[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 36 (Thursday, February 23, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10803-10804]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-4158]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number MARAD-2012-0015]


Intent of Preparation of a Programmatic Environmental Assessment, 
To Open a Public Scoping Period, and To Conduct Public Scoping Meetings

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration.

ACTION: Notice of Intent of Preparation of a Programmatic Environmental 
Assessment, to Open a Public Scoping Period, and to Conduct Public 
Scoping Meetings.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Maritime Administration 
(MarAd), of the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT), will 
prepare a Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) in compliance 
with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 that will evaluate 
potential environmental effects associated with the performance of the 
America's Marine Highway Program. The PEA will identify and assess 
potential environmental impacts from the proposed actions and a range 
of reasonable alternatives so MarAd can determine, what if any, 
additional analysis may be required including, whether to prepare 
environmental impact statement(s) (EIS) or issuing finding(s) of no 
significant impact (FONSI). MarAd is initiating a scoping process to 
identify community concerns and local issues that will be addressed in 
the PEA. MarAd plans to hold public scoping meetings regionally to 
obtain input from the public. The meetings will be conducted using an 
open house format with informational displays and materials available 
for public review. There will be no formal presentations. MarAd staff 
will be present at this open house to answer general questions on the 
proposed action and the PEA process. If at any point during the 
preparation of the PEA, MarAd determines that it is necessary to 
prepare an EIS, this scoping process will serve as the scoping process 
that would normally follow a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS.
    Dates and Locations: The NEPA scoping period ends on April 16, 
2012. Comments will only be accepted at the scoping meetings or on 
regulations.gov under the docket number 2012-0015. Comment forms will 
be provided at each public scoping meeting. Comments received at the 
meetings will be scanned and uploaded to the docket.

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               City/state                           Date                        Location                 Time
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                                              East Coast/Gulf Coast
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charleston, South Carolina (SC)........  Tuesday, March 6, 2012....  North Charleston High School:      6-8 p.m.
                                                                      1087 East Montague Avenue,
                                                                      North Charleston, SC 29405.
New Orleans, Louisiana (LA)............  Thursday, March 8, 2012...  De La Salle High School: 5300      6-8 p.m.
                                                                      Saint Charles Ave, New
                                                                      Orleans, LA 70115.
Miami, Florida (FL)....................  Tuesday, March 13, 2012...  Florida Department of              6-8 p.m.
                                                                      Transportation: District Six,
                                                                      1000 NW 111 Avenue, Miami, FL
                                                                      33172.
Boston, Massachusetts (MA).............  Thursday, March 15, 2012..  Charlestown High School: 240       6-8 p.m.
                                                                      Medford Street, Charlestown,
                                                                      MA 02129.
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                                       West Coast/Great Lakes/Mississippi
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San Diego, California (CA).............  Tuesday, March 20, 2012...  Coronado Public Library: 640       6-8 p.m.
                                                                      Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA
                                                                      92118.
Portland, Oregon (OR)..................  Thursday, March 22, 2012..  Roosevelt High School: 6941 N      6-8 p.m.
                                                                      Central Street, Portland, OR
                                                                      97203.
Chicago, Illinois (IL).................  Monday, March 26, 2012....  Jones College Prep School: 606     6-8 p.m.
                                                                      South State Street, Chicago,
                                                                      IL 60605.
Cleveland, Ohio (OH)...................  Wednesday, March 28, 2012.  Horizon Science Academy            6-8 p.m.
                                                                      Cleveland High School: 6000
                                                                      South Marginal Road,
                                                                      Cleveland, OH 44103.
St. Louis, Missouri (MO)...............  Thursday, March 29, 2012..  Jennings Junior High School:       6-8 p.m.
                                                                      8831 Cozens Avenue, St.
                                                                      Louis, MO 63136.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Yuska, 1200 New Jersey Ave., 
SE., Washington, DC 20590; phone: (202) 366-0714; or email: 
[email protected]. Persons who use a telecommunications device for 
the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 
1-800-877-8339 to contact the above

[[Page 10804]]

individuals during business hours. The FIRS is available twenty-four 
hours a day, seven days a week, to leave a message or question with the 
above individuals. You will receive a reply during normal business 
hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: On August 11, 2010, U.S. 
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood identified 18 marine corridors, 8 
projects, and 6 initiatives for further development as part of 
``America's Marine Highway Program.'' In addition, MarAd made available 
$7 million for which projects competed through a Notice of Funding 
Availability.
    The Marine Highway Program was fully implemented in April 2010 
through publication of a Final Rule in the Federal Register (http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-7899.pdf). The Secretary's 
designations were made pursuant to the Final Rule, as required by the 
Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
    Marine Highway Corridors: These all-water routes consist of 11 
Corridors, 4 Connectors and 3 Crossings that can serve as extensions of 
the surface transportation system. These corridors identify routes 
where water transportation presents an opportunity to offer relief to 
landside corridors that suffer from traffic congestion, excessive air 
emissions or other environmental concerns and other challenges. 
Corridors are generally longer, multi-state routes whereas Connectors 
represent shorter routes that serve as feeders to the larger Corridors. 
Crossings are short routes that transit harbors or waterways and offer 
alternatives to much longer or less convenient land routes between 
points.
    An information packet that explains more about the America's Marine 
Highway Program; categories of actions that will be examined in the 
environmental analysis; describes the corridors that have already been 
designated; map of the corridors; projects that have already been 
approved; initiatives that have been approved; explanation of scoping 
and what MarAd is seeking the public assistance with; and procedures 
that will used at the public meetings, is available at www.amhpea.com.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.

     Dated: February 15, 2012.
Julie P. Agarwal,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-4158 Filed 2-22-12; 8:45 am]
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