[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 102 (Tuesday, May 28, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32007-32008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-12565]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Environmental Impact Statement for Tulsa--Oklahoma City Passenger 
Rail Corridor, Oklahoma, Lincoln, Creek, and Tulsa Counties, OK

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS).

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SUMMARY: FRA is issuing this notice to advise the public that FRA and 
the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) Rail Division intend 
to prepare an EIS pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA) for the State of Oklahoma High-Speed Rail Initiative: 
Tulsa--Oklahoma City Passenger Rail Corridor Investment Plan in 
Oklahoma, Lincoln, Creek, and Tulsa counties, Oklahoma. The EIS will 
evaluate passenger rail alternatives for the approximately 106-mile 
corridor between Tulsa and Oklahoma City, which currently has no 
passenger rail service. This corridor is part of the South Central High 
Speed Rail Corridor and is a federally-designated high-speed rail (HSR) 
corridor. ODOT envisions the Tulsa--Oklahoma City passenger rail 
corridor to be a new, dedicated HSR line for the majority of its 
length.

DATES: FRA invites the public, governmental agencies, and all other 
interested parties to comment on the scope of the EIS. All such 
comments should be provided in writing, within thirty (30) days of the 
publication of this notice, at the address listed below. Comments may 
also be provided orally or in writing at the scoping meetings for the 
Project. Scoping meeting dates, times and locations, in addition to 
related Project information can be found online at 
www.TulsaOKCRailCorridor.com.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS may be mailed or 
emailed within thirty (30) days of the publication of this notice to 
Catherine Dobbs, Transportation Industry Analyst, Office of Railroad 
Policy and Development, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, or [email protected]; or 
Johnson Bridgwater, Federal Programs Manager, Oklahoma Department of 
Transportation Rail Division, 200 NE. 21st Street, Oklahoma City, OK 
73105-3204.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Dobbs, Transportation 
Industry Analyst, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE., Washington 20590, telephone (202) 493-6347, 
[email protected], or Johnson Bridgwater, Federal Programs 
Manager, Oklahoma Department of Transportation Rail Division, 200 NE. 
21st Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73105-3204, telephone (405) 521-4203.
    Environmental Review Process: The EIS will be prepared in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 
the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations implementing 
NEPA and the FRA's Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts as 
set forth in 64 FR 28545 dated May 26, 1999 (Environmental Procedures). 
The EIS will also address Section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act, Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation 
Act of 1966 (49 U.S.C. 303) and other applicable Federal and state laws 
and regulations. The study will result in a NEPA document that will 
address overall issues of concern, including but not limited to:
     Describing the purpose and need for the proposed action.
     Describing the environment likely to be affected by the 
proposed action.
     Developing evaluation criteria to identify alternatives 
that meet the purpose and need of the proposed action.
     Identifying the range of reasonable alternatives that 
satisfy the purpose and need for the proposed action.
     Developing the no-build alternative to serve as a baseline 
for comparison.
     Describing and evaluating the potential environmental 
impacts and mitigation associated with the proposed alternatives.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Railroad Administration, in 
cooperation with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT), will 
prepare the EIS for the State of Oklahoma High-Speed Rail Initiative: 
Tulsa--Oklahoma City Passenger Rail Corridor Investment Plan. The 
proposed route would begin in Oklahoma City at the Santa Fe Depot and 
proceed easterly toward Tulsa, terminating at the Union Station in 
Tulsa. This route is an

[[Page 32008]]

important component of the South Central High-Speed Rail Corridor. 
Passenger trains would travel at speeds up to 125 miles per hour. As 
part of the EIS, various alternative rail line routes will be analyzed 
including shared use options with the BNSF Railway, Union Pacific 
Railroad, Stillwater Central Railroad and the Tulsa Sapulpa Union 
Railway. Dedicated high-speed passenger rail lines and/or a combination 
of dedicated and shared use corridors will also be considered. In 
addition, the EIS will analyze the potential impacts of locations/
modifications of stations, power or fueling stations, and maintenance 
facilities to support passenger rail operations.
    The EIS will complete an analysis of passenger rail alternatives in 
the study area and evaluate the environmental impacts using a 
combination of Geographic Information System (GIS) data, field 
investigations and site visits/sampling where necessary. The primary 
environmental resources located within the study area that may be 
affected are: Agricultural, residential, commercial, and industrial 
properties; streams and floodplains; wetlands; and open space. FRA and 
ODOT will seek to avoid and minimize impacts to these resources, as 
well as cultural resources and protected lands. Minimization and 
mitigation measures will be identified and committed to within the EIS 
where appropriate.
    In accordance with the NEPA, the FRA and ODOT will invite comments 
and suggestions regarding the scope of the project from all interested 
parties to ensure that all issues are addressed related to this 
proposal and any significant impacts are identified. Letters describing 
the proposed action and soliciting comments will be sent to appropriate 
federal, state, and local agencies, Native American tribes, and private 
organizations who might have previously expressed or who are known to 
have an interest in this project. Federal agencies with jurisdiction by 
law or special expertise with respect to potential environmental issues 
will be requested to act as a Cooperating Agency in accordance with 40 
CFR 150.16.
    ODOT will lead the outreach activities beginning with scoping 
meetings (dates to be determined). Public involvement initiatives 
including public meetings, project Web site, and outreach will be held 
throughout the course of this study. Opportunities for public 
participation will be announced through mailings, notices, 
advertisements, press releases and a project Web site, accessible at 
www.TulsaOKCRailCorridor.com. One or more public hearings will be held 
after the draft EIS is released and made available for public and 
agency review. Public notice will be given for the time and place of 
public hearings.
    Comments or questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS 
are invited from all interested parties and should be directed to the 
FRA at the address provided above.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 15, 2013.
Corey Hill,
Director, Office of Passenger and Freight Programs.
[FR Doc. 2013-12565 Filed 5-24-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P