[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 133 (Thursday, July 11, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33114-33115]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-14826]
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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD
[Finance Docket 34936]
Notice of Availability of the Draft Supplemental Environmental
Assessment for Northern Columbia Basin Railroad Project
AGENCY: Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA), Surface Transportation
Board (Board).
ACTION: Notice of availability of the Draft Supplemental Environmental
Assessment (DSEA) on July 11, 2019 and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: On November 2, 2018, the Port of Moses Lake (Applicant) filed
a Petition to Reopen with the Board seeking authorization for
modifications to portions of an 11-mile (7.6 miles of which would be
new construction) rail line previously approved by the Board in 2009 in
the City of Moses Lake, Grant County, Washington. The purpose of this
Notice of Availability (NOA) is to notify individuals and agencies
interested in or affected by the proposed action of the availability of
the DSEA for review and comment on July 11, 2019.
DATES: The DSEA will be available for public review and comment on July
11, 2019. Mailed comments must be postmarked by August 12, 2019.
Electronic comments must be received by August 12, 2019.
ADDRESSES: Please mail written comments on the DSEA, including the
recommended environmental mitigation to: Mr. Adam Assenza, Surface
Transportation Board, Docket No. FD 34936, 395 E Street SW, Washington,
DC 20423. Electronic comments on this DSEA may also be submitted
electronically on the STB's website: https://www.stb.gov or emailed to
[email protected]. Please refer to Docket No. FD 34936 in all
correspondence, including electronic, addressed to the lead agency.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adam Assenza, Surface Transportation
Board, Docket No. FD 34963, 395 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20423,
(202) 245-0301.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the proposed project is to
promote economic development through the attraction of new rail-
[[Page 33115]]
dependent businesses, thereby encouraging the long-term, continued use,
growth, and preservation of rail operations in the region. The Federal
Railroad Administration (FRA) is participating as a cooperating agency
in the preparation of this DSEA pursuant to CEQ NEPA implementing
regulations (40 CFR 1501.6). The DSEA analyzes the potential
environmental impacts of the proposed modifications to the previously-
approved alignment. It also contains OEA's preliminary recommendations
for environmental mitigation measures. The DSEA will be available on
July 11, 2019 through the Board's website at https://www.stb.gov by
following the Decisions link and at the City of Moses Lake Public
Library in Grant County, Washington.
Next Steps: Following the close of the 30-day comment period on
August 12, 2019 of the DSEA, OEA, and FRA as a cooperating agency, will
issue a Final Supplemental EA that considers comments on the DSEA. The
Board will then issue a final decision based on the Draft and Final
Supplemental EAs and all public and agency comments in the public
record for this proceeding. The final decision will address the
transportation merits of the proposed project and the entire
environmental record. The final decision will take one of three
actions: Approve the proposed project, deny it, or approve it with
mitigation conditions, including environmental conditions.
Written Comments: Any interested party may submit written comments
on the DSEA. The procedures for submitting written comments are
outlined in the ADDRESSES section.
Dated: July 9, 2019.
By the Board, Victoria Ruston, Director, Office of Environmental
Analysis.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2019-14826 Filed 7-10-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P