[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 131 (Wednesday, July 8, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41090-41092]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-14716]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number MARAD-2019-0109]


Notice of Availability; Notice of Public Meeting; Request for 
Comments Port of Long Beach (POLB or Port) Pier B On-Dock Rail Support 
Facility Project

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S Department of Transportation (DOT), Maritime 
Administration (MARAD) announces the availability of the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Port of Long Beach (POLB 
or Port) Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility Project (Project) to 
support an application to DOT for Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement 
Financing (RRIF) and potentially other federal funding programs. 
Publication of this notice begins a 45 day public comment period. A 
virtual public meeting will be held online and via teleconference. The 
public meeting will be preceded by a virtual informational open house. 
MARAD requests comments on the Project. Comments will inform our 
preparation of a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). The DEIS, 
supporting information, and comments will be available for viewing and 
download at http://www.regulations.gov under docket number MARAD-2019-
0109. The FEIS, when published, will be announced and available at this 
site as well.
    The Project is designed to address current traffic and cargo 
distribution bottlenecks into, out of, and within the POLB. The Project 
also includes consideration for anticipated future demand for cargo 
movement via on-dock rail; maximize on-dock intermodal operations to 
reach the long-term goal of 30 to 35 percent of cargo containers to be 
handled by on-dock rail; provide a facility that can accept and handle 
longer container trains; and provide a rail yard that is cost effective 
and fiscally prudent. The Port is applying to the RRIF Program, and 
potentially other federal funding programs, to support the Project.

DATES: The public comment period will end August 24, 2020. There will 
be one public meeting held in connection with the Project. The meeting 
will be held online and via teleconference Tuesday, July 28, 2020, from 
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time (9:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. Eastern). The 
public meeting will be preceded by an informational virtual open house 
from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time (7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.

[[Page 41091]]

Eastern) A supplemental notice with online access information and 
teleconference phone number will be published at least two weeks prior 
to the meeting. These portals will be open a few minutes before the 
meeting/open house.
    The public meeting may end later than the stated time, depending on 
the number of persons wishing to speak. Additionally, materials 
submitted in response to this request for comments on the Pier B On-
Dock Rail Support Facility Project must reach the Federal Docket 
Management Facility no later than 45 days after this notice is 
published in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: The public docket for MARAD-2019-0109 is maintained by the 
U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Management Facility, West 
Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan Finio, Office of Environment, at 
telephone number: 202-366-8024 or by 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 twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, to leave a 
message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply 
during normal business hours. Additionally, if you go to the online 
docket and sign up for email alerts, you will be notified when comments 
or other Project documents are posted. Anonymous comments will be 
accepted.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

    We request public comments or other relevant information related to 
the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed Pier B 
On-Dock Rail Support Facility Project (Project). These comments will 
inform our preparation of the Final Environmental Impact Statement 
(FEIS). The comments may relate to, but are not limited to, the 
environmental impact of the proposed action. All comments will be 
accepted. The virtual public meeting (see Public Meeting and Open 
House) is not the only opportunity you will have to comment on the 
Project. In addition, we encourage you to submit comments 
electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov under docket number MARAD-2019-0109. If you submit 
your comments electronically, it is not necessary to also submit a hard 
copy. If you cannot submit using http://www.regulations.gov, please 
contact Alan Finio (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). If you have 
questions on viewing or uploading to the Docket, call Docket 
Operations, telephone: 202-366-9317 or 202-366-9826. Comments can also 
be faxed to the Federal Docket Management Facility at 202-493-2251. 
Please submit comments using only one method.
    The comments and associated documentation, as well as the draft and 
final environmental impact statements (when published), will be 
available for viewing at the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) 
website: http://www.regulations.gov under docket number MARAD-2019-
0109.
    Public comment submissions should include the Docket number MARAD-
2019-0109.
    Faxed or mailed submissions must be unbound, no larger than 8 \1/2\ 
by 11 inches and suitable for copying and electronic scanning. The 
format of electronic submissions should also be no larger than 8 \1/2\ 
by 11 inches. If you mail your submission and want to know when it 
reaches the Federal Docket Management Facility, please include a 
stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope.
    Regardless of the method used for submitting comments, all 
submissions will be posted, without change, to the FDMS website (http://www.regulations.gov) and will include any personal information you 
provide. Therefore, submitting this information to the docket makes it 
public. You may wish to read the Privacy and Use Notice that is 
available on the FDMS website and the Department of Transportation 
Privacy Act Notice that appeared in the Federal Register on April 11, 
2000 (65 FR 19477) (see PRIVACY ACT).

Public Meeting and Open House

    A virtual informational open house and public meeting will be held 
online and by teleconference call. We encourage you to attend the 
virtual informational open house and public meeting to learn about, and 
comment on, the proposed Project. The meeting will be held on Tuesday 
July 28, 2020. A supplemental notice will be published to provide 
meeting details including online links and call-in phone numbers at 
least two weeks prior to the meeting.
    Those wishing to make comments during the public meeting may 
register online or can contact MARAD (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT). Comments made during the public meeting will be recognized in 
the following order: Elected officials, public agencies, individuals or 
groups in the sign-up order and then anyone else not previously 
registered who wishes to speak.
    In order to allow everyone a chance to speak at the public meeting, 
we may limit comment time, extend the meeting hours, or both. Those 
making comments during the public meeting must identify themselves and 
their organization by name. Comments will be recorded and/or 
transcribed for inclusion in the public docket.
    You may submit written material to the Federal eRulemaking Portal 
at http://www.regulations.gov under docket number MARAD-2019-0109, 
either in place of, or in addition to, speaking at the public meeting. 
Written material must include your name and address and will be 
included in the public docket (http://www.regulations.gov).
    The virtual open house and public meeting will be conducted in 
compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you plan to 
attend the virtual open house or public meeting and need special 
assistance such as sign language interpretation, non-English language 
translator services or other reasonable accommodation, please notify 
MARAD (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) at least 5 business days in 
advance of the public meeting. Include your contact information as well 
as information about your specific needs.

Summary of the Project

    The City of Long Beach (COLB), acting by and through its Board of 
Harbor Commissioners (BHC), is proposing to construct the 12th Street 
Alternative in the POLB. The purposes of the proposed reconfiguration 
and expansion Project are to: (a) Provide a sufficient facility to 
accommodate the expected demand of cargo to be moved via on-dock rail 
into the foreseeable future; (b) maximize on-dock intermodal operations 
to reach the long-term goal of 30 to 35 percent of cargo containers to 
be handled by on-dock rail (c) provide a facility that can accept and 
handle longer container trains; and (d) provide a rail yard that is 
cost effective and fiscally prudent.
    The proposed Project would be constructed in three phases over an 
estimated seven years and has an estimated opening year of 2025. 
Components of the proposed Project would include:
     Adding 31 yard tracks and five arrival/departure tracks, 
thereby expanding the yard from an existing 12 tracks (2 main line 
tracks, 10 yard tracks, and no arrival/departure tracks)

[[Page 41092]]

to a total of 48 tracks (2 main tracks, 41 yard tracks, and five 
arrival/departure tracks);
     Providing for up to 10,000-foot long receiving/departure 
tracks;
     Widening the existing rail bridge over Dominguez Channel 
to accommodate one additional track; and
     Constructing an area for locomotive refueling within the 
yard.
    Realignments and closures of some roadways would be required. Pier 
B Street would be realigned to the south, its geometrics would be 
improved, and two lanes of traffic in each direction would be provided.
     The realignment of Pier B Street would require the 
reconstruction of two intersections, at Anaheim Way and Edison Avenue.
     The existing at-grade 9th Street railroad grade crossing 
would be closed and the Shoemaker ramps removed.
     Pico Avenue would be realigned to the west beginning at 
the I-710 ramps south to approximately Pier D Street, allowing space 
for four additional tracks between Pico Avenue and the I-710 freeway.
     Areas needed for new rail tracks would require the closure 
of portions of 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th streets and Edison, Jackson, 
Santa Fe, Canal, Caspian, Harbor, and Fashion avenues between Anaheim 
Street and Pier B Street, in the City of Long Beach.
     Portions of Farragut, Foote, Cushing, Macdonough, and 
Schley avenues would be closed in the vicinity of existing railroad 
right-of-way (ROW) in the City of Long Beach.
    The proposed Project would be located in two POLB Planning 
Districts (the Northeast Harbor and North Harbor); the site also 
includes the Wilmington-Harbor City Community Plan Area of the City of 
Los Angeles. The Project site is generally situated between Dominguez 
Channel to the west, Interstate 710 (I-710) to the east, Ocean 
Boulevard to the south, and Anaheim Street to the north. The proposed 
Project area includes rail tracks that extend west beyond the Terminal 
Island Freeway (State Route 103) to just west of Dominguez Channel, 
where they connect with the Alameda Corridor, and also south as far as 
Ocean Boulevard. In addition to privately owned property, a variety of 
public agencies own property within the Project site and in its 
vicinity, including the POLB, COLB, City of Los Angeles, Port of Los 
Angeles, Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroads; 
Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority; Los Angeles County Flood 
Control District; and Southern California Edison.

Privacy Act

    In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), MARAD solicits comments from 
the public to better inform its administrative process. MARAD posts 
these comments, without edit, including any personal information the 
commenter provides, to http://www.regulations.gov, as described in the 
system of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 
http://www.dot.gov/privacy. If you wish to provide comments containing 
proprietary or confidential information, please contact the agency for 
alternate submission instructions.
(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: July 2, 2020.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2020-14716 Filed 7-7-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P