7, 2010, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Big Lake Elementary 
School, 3808 South Big Lake Road, Big Lake, AK.
     April 8, 2010, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Menard Sports Center, 
1001 S Mack Drive, Wasilla, AK.
     April 12, 2010, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Houston Middle School, 
12801 W. Hawk Lane, Houston, AK.
     April 13, 2010, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at Willow Community 
Center, Mile 70 Parks Highway, Willow, AK.
     April 14, 2010, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Knik Elementary School 
Gym, 6350 Hollywood Boulevard, Wasilla, AK.
    Next Steps: Following the close of the comment period on the Draft 
EIS (May 10, 2010), SEA and the cooperating agencies will issue a Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) that considers comments on 
the Draft EIS. The Board will then issue a final decision based on the 
Draft and Final EISs and all public and agency comments in the public 
record for this proceeding. The final decision will address the 
transportation merits of the proposed project and the entire 
environmental record. That final decision will take one of three 
actions: approve the proposed project, deny it, or approve it with 
mitigation conditions, including environmental conditions.
    Written Comments: Any interested party may submit written comments 
on the Draft EIS regardless of whether they participate in any of the 
six public meetings and provide oral comments. The procedures for 
submitting written comments are outlined below:
    Mail: Written comments should be mailed to: David Navecky, STB 
Finance Docket No. 35095, Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20423.
    Electronically: Written 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. It is not necessary 
to mail written comments that have been filed electronically.

DATES: Written comments on the Draft EIS, which was served March 16, 
2010, must be postmarked by May 10, 2010. Electronically filed comments 
must be received by May 10, 2010.

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 1-888-257-7560, and at the Board's project-specific Web 
site at http://www.stbportmacraileis.com.

    By the Board.
Victoria Rutson,
Chief, Section of Environmental Analysis.
Kulunie L. Cannon,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2010-5565 Filed 3-15-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P