[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 1, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25781-25782]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-10364]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Washington, DC

AGENCY: U.S. Federal Highway Administration, District of Columbia 
Division; District of Columbia, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS).

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in coordination 
with the District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT) in 
Washington, DC is issuing this notice to advise agencies and the public 
that a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) will be prepared to 
assess the impacts of the proposed reconstruction of the Virginia 
Avenue Tunnel in Washington, DC. The tunnel is owned and operated by 
CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSX), and is an integral feature of CSX's 
freight rail network that encompasses about 21,000 route miles of track 
in 23 states, the District of Columbia and the Canadian provinces of 
Ontario and Quebec. The tunnel's reconstruction requires FHWA approval 
due to temporary construction impacts to the Southeast Freeway (I-695) 
and use of I-695 air rights.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Federal Highway Administration, 
District of Columbia Division: Mr. Michael Hicks, Environmental/Urban 
Engineer, 1900 K Street, Suite 510, Washington, DC 20006-1103, (202) 
219-3513; or Mr. Faisal Hameed, Manager, Project Development & 
Environmental Division, Infrastructure Project Management 
Administration, District of Columbia, Department of Transportation, 55 
M Street, SE., Suite 500, Washington, DC 20003, (202) 671-2326.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The environmental review of the 
reconstruction of Virginia Avenue Tunnel will be conducted in 
accordance with the requirements of the National

[[Page 25782]]

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4371, et 
seq.), Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (40 CFR parts 
1500-1508), FHWA Code of Federal Regulations (23 CFR 771.101-771.137, 
et seq.), and all applicable Federal, State, and local government laws, 
regulations, and policies.
    The EIS will replace the Environmental Assessment (EA) currently 
being prepared by FHWA and DDOT for the proposed reconstruction of 
Virginia Avenue Tunnel. Engineering, environmental and public 
involvement work or activities associated with the EA preparation 
conducted to date will be incorporated into preparing the EIS. 
Cooperating agencies will be notified of FHWA's intent to prepare an 
EIS for the proposed reconstruction of Virginia Avenue Tunnel. Notices 
will also be given to other agencies, private organizations, citizens, 
and interest groups that have previously expressed or are known to have 
interest in the project. Public input will continue to be solicited 
through the ongoing public involvement and outreach effort.
    Public Scoping Meetings: DDOT has solicited public and agency 
comments on the proposed action through public scoping, including 
public meetings held on September 14, 2011 and November 30, 2011. To 
ensure that the full range of issues is identified early in the 
process, comments are invited from all interested and/or potentially 
affected parties. The location and time for any future public meeting 
will be publicized in at least one local daily newspaper. Written 
comments will be accepted throughout this process and can be forwarded 
to Faisal Hameed at the address provided above. Any future meeting will 
also be announced on the project Web site accessible at http://www.virginiaavenuetunnel.com. Meeting materials will be available at 
all public meetings and after the meetings from the project Web site. 
At all future meetings, oral and written comments may be given. 
Comments may also be sent to Faisal Hameed at the above project Web 
site.

Description of Primary Study Area and Transportation Needs

    Virginia Avenue Tunnel is located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood 
of Washington, DC beneath eastbound Virginia Avenue SE from 2nd Street 
SE (west portal) to 11th Street SE (east portal), a distance of 
approximately 3,800 feet. This section of Virginia Avenue SE is 
adjacent to or in close proximity to the U.S. Marine Corps recreation 
facility, National Park Service properties, residences and a few 
businesses. The Southeast Freeway abuts the north side of Virginia 
Avenue SE throughout nearly all the project limits.
    In order to meet the freight transportation needs of the 21st 
century, the capacity and condition of freight rail infrastructure must 
keep pace. Overall freight tonnage is projected to increase by 50 
percent in 2040 from 2010 levels, and freight rail is expected to 
accommodate a substantial share of the future increase demand for 
freight land transportation in the U.S. The current deficiencies of 
Virginia Avenue Tunnel prevent CSX from operating their freight rail 
network in the manner needed to meet the projected freight 
transportation demand through the District of Columbia. The interior 
height and width of Virginia Avenue Tunnel do not meet the needs of 
modern freight rail infrastructure due to its single track arrangement 
and the inability to accommodate double-stack intermodal container 
freight trains. The single-track presents a bottleneck in the system, 
preventing fluid operations along CSX's mainline rail network. Built 
over 100 years ago, the tunnel is nearing the end of its useful life 
and is subject to an ever increasing level of maintenance and repairs. 
During construction of the project, which may last approximately three 
years, CSX must be able to maintain freight transport through the 
District of Columbia. Determining how CSX will maintain their freight 
rail transport through the District of Columbia during reconstruction 
of the tunnel will be part of the environmental review for this 
project.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205 
Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations and implementing 
Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on 
Federal programs and activities apply to this program.)

    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 49 CFR 1.48.

    Issued on: April 30, 2012.
Joseph C. Lawson,
Division Administrator, District of Columbia Division, Federal Highway 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-10364 Filed 4-30-12; 8:45 am]
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