[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 236 (Tuesday, December 9, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 73139]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-28684]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number MARAD-2012-0015]


Finding of No Significant Impact for America's Marine Highway 
Program

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This Notice announces the availability of the Finding of No 
Significant Impact (FONSI) for the America's Marine Highway Program, 
which designates criteria, eligibility requirements, and information 
for applicants seeking to establish services on a ``short sea'' marine 
highway (America's Marine Highway).
    The objective of the America's Marine Highway (AMH) Program is to 
identify opportunities to reduce landside congestion and to optimize 
the transportation of goods and passengers through use of the waterway 
network. MARAD previously made available for public review a 
programmatic environmental assessment (PEA) that analyzed the potential 
environmental impacts of continuing to execute the AMH Program 
(Program). Based on the PEA, MARAD determined that the proposed action 
will not significantly affect the human or natural environment and 
therefore does not require the preparation of an environmental impact 
statement. For actions not described in the PEA, or for specific 
projects associated with an AMH, MARAD may prepare or oversee the 
preparation of a supplemental environmental assessment or other 
appropriate documentation.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the FONSI is available for public review on the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Search MARAD-
2012-0015. You may also view the FONSI by visiting MARAD's Marine 
Highway Web page at http://www.marad.dot.gov/ships_shipping_landing_page/mhi_home/mhi_home.htm and clicking on 
``Finding of No Significant Impact.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Yuska, Office of Environment, 
(202) 366-0714 or via email at [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 
individual during business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 
seven days a week, to leave a message or question. You will receive a 
reply during normal business hours. You may send mail to Mr. Yuska at 
Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration, Office of 
Environment, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Energy Independence and Security Act of 
2007 directed the Secretary of Transportation to establish a ``short 
sea'' transportation program, and to designate short sea transportation 
routes and projects to be conducted under the program, for the purpose 
of mitigating landside congestion. Pursuant to the statutory mandate, 
in 2010, MARAD established the Program, designating criteria, 
eligibility requirements and information for applicants seeking to 
establish AMH routes and projects. Projects designated under the 
Program must use U.S. documented vessels, transport passengers or 
freight (in containers or trailers) and must operate on a designated 
route. Section 405 of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act 
of 2012 expanded the geographic scope of the program to include routes 
between all U.S. ports, including U.S. ports with no contiguous 
landside connection, as well as routes between U.S. ports and ports in 
Canada located in the Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway System. The Act 
also added the purpose of promoting the use of short sea 
transportation.
    The Program itself does not develop or operate AMH services. 
Rather, the program provides a set of tools for use by ports, state and 
local governments, and private industry to consider expansion of AMH 
services. Where such designations are made, MARAD may encourage 
development of particular AMH projects or services when funding is 
available.

America's Marine Highway Program PEA

    On July 14, 2014, MARAD published a notice in the Federal Register 
(79 FR 40838) entitled, ``America's Marine Highway Draft Programmatic 
Environmental Assessment and Public Comment Period.'' This notice 
announced that a PEA for the Program had been prepared and made 
available to the public for comment in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq., the Council on 
Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 
1500-1508), Department of Transportation Order 5610.1C, and MARAD 
Administrative Order 600-1. The notice informed the public on how to 
obtain, and submit comments on, the PEA. The PEA analyzed the potential 
environmental effects of the Program. The PEA was made available for a 
30-day public comment period, beginning on the date of the publication 
of the notice. The comment period ended on August 13, 2014. No comments 
were received. On the basis of the PEA, MARAD determined that the 
environmental effects of the Program will not significantly affect the 
quality of the human or natural environment and therefore will not 
warrant preparation of an environmental impact statement. A FONSI was 
issued on September 11, 2014. The environmental impacts of specific AMH 
route or project designations or the establishment of specific AMH 
services will be considered in the context of specific proposals. Those 
future analyses may use the PEA as a starting point to analyze the 
specific environmental impacts of each particular proposal.

(Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq., 40 CFR parts 1500-1508, Department 
of Transportation Order 5610.1C, and MARAD Administrative Order 600-1)
    * * *

    Dated: December 3, 2014.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.

Thomas M. Hudson,
Acting Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2014-28684 Filed 12-8-14; 8:45 am]
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