Federal Register: December 12, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 240)
DOCID: fr12de08-135 FR Doc E8-29448
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Surface Transportation Board
STB ID: [STB Finance Docket No. 34658]
NOTICE: NOTICES
DOCID: fr12de08-135
ACTION: Petition for Exemption:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Notice of Public Meetings.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Alaska Railroad Corporation--Petition for Exemption--To Construct and Operate a Rail Line Between North Pole, Alaska and Delta Junction, AK
DATES: Written comments on the Draft EIS, which was served December 12, 2008, must be postmarked by February 2, 2009. Efiled comments must be received by February 2, 2009.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
On July 6, 2007, Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) filed a petition with the Surface Transportation Board (Board) pursuant to 49 United States Code (U.S.C.) 10502 for the authority to construct and operate approximately 80 miles of new rail line from North Pole, Alaska, to Delta Junction, Alaska. Because construction and operation of this proposed action has the potential to result in significant environmental impacts, the Board's Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) and eight cooperating agencies prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS). The cooperating agencies include the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Alaska State Office; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District; U.S. Department of Defense, Alaskan Command; U.S. Air Force 354th Fighter Wing, Eielson Air Force Base; Federal Transit Administration; Federal Railroad Administration; U.S. Coast Guard, Seventeenth District; and Alaska Department of Natural Resources. The purpose of this Notice of Availability is to notify individuals and agencies interested in or affected by the proposed action of the availability of the Draft EIS for review and comment, and of public meetings on the Draft EIS.
Implementation of the proposed project would extend ARRC's existing freight and passenger rail service to the region south of the community of North Pole, and would include construction of related structures, such as a passenger facility, communications towers, and sidings.
The Draft EIS analyses the potential environmental impacts of the proposed action and alternatives, including the noaction alternative. The Draft EIS addresses environmental issues and concerns identified during the scoping process. It also contains SEA's preliminary recommendations for environmental mitigation measures, ARRC's voluntary mitigation measures, and encourages mutually acceptable negotiated agreements to mitigate adverse environmental impacts should the Board approve the proposed.
SEA and the cooperating agencies are also holding four public meetings on the Draft EIS during which interested parties can make oral comments in an orderly fashion before meeting participants and/or submit written comments. A court reporter will be present to record the oral comments. The dates, locations and times of the public meetings are shown below:
January 12, 2009, 58 p.m., Pike's Waterfront Lodge, 1850 Hoselton Road, Fairbanks, AK.
January 13, 2009, 58 p.m., City Council Chambers, 125 Snowman Lane, North Pole, AK.
January 14, 2009, 58 p.m., Salcha Senior Center, 6062 Johnson Road, Salcha, AK.
January 15, 2009, 58 p.m., Jarvis West Building, Milepost 1420.5 Alaska Highway, Delta Junction, AK.
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources will be attending the meetings to hear public comments on the proposed project pursuant to their obligations under Alaska statute 42.40.460.
SEA and the cooperating agencies will prepare a Final Environmental
Impact Statement (Final EIS) that considers comments on the Draft EIS. The Board
[[Page 75812]]
will then issue a final decision, based on all public and agency
comments in the public record for this proceeding, that will address
the transportation merits of the proposed project and the entire
environmental record including the Draft EIS and Final EIS. That final
decision will approve the proposed project, deny it, or approve it with
mitigation conditions, including environmental conditions.
SUMMARY:
Alaska Railroad Corp.; Construct and Operate a Rail Line Between North Pole and Delta Junction, AK,
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
David Navecky by mail at the address
above, by telephone at 2022450294 [FIRS for the hearing impaired (1
8008778339)], or by email at naveckyd@stb.dot.gov. Further
information about the project is also available by calling SEA's toll free number at 18003595142.
Decided: December 12, 2008.
By the Board, Victoria Rutson, Chief, Section of Environmental Analysis.
Kulunie L. Cannon,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. E829448 Filed 121108; 8:45 am]
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