[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 112 (Monday, June 10, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48952-48953]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-12646]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2024-0045]


Notice of Availability of a Final General Conformity 
Determination for the California High-Speed Rail System, Palmdale to 
Burbank Project Section

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: FRA is issuing this notice to advise the public that it is 
making a Final General Conformity Determination for the Palmdale to 
Burbank Project Section of the California High-Speed Rail (HSR) System.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327 (section 327), the 
California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA or Authority) has assumed 
FRA's environmental review responsibilities under the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). However, under 
section 327, FRA remains responsible for compliance with the Clean Air 
Act General Conformity requirements. In compliance with NEPA and the 
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Authority published a 
Final Environmental Impact Record/Final Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIR/EIS) for the Palmdale to Burbank Project Section of the California 
High-Speed Rail (HSR) System on May 24, 2024.
    FRA prepared a Draft General Conformity Determination, pursuant to 
40 CFR part 93, subpart B, which establishes the process for complying 
with the General Conformity requirements of the Clean Air Act. FRA 
published a notice in the Federal Register on April 2, 2024 at 89 FR 
22766, advising the public of the availability of the Draft Conformity 
Determination for a 30-day review and comment period. The Draft 
Conformity Determination was published at http://www.regulations.gov, 
Docket No. FRA-2024-0045. The comment period of the Draft Conformity 
Determination closed on May 2, 2024. FRA received one non-substantive 
comment on the Draft General Conformity Determination that was not 
germane to FRA's air quality analysis or determination.
    FRA prepared the Final General Conformity Determination pursuant to 
40 CFR part 93 subpart B and based on the Authority's coordination with 
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and South Coast Air 
Quality Management District (SCAQMD). The Authority has also consulted 
with the USEPA on the overall approach to General Conformity. FRA's 
analysis of the Project's potential emissions, completed in close 
collaboration with CHSRA, found that construction period emissions 
would exceed the General Conformity de minimis threshold for nitrogen 
oxides (NOX) and carbon monoxide (CO) in certain calendar 
years. However, operation of the Project would result in an overall 
reduction of regional emissions of all applicable air pollutants and 
would not cause a localized exceedance of an air quality standard 
(during operations). Consistent with the General Conformity Rule, the 
Authority will ensure all remaining emissions that exceed de minimis 
thresholds, after implementation of impact avoidance and minimization 
features and onsite mitigation measures will be completely mitigated to 
zero through agreements with the applicable air districts. In addition, 
FRA concluded the Project would conform to the approved state 
implementation plan (SIP), based on localized CO modeling that shows 
that construction emissions exceeding the CO de minimis thresholds

[[Page 48953]]

will not result in a violation of the National Ambient Air Quality 
Standards. Based on this commitment and the localized CO modeling, FRA 
determined the Project will conform to the requirements in the approved 
SIP.
    The Final General Conformity Determination is available at http://www.regulations.gov, Docket No. FRA-2024-0045, and FRA's website at 
https://railroads.dot.gov/environment/environmental-reviews/clean-air-act-california-general-conformity-determinations.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
Marlys Ann Osterhues,
Director, Office of Environmental Program Management.
[FR Doc. 2024-12646 Filed 6-7-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P