[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 19, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46371-46373]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15251]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Operations and Maintenance Facility South Project, King County, 
Washington

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement 
(EIS).

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), as lead Federal 
agency, and the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (Sound 
Transit), as local project sponsor and joint lead agency, intend to 
prepare an EIS pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
to evaluate the benefits and impacts of the proposed Operations and 
Maintenance Facility (OMF) South project in King County, Washington.

DATES: Comments should be submitted by August 18, 2023. FTA will 
consider comments received after that date to the extent practicable. 
FTA will consider all comments received during this NEPA scoping period 
and those previously submitted during the Washington State 
Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) scoping process. Commenters who 
previously provided SEPA scoping comments do not need to resubmit those 
same comments for consideration under NEPA, but may elect to do so.

ADDRESSES: Comments related to the NEPA review of this project must be 
sent to: OMF South Project, (c/o Erin Green, South Corridor 
Environmental Manager) Sound Transit, 401 S Jackson Street, Seattle, WA 
98104-2826, or by email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For FTA: Justin Zweifel, FTA 
Environmental Protection Specialist, (206) 220-7538 or 
[email protected]. For Sound Transit: Erin Green, Sound Transit 
Environmental Manager, South Corridor, (206) 398-5464 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background. In 2016, voters approved funding for Sound Transit 3 
(ST3), Sound Transit's regional system plan that includes 62 new miles 
of light rail that would contribute to a 116-mile regional system in 
King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties. The OMF South project would 
provide a facility in the South Corridor of the system to receive, 
test, commission, store, maintain, and

[[Page 46372]]

deploy vehicles for the system-wide light rail expansion. The project 
would support the addition of light rail vehicles (LRVs) as part of the 
ST3 system expansion by providing needed maintenance and storage 
capacity.
    FTA has determined that the project will be evaluated as a major 
project as defined in 23 U.S.C. 139(a)(7). FTA and Sound Transit (the 
Agencies) will prepare the EIS in accordance with NEPA, FTA 
environmental regulations, and SEPA. Sound Transit has evaluated 
alternatives and environmental impacts and has proposed mitigation 
measures in a 2021 SEPA Draft EIS. In anticipation of federalizing the 
project, Sound Transit considered the relevant Federal statutes that 
are required for NEPA compliance, and the SEPA Draft EIS included 
environmental analysis in accordance with Federal statutes, 
regulations, and executive orders. Sound Transit also conducted an 
extensive public engagement process under SEPA, including early scoping 
in 2018, an extended scoping period in 2019, and an extended Draft EIS 
public comment period in 2021.
    Pursuant to 23 CFR 771.111 (Early coordination, public involvement, 
and project development), the information and results produced by or in 
support of the transportation planning process may be incorporated into 
environmental review documents in accordance with 23 U.S.C. 139(f), 40 
CFR 1500-1508, or 23 CFR 450, as applicable. Pursuant to these 
provisions, Federal agencies are required to reduce duplication to the 
maximum extent practicable between the evaluation of alternatives under 
NEPA and the environmental review process carried out under state law. 
Additionally, Federal agencies may, to the maximum extent practicable, 
adopt or incorporate by reference studies, analyses, and decisions 
resulting from metropolitan or statewide transportation planning under 
49 U.S.C. 5303 and 5304, respectively. Consistent with these 
provisions, as well as the provisions in 23 U.S.C. 139(f) and 23 CFR 
450.318, FTA will incorporate or use, as appropriate, planning products 
or the results from transportation planning studies, including the 
purpose and need for the action, the range of reasonable alternatives, 
environmental analyses, and proposed mitigation actions resulting from 
metropolitan or statewide transportation planning. The Agencies will 
coordinate to issue a joint NEPA Draft EIS and SEPA Supplemental Draft 
EIS. After receiving and considering public comments, the Agencies will 
complete a joint NEPA and SEPA Final EIS.
    This Notice initiates formal scoping for the EIS under NEPA, 
provides information on the nature of the proposed transit project, 
invites participation in the EIS process, provides information about 
the purpose and need for the proposed project, includes general 
information on the range of alternatives being considered for 
evaluation in the EIS, and identifies potential environmental effects 
to be considered. FTA has determined that the project is sufficiently 
developed to allow for meaningful public comment and requires an EIS. 
The scoping period is available for the public to provide comments on 
the alternatives, information, and analyses relevant to the proposed 
action. Information about the proposed project is available on the 
project website at https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/operations-maintenance-facility-south, or by contacting the project 
line at (206) 398-5453.
    The Proposed Project. Sound Transit is proposing to construct a 
light rail operations and maintenance facility in the South Corridor of 
its Link light rail system to support the expansion of light rail 
transit. The OMF South project is part of the ST3 Plan of regional 
transit system investments, funding for which voters approved in the 
region in 2016. The ST3 Plan is available on Sound Transit's website 
at: http://www.soundtransit3.org/document-library.
    Purpose of and Need for the Project. The Purpose and Need statement 
establishes the basis for developing and evaluating a range of 
reasonable alternatives for environmental review and assists with the 
identification of a Preferred Alternative. The OMF South project 
supports Sound Transit's Link light rail system expansion and the 
related increase in its light rail vehicle fleet and daily operations. 
The project includes measures to preserve and promote a healthy and 
sustainable environment by minimizing adverse impacts to people and the 
natural and built environments.
    The purpose of the project is to:
     Provide a facility with the capacity to store, maintain, 
and deploy vehicles associated with system-wide light rail expansion.
     Support efficient and reliable light rail service that 
minimizes system operating costs.
     Support and connect efficiently to the regional system and 
be technically and financially feasible to build, operate, and 
maintain, consistent with Sound Transit's ST3 Plan and its Regional 
Transit Long-Range Plan.
    The project is needed because:
     The current regional system lacks a facility with 
sufficient capacity and suitable location to support the efficient and 
reliable long-term operations for system-wide light rail expansion, 
including the next phase of expansion in King and Pierce counties.
     New light rail maintenance and storage capacity needs to 
be available with sufficient time to accept delivery of and commission 
new vehicles to meet fleet expansion needs and to store existing 
vehicles while the new vehicles are tested and prepared.
    Proposed Alternatives. Alternatives being evaluated include a No-
Build alternative and three build alternatives to develop an OMF in the 
South Corridor of Sound Transit's Link light rail system. The no-build 
alternative serves as a baseline against which to assess the impacts of 
the build alternatives and includes the existing transportation system 
plus the transportation improvements included in the Puget Sound 
Regional Council's Transportation Improvement Program. The build 
alternatives were developed through a local planning process including 
a Regional Transit Long-Range Plan, a regional system plan of transit 
investments (ST3), a SEPA early scoping and alternatives development 
process, a SEPA scoping process, and a SEPA Draft EIS. Through that 
process, Sound Transit narrowed the build alternatives from 24 to 3, 
and, following the public comment period for the SEPA Draft EIS, the 
Sound Transit Board identified the South 336th Street Alternative as 
the preferred alternative. The three build alternatives and the no-
build alternative will continue to be evaluated under NEPA and SEPA. 
Results of the local planning process and other background technical 
reports are available at Sound Transit's office located at 401 S 
Jackson Street, Seattle, WA 98104-2826, on the project website: https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/operations-maintenance-facility-south, or by contacting the project line at (206) 398-5453.
    The build alternatives include an OMF building, maintenance of way 
building, Link system-wide storage building, storage tracks, parking, 
training tracks, and yard areas. Each alternative also includes lead 
track to allow for light rail vehicles to access the mainline tracks.
     South 336th Street Alternative: The Preferred Alternative 
under the SEPA is an approximately 65-acre site in the city of Federal 
Way mainly between S 336th Street and S 341st Place and between I-5 and 
SR 99. It includes approximately 1.4 miles of mainline tracks 
connecting it to the Federal Way Link Extension

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terminus. These tracks would serve as future mainline for the Tacoma 
Dome Link Extension (TDLE) project that would extend light rail south 
to Tacoma. The Preferred Alternative also includes a test track to 
prepare new vehicles for service that would run parallel and on the 
east side of the mainline tracks.
     South 344th Street Alternative: The South 344th Street 
Alternative is an approximately 65-acre site in the city of Federal Way 
between S 336th Street and S 344th Street and between I-5 and 18th 
Place S. It includes approximately 1.8 miles of mainline track 
connecting it to Federal Way Link Extension terminus. These tracks 
would serve as future mainline for the TDLE project that would extend 
light rail south to Tacoma. The South 344th Street Alternative also 
includes a test track to prepare new vehicles for service that would 
run parallel and on the east side of the mainline tracks.
     Midway Landfill Alternative: The Midway Landfill 
Alternative is an approximately 68-acre site in the city of Kent 
between S 246th Street and S 252nd Street and between I-5 and SR 99. 
Due to its location along the Federal Way Link Extension line, the 
Midway Landfill does not include mainline tracks or a test track.
    Summary of Expected Impacts. Areas of investigation are documented 
in the OMF South SEPA Draft EIS and include transportation, land use 
and consistency with applicable plans, land acquisition and 
displacements, socioeconomic impacts, park and recreation resources, 
historic and cultural resources, environmental justice, visual and 
aesthetic qualities, air quality, noise and vibration, hazardous 
materials, energy use, water resources, floodplains, and ecosystems, 
including threatened and endangered species. The SEPA Draft EIS also 
evaluated the impacts of short-term construction, long-term operations, 
and indirect and cumulative conditions and proposed measures to avoid, 
minimize, or mitigate significant adverse impacts. These environmental 
impacts, considerations, and mitigation proposals (including avoidance 
and minimization) will be carried forward in NEPA.
    Anticipated Permits and Other Authorizations. In accordance with 
FTA policy and regulations, the Agencies will comply with all Federal 
environmental laws, regulations, and executive orders applicable to the 
proposed project during the environmental review process. In 
anticipation of federalizing the project, the SEPA Draft EIS contains 
an appendix that addresses Federal requirements usually integrated with 
FTA NEPA reviews, such as the National Historic Preservation Act and 
Section 4(f) requirements.
    The Agencies anticipate the following Federal approvals, permits, 
decisions, consultations, and reviews by other agencies necessary to 
implement the project:
     Environmental Protection Agency approval under Section 401 
of the Clean Water Act.
     Federal Highway Administration approval of air space lease 
and use of interstate right-of-way.
     U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit under Section 404 of 
the Clean Water Act.
     Bonneville Power Administration NEPA decision for 
reconfiguration of towers and power lines.
     Federal Highway Administration NEPA decision for air space 
lease and use of right-of-way.
     U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration consultation under Section 7 of the 
Endangered Species Act.
     Washington State Historic Preservation Officer 
consultation under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation 
Act.
     Environmental Protection Agency NEPA review under the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act.
    The Agencies will prepare a Coordination Plan for agency, Tribe, 
and public involvement that reflects the coordination to date and 
defines next steps for the remainder of the environmental review. 
Interested parties will be able to review the Coordination Plan at the 
project website: https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/operations-maintenance-facility-south. It will identify the project's 
coordination approach and structure, detail the major milestones for 
agency and public involvement, and include a list of interested Tribes 
and agencies.
    Schedule for Decision-Making Process and Description of the Scoping 
Process. The Agencies intend to complete the EIS for the project within 
two years, measured from the date of the issuance of this notice to the 
date a record of decision (ROD) is signed. As described above under 
Dates, FTA will accept comments on the NEPA review of the EIS through 
August 18, 2023. The Environmental Protection Agency will announce the 
availability of a NEPA Draft EIS in the Federal Register and via other 
outlets, such as the project website (https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/operations-maintenance-facility-south). The Agencies 
anticipate the NEPA Draft EIS will be available for a 45-day public 
comment period by Fall 2023. The Agencies will consider substantive 
comments timely submitted during the public comment period and then 
anticipate publishing a Final EIS by Spring 2024. The Sound Transit 
Board will consider the Final EIS and comments received, and then 
select the project to be built. The Agencies anticipate that all 
Federal environmental authorization decisions for the construction of 
the project will be completed within a reasonable period following 
issuance of the ROD.
    Under 23 U.S.C. 139, FTA is required to combine the Final EIS and 
ROD if practicable. The Agencies have determined that a combined FEIS/
ROD is not practicable for this project because SEPA requires a waiting 
period between the FEIS and decisions about the project per Washington 
Administrative Code 197-11-460(5).
    Request for Identification of Potential Alternatives, Information, 
and Analyses. The Agencies invite all State, Tribal, local governments, 
and the public to comment on potential alternatives, information, and 
analyses to be considered in the EIS.

Susan Fletcher,
Acting Regional Administrator, FTA Region X.
[FR Doc. 2023-15251 Filed 7-18-23; 8:45 am]
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