[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 231 (Friday, November 30, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61709-61710]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-25993]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Notice Rescinding Eight Notices of Intent To Prepare 
Environmental Impact Statements

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is issuing this 
notice to advise the public that FRA is rescinding the Notices of 
Intent (NOI) for the following Environmental Impact Statements (EIS): 
The Pennsylvania Maglev Proposal; the Tupelo Railroad Relocation 
Planning and Environmental Study; the Tier 2 EIS for the Chicago to 
Joliet High-Speed Rail (HSR) Project; the Tier 2 EIS for the HSR 
Project between Granite City, IL to St. Louis, MO HSR Project; EIS for 
the ACEforward Program; EIS for the Milwaukee, WI to Minneapolis, MN 
Rail Corridor; 7) the Los Angeles to San Louis Obispo North

[[Page 61710]]

(LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Project; and 8) the Chicago to Detroit/Pontiac 
Corridor Investment Program.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information please 
contact Michael Johnsen, Supervisory Environmental Protection 
Specialist, at the Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590; telephone: 202-493-0845; or email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FRA has identified several projects that, 
for various reasons, are no longer advancing through FRA environmental 
review and has therefore determined it is appropriate to rescind the 
applicable NOI to prepare an EIS. The following NOIs are being 
rescinded:
     Pennsylvania Maglev Proposal: FRA published the NOI on 
July 19, 2001. The purpose of the EIS was to further explore the 
feasibility of a magnetic levitation train system linking Pittsburgh 
International Airport to Pittsburgh and its eastern suburbs in 
Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties. However, the project sponsor has 
since decided not to pursue a maglev project in this corridor.
     Relocation or Reconstruction of Rail Lines in Tupelo, MS: 
FRA published the NOI on June 29, 2006 to study the potential 
relocation or reconstruction of rail lines in the Tupelo, MS central 
business district. However, the project sponsor has not advanced the 
environmental review and has not identified current or foreseeable 
funding for the project.
     Chicago to Joliet High-Speed Rail (HSR) Project: FRA 
published the NOI on February 18, 2014 to study potential HSR service 
along the Rock Island District Railroad corridor between Chicago and 
Joliet, IL. The project sponsor has informed FRA that it does not 
intend to pursue the environmental review for the project at this time.
     HSR Project between Granite City, Illinois to St. Louis, 
Missouri: FRA published this NOI on February 18, 2014 to study the 
increase of rail capacity associated with the Mississippi River 
crossings in the Granite City to St. Louis Tier 2 EIS. However, the 
project sponsor has informed FRA that it does not intend to pursue the 
environmental review for the project at this time.
     ACEforward Program: FRA published the NOI on September 18, 
2013. The purpose of the EIS was to study the expansion of existing 
rail service between Stockton and San Jose, CA and extension of new 
rail service to Modesto and Merced, CA. However, the project sponsor 
has determined that the orginial scope for the ACEforward EIS is no 
longer consistent with regional planning efforts for improved rail 
service throughout the corridor.
     Milwaukee, WI to Minneapolis, MN Rail Corridor: FRA 
published a revised NOI on May 24, 2013. The purpose of the EIS is to 
evaluate ways to improve passenger rail service from the Twin Cities, 
MN to Milwaukee, WI. The project sponsor has informed FRA that it does 
not wish to pursue the environmental review for the project at this 
time.
     LOSSAN Rail Corridor Project: FRA published the NOI for 
this project on January 1, 2011. The purpose of the EIS was to study 
ways to improve passenger rail service from Los Angeles through San 
Louis Obispo. The NOI is being rescinded as the service options on this 
corridor have been reevaluated in the updated California State Rail 
Plan.
     Chicago to Detroit/Pontiac Corridor Investment Program: 
FRA published the NOI on August 31, 2012. The purpose of the EIS was to 
study potential service options and corresponding infrastructure 
improvements between Chicago, IL, and Pontiac, MI. The project sponsor 
and FRA have agreed to rescind the NOI, however the associated 
alternatives analysis and service development plan may be used for 
further environmental reviews, where necessary.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
Jamie Rennert,
Office Director, Office of Program Delivery.
[FR Doc. 2018-25993 Filed 11-29-18; 8:45 a.m.]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P