[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 174 (Friday, September 7, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 55265]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-22060]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Environmental Impact Statement for the Northeast Corridor Between 
Washington, DC, New York, NY, and Boston, MA

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), U.S. Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of intent to extend the formal comment period for 
scoping to October 19, 2012.

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SUMMARY: FRA is issuing this Notice of Intent (Notice) to advise the 
public and Federal, state, and local agencies of the extension of the 
formal comment period for the NEC FUTURE program scoping process. The 
Notice of Intent to prepare a Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) to evaluate potential passenger rail improvements between 
Washington, DC, New York City, and Boston, MA was published in the 
Federal Register on June 22, 2012. The formal comment period for 
scoping was scheduled to close on Friday, September 14, 2012. In 
response to requests from the public provided in public testimony at 
Scoping meetings held from August 13th through August 22nd at nine 
different venues between Washington, DC and Boston, Massachusetts, FRA 
has decided to extend the formal comment period until Friday, October 
19, 2012.

DATES: Comment period extended from Friday, September 14, 2012 to 
Friday, October 19, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties are encouraged to comment on-line at the 
NEC FUTURE Web site (www.necfuture.com), via email at 
[email protected], or by mail at the address below. For Further 
Information or Special Assistance Contact: Rebecca Reyes-Alicea, USDOT, 
Federal Railroad Administration, Office of Railroad Policy & 
Development, Mail Stop 20, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 
20590; by email at [email protected]; or through the NEC FUTURE Web 
site (www.necfuture.com).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FRA is leading the planning and 
environmental evaluation of the Northeast Corridor (NEC) in close 
coordination with the involved states, Northeast Corridor 
Infrastructure and Operations Advisory Commission (NEC Commission), 
Amtrak, and other stakeholders. The purpose of the NEC FUTURE program 
is to define current and future markets for improved rail service and 
capacity on the NEC, develop an integrated passenger rail 
transportation solution to incrementally meet those needs, and create a 
regional planning framework to engage stakeholders throughout the 
region in the development of the program.
    The materials that were presented at the Scoping meetings held from 
August 13th to August 22nd, including a narrated PowerPoint 
presentation and display boards, will be available on the NEC FUTURE 
Web site (www.necfuture.com). To ensure that all significant issues are 
identified and considered, all interested parties are invited to 
comment on the proposed scope of environmental review, project purpose 
and need, alternatives to be considered, environmental effects to be 
considered and evaluated, and methodologies to be used for evaluating 
effects. Persons with limited internet access may request a hard copy 
of the Public Scoping meeting materials by contacting Rebecca Reyes-
Alicea at the mailing address above. Please direct comments or 
questions concerning the proposed action and the Tier 1 EIS to the FRA 
at the above address.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 31, 2012.
Paul Nissenbaum,
Associate Administrator of Rail Policy and Development, Federal 
Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-22060 Filed 9-6-12; 8:45 am]
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