[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 2, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22766-22767]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-06960]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2024-0045]


Draft General Conformity Determination for the California High-
Speed Rail System Palmdale to Burbank Section

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

ACTION: Notice; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: FRA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a draft 
General Conformity Determination for the Palmdale to Burbank Section of 
the California High-Speed Rail (HSR) System is available for public and 
agency review and comment.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 2, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Comments related to Docket No. FRA-2024-0045 may be 
submitted by going to https://www.regulations.gov and following the 
online instructions for submitting comments.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and 
docket number (FRA-2024-0045). All comments received will be posted 
without change to https://www.regulations.gov; this includes any 
personal information. Please see the Privacy Act Statement heading in 
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document for Privacy Act 
information related to any submitted comments or materials.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read the draft General 
Conformity Determination, background documents, or comments received, 
go to https://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions 
for accessing the docket.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lana Lau, Supervisory Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Office of Environmental Program Management, RRD, 
telephone: (202) 923-5314, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Privacy Act Statement: FRA will post comments it receives, without 
edit, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records 
notice, DOT/ALL-14 FDMS, accessible through www.dot.gov/privacy. To 
facilitate comment tracking and response, we encourage commenters to 
provide their name, or the name of their organization; however, 
inclusion of names is completely optional. Whether commenters identify 
themselves or not, all timely comments will be fully considered. If you 
wish to provide comments containing proprietary or confidential 
information, please contact the agency for alternate submission 
instructions.
    Background: The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) is 
advancing the environmental review of the Palmdale to Burbank (Project) 
of the California HSR System pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327, under which it 
has assumed FRA's environmental review responsibilities. However, under 
section 327, FRA remains responsible for making General Conformity 
Determinations under the Clean Air Act. This draft General Conformity 
Determination documents FRA's evaluation of the Project, consistent 
with the relevant sections of the Clean Air Act and its implementing 
regulations.
    FRA conducted the analysis of the Project's potential emissions 
consistent with all regulatory criteria and procedures and after 
coordination with CHSRA. FRA's analysis and CHSRA's coordination with 
relevant entities supports a proposed finding that Project-generated, 
construction-phase emissions for Nitrogen Dioxide (NOX) and 
Carbon Monoxide (CO) will be in excess of the General Conformity de 
minimis threshold in certain calendar years. However, CHSRA proposes to 
offset its construction-phase NOX exceedances to achieve 
conformance, consistent with applicable regulatory

[[Page 22767]]

requirements in the Statewide Implementation Plan (SIP) for the South 
Coast Air Basin. In addition, the Project's emissions can be 
accommodated in the SIP, based on localized CO modeling showing that 
construction-phase CO emissions will not result in an exceedance of the 
NAAQS. Operation of the Project is expected to result in an overall 
reduction of regional emissions of all applicable air pollutants and 
would not cause a localized exceedance of the applicable regulatory 
requirements. FRA concludes that the Project, as designed, will conform 
to the SIP, based on a commitment from the CHSRA that construction-
phase NOX emissions will be offset consistent with the 
applicable federal regulations in the South Coast Air Basin, and based 
on localized CO modeling, which demonstrates that construction-phase CO 
emissions will not cause or contribute to a violation of the NAAQS.
    Next Steps: The draft General Conformity Determination for the 
Project is being issued for public review and comment for 30 days at 
Docket No. FRA-2024-0045. Comments related to Docket No. FRA-2024-0045 
may be submitted by going to https://www.regulations.gov and following 
the online instructions for submitting comments. Although CHSRA is 
assisting FRA by disseminating notice of the availability of the draft 
General Conformity Determination through its usual outreach methods, 
CHSRA is not accepting comments on behalf of FRA. FRA cannot ensure 
consideration of any comment that is not submitted via https://www.regulations.gov. FRA will consider all relevant comments it 
receives before issuing a Final General Conformity Determination.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
Marlys Ann Osterhues,
Director, Office of Environmental Program Management.
[FR Doc. 2024-06960 Filed 4-1-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P