[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 181 (Wednesday, September 18, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 57450]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-22599]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Notice Rescinding a Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement for the Altamont Corridor Rail Project From Stockton 
to San Jose, California

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

ACTION: Notice rescinding intent to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY: The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is issuing this 
notice to advise the public that FRA is rescinding the Notice of Intent 
(NOI) to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS) 
for the Altamont Corridor Rail Project from Stockton to San Jose, 
California Project in cooperation with the project sponsor, the 
California High Speed Rail Authority (Authority). FRA published the 
original NOI in the Federal Register on October 29, 2009. This 
rescission is due to the transfer of the project from the Authority to 
the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) and a change in the 
project definition and purpose and need. An NOI to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the revised Altamont Corridor 
Express also known as the ACEforward project is being published 
concurrently with this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Stephanie Perez-Arrieta, 
Environmental Protection Specialist, Federal Railroad Administration, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue Southeast, (Mail Stop 20), Washington, DC 20590, 
telephone (202) 493-0388.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Altamont Corridor was studied by the 
Authority and identified as a candidate route to the Bay Area in the 
Statewide High Speed Train (HST) System Program Environmental Impact 
Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS). The Authority and FRA 
further examined the corridor in the 2008 Bay Area to Central Valley 
HST EIR/EIS and selected the Pacheco Pass via Gilroy as the route to 
connect the main line of the HST network in the Central Valley with the 
Peninsula and San Francisco. The Authority and SJRRC proposed to 
develop a dedicated regional rail corridor through Altamont Pass and 
the Tri Valley area capable of supporting intercity and commuter rail 
passenger services. The project was planned to improve the existing ACE 
service managed by SJRRC by accommodating more trains per day, reducing 
travel times, and eliminating freight railroad delays by providing 
separate passenger tracks. The Altamont Corridor was planned to serve 
as a feeder to the statewide HST System being planned and developed by 
the Authority. The project considered connections between the Altamont 
corridor and the HST mainline between Stockton and Modesto and HST 
compatible infrastructure that would have allowed trains to run from 
one rail line to the other in order to accommodate intercity travel 
between stations along the Altamont Corridor and regional stops on the 
greater statewide HST System.
    Scoping was completed for the EIR/EIS in 2009 and the development 
of preliminary alternatives in 2010 and 2011. No further work was 
completed on the EIS. Due to the proposed change in leadership and 
direction of this project, FRA is issuing this notice terminating the 
preparation of the Altamont Corridor Rail Project EIS.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 13, 2013.
Renee Cooper,
Staff Director, Office of Passenger and Freight Programs.
[FR Doc. 2013-22599 Filed 9-17-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P