Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement on NJ Transitgrid Traction Power System in Hudson County, New Jersey, 848-850 [2016-00048]

Download as PDF rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 848 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 4 / Thursday, January 7, 2016 / Notices • Fax: 202–395–5806. Attention: Desk Officer for Department of State. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct requests for additional information regarding the collection listed in this notice, including requests for copies of the proposed collection instrument and supporting documents, to Taylor Mauck, who may be reached at 202–485–7635 or at PRA_ BurdenComments@state.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: • Title of Information Collection: Electronic Application for Immigration Visa and Alien Registration. • OMB Control Number: 1405–0185. • Type of Request: Extension of a Currently Approved Collection. • Originating Office: CA/VO/L/R. • Form Number: DS–0260. • Respondents: Immigrant Visa Applicants. • Estimated Number of Respondents: 581,642. • Estimated Number of Responses: 581,642. • Average Time per Response: 2 hours. • Total Estimated Burden Time: 1,163,284. • Frequency: Once per respondent. • Obligation to Respond: Required to Obtain a Benefit. We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department to: • Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper functions of the Department. • Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used. • Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected. • Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Please note that comments submitted in response to this Notice are public record. Before including any detailed personal information, you should be aware that your comments as submitted, including your personal information, will be available for public review. Abstract of proposed collection: Form DS–260 will be used to elicit information to determine the eligibility of aliens applying for immigrant visas. Methodology: The DS–260 will be submitted electronically to the Department via the Internet. The applicant will be instructed to print a confirmation page containing a 2–D bar code record VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:34 Jan 06, 2016 Jkt 238001 locator, which will be scanned at the time of processing. Applicants who submit the electronic application will no longer submit paper-based applications to the Department. Dated: December 18, 2015. Ed Ramotowski, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department of State. [FR Doc. 2016–00043 Filed 1–6–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710–06–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Transit Administration Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement on NJ Transitgrid Traction Power System in Hudson County, New Jersey Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. AGENCY: The FTA, as the federal lead agency, and the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ TRANSIT), as joint lead agency, are planning to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the NJ TRANSITGRID TRACTION POWER SYSTEM, which will provide a reliable electric power generation system (called a microgrid) to provide electricity to operate trains on a portion of the NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak rail systems, including some sections of the Northeast Corridor and Morris & Essex line, and the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail System. The microgrid, which is needed to enhance the resiliency of the public transportation system, will also provide electricity for some signal power and tunnel ventilation, pumping, and lighting on the Main Line and Northeast Corridor. NJ TRANSITGRID consists of two projects with independent utility from each other: The TRACTION POWER SYSTEM and the DISTRIBUTED GENERATION SOLUTIONS, which will provide power to train and bus stations and other transportation facilities in northeastern New Jersey with sustainable energy sources such as fuel cells, photovoltaic panels, and combined heat and power units. The EIS, which will be prepared only for the NJ TRANSITGRID TRACTION POWER SYSTEM, will be in accordance with Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and FTA regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as well as expedited project delivery provisions of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP– 21). DISTRIBUTED GENERATIONS SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00115 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 SOLUTIONS is a project with independent utility from the TRACTION POWER SYSTEM and will progress in a separate process to comply with NEPA and MAP–21. DATES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS should be sent to Mr. Nick Marton or Mr. Chris Jeter by February 29, 2016. A public scoping meeting will be held on February 3, 2016 between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the location indicated under ADDRESSES below. ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS should be sent to: Mr. Nick Marton, Project Manager, NJ TRANSIT, River Line Office, 800 Lemuel Avenue, Camden, NJ 08105 or Mr. Chris Jeter, NJ TRANSIT, One Penn Plaza East, 8th Floor, Newark, NJ 07105–2246. Comments may also be offered at the public scoping meeting. The date, time, and address for the public scoping meeting is as follows: February 3, 2016 4 p.m.–8 p.m. St. Peter’s University, 2641 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Center Room, Jersey City, NJ 07306 This location is accessible to persons with disabilities. If special translation or signing service or other special accommodations are needed, please contact the Project Manager, Mr. Nick Marton at (856) 614–7003 or Mr. Chris Jeter at (973) 491–7707 at least 48 hours before the meeting. A Draft Scoping Document for the NJ TRANSITGRID TRACTION POWER SYSTEM is available on NJ TRANSIT’s Web site at: https://njtransitresilienceprogram.com/ documents. or by calling the project manager, Mr. Nick Marton, at (856) 614– 7003 or Mr. Chris Jeter at (973) 491– 7707. Copies will also be available at the scoping meeting. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Nancy Danzig, Director of Planning and Program Development, FTA Region 2, One Bowling Green, Room 429, New York, NY 10004. (212) 668–2177. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Scoping: The scoping process provides agencies and the public with the opportunity to review and comment on the purpose and need identified for the proposed project, alternatives considered, and the proposed methodologies that will be used to assess the potential social, economic, and environmental impacts of the project in the Draft EIS. Comments received during this process will be reviewed by FTA and NJ TRANSIT and incorporated into a Final Scoping Document, which will initiate the preparation of the Draft EIS. Project Need: The purpose of the proposed project is to enhance the E:\FR\FM\07JAN1.SGM 07JAN1 rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 4 / Thursday, January 7, 2016 / Notices resiliency of the electricity supply to the NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak infrastructure that serves key commuter markets in New York and New Jersey to minimize public transportation service disruptions. The region’s public transportation infrastructure is vulnerable to power outages due to the nature of the existing centralized power distribution system and the intensity and frequency of severe weather events. Project Description and Alternatives: The proposed microgrid will be a stateof-the-art electric power generating facility that will be scaled to provide emergency power for NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak service operating between New York’s Penn Station and northeastern New Jersey as well as other transit service as indicated above. It is anticipated that the new facility will be able to generate approximately 104 megawatts (MW) of electricity. Natural gas-fired generation was identified as the most cost-effective choice to serve the identified traction power loads (i.e., the power needed to operate trains). At the present time, four types of conventional generation are under consideration: • A simple-cycle reciprocating engine plant, with multiple reciprocating engines; • A combined-cycle reciprocating engine plant, configured with multiple reciprocating engines and one steam turbine; • A simple-cycle combustion-turbine plant, with three combustion turbines; and • A combined-cycle gas turbine plant, configured with two combustion turbines and one steam turbine. The preferred generation system could be one of the four listed above or a combination of reciprocating engine and gas turbine technologies. Cleanburning natural gas will provide fuel for the combustion turbines and/or engines. A no action alternative, which contemplates roadway and transit facility improvements (other than the proposed project) planned for and programmed to be implemented by the year 2021 (the proposed project’s completion year) will be defined to serve as a baseline for comparison to the build alternative options. A project site for the approximate 104 MW power plant was identified in Kearny, Hudson County, New Jersey based on a site screening analysis that evaluated properties on the Kearny Peninsula near NJ TRANSIT’s Mason and Amtrak’s Kearny (Sub 41) substations. The NJ Transit Site Screening Analysis can be found on the projects Web page at https:// VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:27 Jan 06, 2016 Jkt 238001 njtransitresilienceprogram.com/ documents. These two substations will receive the highest electrical loads from the microgrid to supply power to the Morris & Essex Line and Northeast Corridor via transmission lines that run from the generation site to the substations. Transmission lines will also run from the proposed project site to NJ TRANSIT’s Henderson substation in Hoboken, New Jersey to supply power to the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail. EIS Process and Role of Participating Agencies and the Public: The purpose of the EIS process is to explore in a public setting potentially significant effects of implementing the proposed project on the physical, human, and natural environment. Areas of investigation will include, but are not limited to: Land use, community facilities, socioeconomic conditions, air quality (including consideration of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change), cultural resources, aesthetic conditions, transportation, noise and vibration, natural resources, water quality, electromagnetic fields, utilities, contaminated materials, and safety and security. Measures to avoid, minimize, and mitigate any significant adverse impacts will be identified. An Agency and Public Coordination Plan (Plan) has been developed to guide a comprehensive outreach program. It can be found on the project’s Web page at https://njtransitresilienceprogram.com/ documents. The Plan outlines outreach to local and county officials and community and civic groups; a public scoping process to define the issues of concern among all parties interested in the project; establishment of a Technical Advisory Committee and periodic meetings with that committee; a public hearing on release of the Draft EIS; and development and distribution of project newsletters. The purpose of and need for the proposed project has been preliminarily identified in this notice. We invite the public and participating agencies to consider the preliminary statement of purpose and need for the project, as well as the alternatives proposed for consideration. Suggestions for modifications to the statement of purpose and need and any other reasonable alternatives that meet the purpose and need for the project are welcomed and will be given serious consideration. Comments on significant environmental impacts that may be associated with the proposed project and alternatives are also welcomed. There will be additional opportunities to participate in the scoping process at PO 00000 Frm 00116 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 849 the public meeting announced in this notice. FTA Procedures: The proposed NJ TRANSITGRID project has been identified by the FTA as a project eligible for Federal funding through FTA’s Emergency Relief Program that was promulgated in response to Hurricane Sandy. Prior to providing funding, the FTA must review the proposed project in accordance with NEPA as well as other related statutes and regulations. In accordance with 23 CFR 771.105(a) and 771.133, FTA will comply with all Federal environmental laws, regulations, and executive orders applicable to the proposed project during the environmental review process to the maximum extent practicable. These requirements include, but are not limited to, the regulations of the CEQ and FTA implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508 and 23 CFR part 771), the project-level air quality conformity regulation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (40 CFR part 93), the Section 404(b)(1) guidelines of EPA (40 CFR part 230), the regulation implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (36 CFR Part 800), the regulation implementing Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (50 CFR part 402), Section 4(f) of the DOT Act (23 CFR 771.135), and Executive Orders 12898 on environmental justice, 11988, as amended, on floodplain management, 11990 on wetlands, and 13186 on migratory birds. Public comments will be received through those methods explained earlier in this NOI and will be incorporated into a Final Scoping Document. The Final Scoping Document will detail the scope of the EIS and the potential environmental effects that will be considered during the NEPA process. After the completion of the Draft EIS, a public and agency review period will allow for input on the Draft EIS and these comments will be incorporated into the Final EIS for the proposed project. In accordance with Section 1319 of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP–21) (Pub. L. 112–114), Accelerated Decisionmaking in Environmental Reviews, FTA may consider the use of errata sheets attached to the DEIS in place of a in place of a traditional Final EIS and/or development a single environmental decision document that consists of a Final EIS and a Record of Decision (ROD), if certain conditions exist following the conclusion of the public and agency review period for the project’s Draft EIS. E:\FR\FM\07JAN1.SGM 07JAN1 850 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 4 / Thursday, January 7, 2016 / Notices Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT. ACTION: Notice. Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given that FTA has taken final agency actions by issuing certain approvals for the public transportation project listed below. The actions on the project, as well as the laws under which such actions were taken, are described in the documentation issued in connection with the project to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and in other documents in the FTA administrative record for the project. Interested parties may contact either the project sponsor or the relevant FTA Regional Office for more information. Contact information for FTA’s Regional Offices may be found at https://www.fta.dot.gov. This notice applies to all FTA decisions on the listed project as of the issuance date of this notice and all laws under which such actions were taken, including, but not limited to, NEPA [42 U.S.C. 4321–4375], Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966 [49 U.S.C. 303], Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act [16 U.S.C. 470f], and the Clean Air Act [42 U.S.C. 7401–7671q]. This notice does not, however, alter or extend the limitation period for challenges of project decisions subject to previous notices for the Regional Connector Transit Corridor Project published in the Federal Register. The project and actions that are the subject of this notice are: This notice announces final environmental actions taken by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for a project in Los Angeles, CA. The purpose of this notice is to announce publicly the environmental decisions by FTA on the subject project and to activate the limitation on any claims that may challenge these final environmental actions. DATES: By this notice, FTA is advising the public of final agency actions subject to Section 139(l) of Title 23, United States Code (U.S.C.). A claim seeking judicial review of FTA actions announced herein for the listed public transportation project will be barred unless the claim is filed on or before June 6, 2016. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy-Ellen Zusman, Assistant Chief Counsel, Office of Chief Counsel, (312) 353–2577 or Terence Plaskon, Environmental Protection Specialist, Office of Environmental Programs, (202) 366–0442. FTA is located at 1200 New Project name and location: Regional Connector Transit Corridor Project, Los Angeles County, CA. Project sponsor: Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA). Project description: The proposed project would provide a 1.9mile direct connection of light rail transit service from the Metro Gold Line Little Tokyo/Arts District Station to the 7th Street/ Metro Center Station in downtown Los Angeles. The project would allow passengers to transfer to Blue, Expo, Red, and Purple Lines, bypassing Union Station and providing a one-seat ride for travel across Los Angeles County. In January 2012, FTA and LACMTA prepared and distributed a Final Environmental Impact Statement/ Environmental Impact Report (Final EIS/EIR) for the project. On June 29, 2012, FTA issued a Record of Decision (ROD) for the project. Subsequently, the Final EIS/EIR and ROD were challenged in federal court. Final Judgment was entered on October 24, 2014, partially in favor of Flower Associates and partially in favor of the Defendants (‘‘NEPA Judgment’’). The NEPA Judgment partially vacated the June 29, 2012 ROD and directed the FTA to prepare a supplemental analysis under NEPA addressing the feasibility of open-face shield and sequential excavation The Paperwork Reduction Act seeks, in part, to minimize the cost to the taxpayer of the creation, collection, maintenance, use, dissemination, and disposition of information. Consistent with this goal and with principles of economy and efficiency in government, it is FTA policy to limit insofar as possible distribution of complete printed sets of NEPA documents. Accordingly, unless a specific request for a complete printed set of the NEPA document is received before the document is printed, FTA and NJ Transit will distribute only electronic copies of the NEPA document. A complete printed set of the environmental document will be available for review at the NJ Transit offices and elsewhere; an electronic copy of the complete environmental document will be available on the project’s Web page https:// njtransitresilienceprogram.com/ documents. Marilyn G. Shazor, Regional Administrator, FTA, Region 02. [FR Doc. 2016–00048 Filed 1–6–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Transit Administration Limitation on Claims Against a Proposed Public Transportation Project AGENCY: rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:34 Jan 06, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00117 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 method tunneling alternatives under South Flower Street south of 4th Street in the Financial District. See, Today’s IV, Inc. v. Federal Transit Administration, et al. (U.S. District Court, Central District of California, Western Division, Case No. 2:13–CV–00378) and 515/555 Flower Associates, LLC v. Federal Transit Administration, et al. (U.S. District Court, Central District of California, Western Division, Case No. 2:13–CV–00453). Pursuant to the Court’s decision, FTA and LACMTA prepared additional analysis for the project, specifically draft and final versions of a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). The SEIS was limited in its scope and analyzed in detail two additional tunnel construction alternatives along Flower Street from 4th Street to 7th Street, as required by the Court’s Order. FTA issued the Final SEIS concurrently with a Supplemental ROD per 23 U.S.C. Section 139(n)(2)(A), as amended by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, Public Law 114–94. This notice only applies to this discrete action taken by FTA. Nothing in this notice affects FTA’s previous decisions, or notice thereof, for this project. Final agency actions: Supplemental Record of Decision, dated December 16, 2015. Supporting documentation: Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, dated December 2015. Lucy Garliauskas, Associate Administrator Planning and Environment. [FR Doc. 2016–00035 Filed 1–6–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Surface Transportation Board [Docket No. FD 35986] Connex Railroad LLC—Lease and Operation Exemption—Line of Buzzi Unicem USA in College Park, Ga. Connex Railroad LLC (Connex), a noncarrier, has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.31 to lease from noncarrier Buzzi Unicem USA (Buzzi), operate, and maintain approximately 1,500 feet of railroad track located in College Park, Ga. (the Line). Connex states that the Line crosses West Point Avenue and connects to a CSX Transportation, Inc., mainline track in College Park, Ga., at milepost 12 of the CSX Old Atlanta West Point Subdivision. According to Connex, there are no mileposts associated with the Line, but it is identified as Buzzi Unicem Track ID XXB012. Connex states that the proposed transaction does not involve any provision or agreement that would limit Connex’s ability to interchange with a third party. E:\FR\FM\07JAN1.SGM 07JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 4 (Thursday, January 7, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 848-850]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00048]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement on NJ 
Transitgrid Traction Power System in Hudson County, New Jersey

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.

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

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

SUMMARY: The FTA, as the federal lead agency, and the New Jersey 
Transit Corporation (NJ TRANSIT), as joint lead agency, are planning to 
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the NJ TRANSITGRID 
TRACTION POWER SYSTEM, which will provide a reliable electric power 
generation system (called a microgrid) to provide electricity to 
operate trains on a portion of the NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak rail systems, 
including some sections of the Northeast Corridor and Morris & Essex 
line, and the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail System. The microgrid, which is 
needed to enhance the resiliency of the public transportation system, 
will also provide electricity for some signal power and tunnel 
ventilation, pumping, and lighting on the Main Line and Northeast 
Corridor. NJ TRANSITGRID consists of two projects with independent 
utility from each other: The TRACTION POWER SYSTEM and the DISTRIBUTED 
GENERATION SOLUTIONS, which will provide power to train and bus 
stations and other transportation facilities in northeastern New Jersey 
with sustainable energy sources such as fuel cells, photovoltaic 
panels, and combined heat and power units. The EIS, which will be 
prepared only for the NJ TRANSITGRID TRACTION POWER SYSTEM, will be in 
accordance with Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and FTA 
regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 
as well as expedited project delivery provisions of the Moving Ahead 
for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). DISTRIBUTED GENERATIONS 
SOLUTIONS is a project with independent utility from the TRACTION POWER 
SYSTEM and will progress in a separate process to comply with NEPA and 
MAP-21.

DATES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS should be sent to Mr. 
Nick Marton or Mr. Chris Jeter by February 29, 2016. A public scoping 
meeting will be held on February 3, 2016 between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. at 
the location indicated under ADDRESSES below.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS should be sent to: 
Mr. Nick Marton, Project Manager, NJ TRANSIT, River Line Office, 800 
Lemuel Avenue, Camden, NJ 08105 or Mr. Chris Jeter, NJ TRANSIT, One 
Penn Plaza East, 8th Floor, Newark, NJ 07105-2246. Comments may also be 
offered at the public scoping meeting. The date, time, and address for 
the public scoping meeting is as follows:

February 3, 2016 4 p.m.-8 p.m.

St. Peter's University, 2641 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Center Room, Jersey 
City, NJ 07306

    This location is accessible to persons with disabilities. If 
special translation or signing service or other special accommodations 
are needed, please contact the Project Manager, Mr. Nick Marton at 
(856) 614-7003 or Mr. Chris Jeter at (973) 491-7707 at least 48 hours 
before the meeting. A Draft Scoping Document for the NJ TRANSITGRID 
TRACTION POWER SYSTEM is available on NJ TRANSIT's Web site at: https://njtransitresilienceprogram.com/documents. or by calling the project 
manager, Mr. Nick Marton, at (856) 614-7003 or Mr. Chris Jeter at (973) 
491-7707. Copies will also be available at the scoping meeting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Nancy Danzig, Director of Planning 
and Program Development, FTA Region 2, One Bowling Green, Room 429, New 
York, NY 10004. (212) 668-2177.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Scoping: The scoping process provides agencies and the public with 
the opportunity to review and comment on the purpose and need 
identified for the proposed project, alternatives considered, and the 
proposed methodologies that will be used to assess the potential 
social, economic, and environmental impacts of the project in the Draft 
EIS. Comments received during this process will be reviewed by FTA and 
NJ TRANSIT and incorporated into a Final Scoping Document, which will 
initiate the preparation of the Draft EIS.
    Project Need: The purpose of the proposed project is to enhance the

[[Page 849]]

resiliency of the electricity supply to the NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak 
infrastructure that serves key commuter markets in New York and New 
Jersey to minimize public transportation service disruptions. The 
region's public transportation infrastructure is vulnerable to power 
outages due to the nature of the existing centralized power 
distribution system and the intensity and frequency of severe weather 
events.
    Project Description and Alternatives: The proposed microgrid will 
be a state-of-the-art electric power generating facility that will be 
scaled to provide emergency power for NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak service 
operating between New York's Penn Station and northeastern New Jersey 
as well as other transit service as indicated above. It is anticipated 
that the new facility will be able to generate approximately 104 
megawatts (MW) of electricity. Natural gas-fired generation was 
identified as the most cost-effective choice to serve the identified 
traction power loads (i.e., the power needed to operate trains). At the 
present time, four types of conventional generation are under 
consideration:
     A simple-cycle reciprocating engine plant, with multiple 
reciprocating engines;
     A combined-cycle reciprocating engine plant, configured 
with multiple reciprocating engines and one steam turbine;
     A simple-cycle combustion-turbine plant, with three 
combustion turbines; and
     A combined-cycle gas turbine plant, configured with two 
combustion turbines and one steam turbine.
    The preferred generation system could be one of the four listed 
above or a combination of reciprocating engine and gas turbine 
technologies. Clean-burning natural gas will provide fuel for the 
combustion turbines and/or engines. A no action alternative, which 
contemplates roadway and transit facility improvements (other than the 
proposed project) planned for and programmed to be implemented by the 
year 2021 (the proposed project's completion year) will be defined to 
serve as a baseline for comparison to the build alternative options.
    A project site for the approximate 104 MW power plant was 
identified in Kearny, Hudson County, New Jersey based on a site 
screening analysis that evaluated properties on the Kearny Peninsula 
near NJ TRANSIT's Mason and Amtrak's Kearny (Sub 41) substations. The 
NJ Transit Site Screening Analysis can be found on the projects Web 
page at https://njtransitresilienceprogram.com/documents.
    These two substations will receive the highest electrical loads 
from the microgrid to supply power to the Morris & Essex Line and 
Northeast Corridor via transmission lines that run from the generation 
site to the substations. Transmission lines will also run from the 
proposed project site to NJ TRANSIT's Henderson substation in Hoboken, 
New Jersey to supply power to the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail.
    EIS Process and Role of Participating Agencies and the Public: The 
purpose of the EIS process is to explore in a public setting 
potentially significant effects of implementing the proposed project on 
the physical, human, and natural environment. Areas of investigation 
will include, but are not limited to: Land use, community facilities, 
socioeconomic conditions, air quality (including consideration of 
greenhouse gas emissions and climate change), cultural resources, 
aesthetic conditions, transportation, noise and vibration, natural 
resources, water quality, electromagnetic fields, utilities, 
contaminated materials, and safety and security. Measures to avoid, 
minimize, and mitigate any significant adverse impacts will be 
identified. An Agency and Public Coordination Plan (Plan) has been 
developed to guide a comprehensive outreach program. It can be found on 
the project's Web page at https://njtransitresilienceprogram.com/documents.
    The Plan outlines outreach to local and county officials and 
community and civic groups; a public scoping process to define the 
issues of concern among all parties interested in the project; 
establishment of a Technical Advisory Committee and periodic meetings 
with that committee; a public hearing on release of the Draft EIS; and 
development and distribution of project newsletters.
    The purpose of and need for the proposed project has been 
preliminarily identified in this notice. We invite the public and 
participating agencies to consider the preliminary statement of purpose 
and need for the project, as well as the alternatives proposed for 
consideration. Suggestions for modifications to the statement of 
purpose and need and any other reasonable alternatives that meet the 
purpose and need for the project are welcomed and will be given serious 
consideration. Comments on significant environmental impacts that may 
be associated with the proposed project and alternatives are also 
welcomed. There will be additional opportunities to participate in the 
scoping process at the public meeting announced in this notice.
    FTA Procedures: The proposed NJ TRANSITGRID project has been 
identified by the FTA as a project eligible for Federal funding through 
FTA's Emergency Relief Program that was promulgated in response to 
Hurricane Sandy. Prior to providing funding, the FTA must review the 
proposed project in accordance with NEPA as well as other related 
statutes and regulations. In accordance with 23 CFR 771.105(a) and 
771.133, FTA will comply with all Federal environmental laws, 
regulations, and executive orders applicable to the proposed project 
during the environmental review process to the maximum extent 
practicable. These requirements include, but are not limited to, the 
regulations of the CEQ and FTA implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-
1508 and 23 CFR part 771), the project-level air quality conformity 
regulation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (40 CFR 
part 93), the Section 404(b)(1) guidelines of EPA (40 CFR part 230), 
the regulation implementing Section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act (36 CFR Part 800), the regulation implementing Section 
7 of the Endangered Species Act (50 CFR part 402), Section 4(f) of the 
DOT Act (23 CFR 771.135), and Executive Orders 12898 on environmental 
justice, 11988, as amended, on floodplain management, 11990 on 
wetlands, and 13186 on migratory birds.
    Public comments will be received through those methods explained 
earlier in this NOI and will be incorporated into a Final Scoping 
Document. The Final Scoping Document will detail the scope of the EIS 
and the potential environmental effects that will be considered during 
the NEPA process. After the completion of the Draft EIS, a public and 
agency review period will allow for input on the Draft EIS and these 
comments will be incorporated into the Final EIS for the proposed 
project. In accordance with Section 1319 of the Moving Ahead for 
Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) (Pub. L. 112-114), 
Accelerated Decision-making in Environmental Reviews, FTA may consider 
the use of errata sheets attached to the DEIS in place of a in place of 
a traditional Final EIS and/or development a single environmental 
decision document that consists of a Final EIS and a Record of Decision 
(ROD), if certain conditions exist following the conclusion of the 
public and agency review period for the project's Draft EIS.

[[Page 850]]

    The Paperwork Reduction Act seeks, in part, to minimize the cost to 
the taxpayer of the creation, collection, maintenance, use, 
dissemination, and disposition of information. Consistent with this 
goal and with principles of economy and efficiency in government, it is 
FTA policy to limit insofar as possible distribution of complete 
printed sets of NEPA documents. Accordingly, unless a specific request 
for a complete printed set of the NEPA document is received before the 
document is printed, FTA and NJ Transit will distribute only electronic 
copies of the NEPA document. A complete printed set of the 
environmental document will be available for review at the NJ Transit 
offices and elsewhere; an electronic copy of the complete environmental 
document will be available on the project's Web page https://njtransitresilienceprogram.com/documents.

Marilyn G. Shazor,
Regional Administrator, FTA, Region 02.
[FR Doc. 2016-00048 Filed 1-6-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE P
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