Environmental Impact Statement: High-Speed Ground Transportation from Atlanta, GA to Chattanooga, TN, 47121-47122 [07-4109]
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 162 / Wednesday, August 22, 2007 / Notices
Mr.
Kenneth Petty, (202) 366–6654, Office of
Planning, Environment, and Realty,
Federal Highway Administration,
Department of Transportation, 1200
New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington,
DC 20590. Office hours are from 8 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Planning and Research Program
Administration.
OMB Control #: 2125–0039.
Background: Under the provisions of
Title 23, United States Code, section
505, 2 percent of Federal-aid highway
funds in certain categories that are
apportioned to the States are set aside
to be used only for State Planning and
Research (SPR). At least 25 percent of
the SPR funds apportioned annually
must be used for research, development,
and technology transfer activities. In
accordance with government-wide grant
management procedures, a grant
application must be submitted for these
funds. In addition, recipients must
submit periodic progress and financial
reports. In lieu of Standard Form 424,
Application for Federal Assistance, the
FHWA uses a work program as the grant
application. This includes a scope of
work and budget for activities to be
undertaken with FHWA planning and
research funds during the next 1 or 2
year period. The information contained
in the work program includes task
descriptions, assignments of
responsibility for conducting the work
effort, and estimated costs for the tasks.
This information is necessary to
determine how FHWA planning and
research funds will be utilized by the
State Transportation Departments and if
the proposed work is eligible for Federal
participation. The content and
frequency of submission of progress and
financial reports specified in 23 CFR
Part 420 are specified in OMB Circular
A–102 and the companion common
grant management regulations.
Respondents: 52 State Transportation
Departments, including the District of
Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Frequency: Annual.
Estimated Average Annual Burden
per Response: 560 hours per
respondent.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 29,120 hours.
Electronic Access: Internet users may
access all comments received by the
U.S. DOT Dockets, by using the
universal resource locator (URL):
https://dms.dot.gov, 24 hours each day,
365 days each year. Please follow the
instructions online for more information
and help.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
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16:26 Aug 21, 2007
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47121
Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended;
and 49 CFR 1.48.
Public Scoping Meetings—All Three
From 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Eastern
Daylight Time
Issued on: August 15, 2007.
James R. Kabel,
Chief, Management Programs and Analysis
Division.
[FR Doc. E7–16478 Filed 8–21–07; 8:45 am]
1. Tuesday, September 18, 2007,
McEachern High School, 2400 New
Macland Road, Powder Springs,
Georgia.
2. Wednesday, September 19, 2007,
Rome Civic Center, 400 Civic Center
Drive, Rome, Georgia.
3. Thursday, September 20, 2007,
Chattanooga Hamilton County
Bicentennial Library, 1001 Broad Street,
Chattanooga, Tennessee.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the
scope should be sent to Mr. Glenn
Bowman, P.E., State Environmental/
Location Engineer, Georgia Department
of Transportation, 3993 Aviation Circle,
Atlanta, GA 30336, telephone (404)
699–4401.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
David Valenstein, Environmental
Program Manager, Federal Railroad
Administration, 1120 Vermont Avenue,
NW., Mail Stop 20, Washington, DC
20590, telephone (202) 493–6368; Mr.
Wayne Fedora, P.E., Major Projects
Engineer, Federal Highway
Administration, Georgia Division, 61
Forsyth Street, Suite 17T100, Atlanta,
GA 30303, telephone (404) 562–3651;
Mr. George Coleman, Transportation
Specialist, Tennessee Department of
Transportation, 505 Deadrick Street,
Suite 1800, Nashville, TN 37243,
telephone (615) 741–1341; or Mr.
Bowman of GDOT at the above address.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FRA and
FHWA, in cooperation with the GDOT
and the TDOT, will prepare a Tier I EIS
for a HSGT system in the 110-mile
corridor between Hartsfield
International Airport and Atlanta, in
Georgia, and Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The EIS will evaluate environmental
impacts of a HSGT system in the Atlanta
to Chattanooga corridor.
This corridor has seen significant
growth, both in population and
employment, during the past few
decades. It continues to be one of the
fastest growing areas in the country.
Future growth is projected to result in
increased travel demand for both goods
and people. The existing highway,
transit, and aviation transportation
infrastructure that would serve this
demand are all projected to be at or
above capacity. GDOT and TDOT
believe that HSGT could provide a
transportation alternative, thereby
reducing congestion and travel time
within the corridor, and could provide
safe and reliable transportation for
passengers between Hartsfield
International Airport, Chattanooga
BILLING CODE 4910–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Federal Railroad Administration
Environmental Impact Statement:
High-Speed Ground Transportation
from Atlanta, GA to Chattanooga, TN
AGENCIES: Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA), Federal
Railroad Administration (FRA),
Department of Transportation (DOT).
Notice of Intent to Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement.
ACTION:
SUMMARY: FRA and FHWA are issuing
this notice to advise the public that they
will jointly prepare a Tier I
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
with the Georgia Department of
Transportation (GDOT) and the
Tennessee Department of
Transportation (TDOT) to evaluate the
environmental and related impacts of
constructing and operating high-speed
ground transportation (HSGT) service
between Atlanta, Georgia and
Chattanooga, Tennessee. FRA and
FHWA are also issuing this notice to
solicit public and agency input into the
development of the scope of the EIS and
to advise the public that outreach
activities conducted by GDOT and its
representatives will be considered in the
preparation of the EIS.
Written comments on the scope
of the EIS should be provided to GDOT
by October 4, 2007. Comments may also
be provided orally or in writing at the
scoping meetings scheduled at the
following locations:
DATES:
Agency Scoping Meetings—Both From
10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Eastern Daylight
Time
1. Tuesday, September 18, 2007,
Georgia Department of Transportation,
Office of Environment/Location, 3993
Aviation Circle, Atlanta, Georgia.
2. Thursday, September 20, 2007,
Chattanooga Hamilton County
Bicentennial Library, 1001 Broad Street,
Chattanooga, Tennessee.
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jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
47122
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 162 / Wednesday, August 22, 2007 / Notices
airport and metropolitan area, and
points in between.
The Tier I EIS will be carried out in
accordance with Council on
Environmental Quality (CEQ)
regulations (40 CFR part 1500 et seq.)
implementing the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA),
FRA’s Procedures for Considering
Environmental Impacts (64 FR 28545;
May 26, 1999), and FHWA regulations
(23 CFR part 771 et seq.).
In addition to NEPA, the Tier I EIS
will address other applicable statutes,
regulations, and executive orders,
including the 1990 Clean Air Act
Amendments, Section 404 of the Clean
Water Act, the National Historic
Preservation Act of 1966, Section 4(f) of
the Department of Transportation Act,
the Endangered Species Act, and
Executive Order 12898 on
Environmental Justice.
The goals of the EIS are to: (1)
Examine the regional transportation
implications of the project concept; (2)
evaluate the modal and technology
alternatives available to provide HSGT
between the two cities; (3) develop and
evaluate location alternatives; and (4)
determine the logical segments to be
carried forward for detailed evaluation
in subsequent (Tier II) environmental
documents.
In a Tier I EIS, alternatives will be
evaluated at a broad level of analysis.
Proposed alternatives include a NoBuild Alternative (used as a baseline for
comparison of all alternatives), HSGT in
a corridor that roughly parallels
Interstate-75, one or more corridors
utilizing a portion of an existing CSX
transportation rail line, and a corridor
that roughly parallels U.S. Route 411.
Other possible corridor locations are
expected to be identified during the
alternatives development phase of the
study.
GDOT will contact appropriate
federal, state, and local agencies, as well
as other organizations and individuals
who have previously expressed interest,
or are known to be interested, in this
proposal to describe the proposed scope
and solicit comments. Formal scoping
meetings have been scheduled as
indicated above.
Additional public information
meetings and public hearings will be
held during the development of the Tier
I EIS. Public notice will be given of the
times and locations of scoping meetings,
public information meetings, and public
hearings. The Draft Tier I EIS will be
made available for review and comment
prior to the public hearings.
To ensure that the full range of issues
related to this proposed action are
addressed and all significant issues are
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:26 Aug 21, 2007
Jkt 211001
identified, comments and suggestions
are invited from all interested parties.
Comments or questions concerning this
proposed action and the Tier I EIS
should be directed to GDOT at the
addresses provided above.
Issued in Washington, DC on August 16,
2007.
Rodney Barry, P.E.,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway
Administration, Atlanta, GA.
Mark E. Yachmetz,
Associate Administrator for Railroad
Development, Federal Railroad
Administration, Washington, DC.
[FR Doc. 07–4109 Filed 8–21–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: New
London County, CO
Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of intent.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this
notice to advise the public that an
environmental impact statement will be
prepared for proposed transportation
improvements to 12.3 miles (21 km) of
Interstate 95 (I–95) in New London
County, Connecticut.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bradley D. Keazer, Division
Administrator, Federal Highway
Administration, 628–2 Hebron Avenue,
Suite 303, Glastonbury, Connecticut
06033, telephone (860) 659–6703, ext.
3009; or Edgar T. Hurle, Transportation
Planning Director, Bureau of Policy and
Planning, Connecticut Department of
Transportation, 2800 Berlin Turnpike,
P.O. Box 317546, Newington, CT
06131–7546, telephone: (860) 594–2005.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
FHWA, in cooperation with the
Connecticut Department of
Transportation (ConnDOT), will prepare
an environmental impact statement
(EIS) on a proposal for transportation
improvements to I–95 between
interchanges 70 and 84 in the towns of
Old Lyme, East Lyme, Waterford and
New London, Connecticut for a distance
of approximately 12.3 miles (21 km).
Improvements to the I–95 corridor are
considered necessary to improve safety
and to provide for increases in projected
traffic volumes. Alternatives under
consideration include, but are not
limited to: (1) Taking no action; and (2)
addition of a third travel lane in each
direction. The EIS will use data and
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Frm 00171
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
findings from two major deficiency and
needs studies entitled ‘‘Southeastern
Connecticut Corridor Study’’ dated
January 1999 and ‘‘I–95 Corridor
Feasibility Study, Branford to Rhode
Island’’ dated December 2004. Copies of
these studies are available from
ConnDOT’s Office of Environmental
Planning at the address shown above.
Letters describing the proposed action
and soliciting comments will be sent to
appropriate Federal, State, and local
agencies and elected officials, and to
private organizations and citizens who
have previously expressed or are known
to have an interest in this proposal.
Public scoping meetings, public
hearings and public informational
meetings will be held. Public notice will
be given of the date, time and place of
these meetings and hearings. The draft
EIS will be available for public and
agency review and comment prior to the
public hearings. An Internet Web site
will be established to provide
information on the project which may
be accessed at https://www.et.gov/
dotinfo/.
To ensure that the full range of issues
related to this proposed action are
addressed and all significant issues
identified, comments and suggestions
are invited from all interested parties.
Comments or questions concerning this
proposed action and the EIS should be
directed to either the FHWA or
ConnDOT at the addresses provided
above.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program Number 20.205, Highway Planning
and Construction. The regulations
implementing Executive Order 12372
regarding intergovernmental consultation on
Federal programs and activities apply to this
program.)
Authority: 23 CFR 771
Dated: Issued on August 15, 2007.
Bradley D. Keazer,
Division Administrator, Hartford,
Connecticut.
[FR Doc. 07–4127 Filed 8–21–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–22–M
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration
Sunshine Act Meetings; Unified Carrier
Registration Plan Board of Directors
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA), DOT.
TIME AND DATE: October 4, 2007, 11 a.m.
to 2 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time.
PLACE: This meeting will take place
telephonically. Any interested person
may call Mr. Avelino Gutierrez at (505)
AGENCY:
E:\FR\FM\22AUN1.SGM
22AUN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 22, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47121-47122]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-4109]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Federal Railroad Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: High-Speed Ground Transportation
from Atlanta, GA to Chattanooga, TN
AGENCIES: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA), Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: FRA and FHWA are issuing this notice to advise the public that
they will jointly prepare a Tier I Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and the Tennessee
Department of Transportation (TDOT) to evaluate the environmental and
related impacts of constructing and operating high-speed ground
transportation (HSGT) service between Atlanta, Georgia and Chattanooga,
Tennessee. FRA and FHWA are also issuing this notice to solicit public
and agency input into the development of the scope of the EIS and to
advise the public that outreach activities conducted by GDOT and its
representatives will be considered in the preparation of the EIS.
DATES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS should be provided to
GDOT by October 4, 2007. Comments may also be provided orally or in
writing at the scoping meetings scheduled at the following locations:
Agency Scoping Meetings--Both From 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Eastern
Daylight Time
1. Tuesday, September 18, 2007, Georgia Department of
Transportation, Office of Environment/Location, 3993 Aviation Circle,
Atlanta, Georgia.
2. Thursday, September 20, 2007, Chattanooga Hamilton County
Bicentennial Library, 1001 Broad Street, Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Public Scoping Meetings--All Three From 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Eastern
Daylight Time
1. Tuesday, September 18, 2007, McEachern High School, 2400 New
Macland Road, Powder Springs, Georgia.
2. Wednesday, September 19, 2007, Rome Civic Center, 400 Civic
Center Drive, Rome, Georgia.
3. Thursday, September 20, 2007, Chattanooga Hamilton County
Bicentennial Library, 1001 Broad Street, Chattanooga, Tennessee.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope should be sent to Mr. Glenn
Bowman, P.E., State Environmental/Location Engineer, Georgia Department
of Transportation, 3993 Aviation Circle, Atlanta, GA 30336, telephone
(404) 699-4401.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David Valenstein, Environmental
Program Manager, Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont Avenue,
NW., Mail Stop 20, Washington, DC 20590, telephone (202) 493-6368; Mr.
Wayne Fedora, P.E., Major Projects Engineer, Federal Highway
Administration, Georgia Division, 61 Forsyth Street, Suite 17T100,
Atlanta, GA 30303, telephone (404) 562-3651; Mr. George Coleman,
Transportation Specialist, Tennessee Department of Transportation, 505
Deadrick Street, Suite 1800, Nashville, TN 37243, telephone (615) 741-
1341; or Mr. Bowman of GDOT at the above address.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FRA and FHWA, in cooperation with the GDOT
and the TDOT, will prepare a Tier I EIS for a HSGT system in the 110-
mile corridor between Hartsfield International Airport and Atlanta, in
Georgia, and Chattanooga, Tennessee. The EIS will evaluate
environmental impacts of a HSGT system in the Atlanta to Chattanooga
corridor.
This corridor has seen significant growth, both in population and
employment, during the past few decades. It continues to be one of the
fastest growing areas in the country. Future growth is projected to
result in increased travel demand for both goods and people. The
existing highway, transit, and aviation transportation infrastructure
that would serve this demand are all projected to be at or above
capacity. GDOT and TDOT believe that HSGT could provide a
transportation alternative, thereby reducing congestion and travel time
within the corridor, and could provide safe and reliable transportation
for passengers between Hartsfield International Airport, Chattanooga
[[Page 47122]]
airport and metropolitan area, and points in between.
The Tier I EIS will be carried out in accordance with Council on
Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (40 CFR part 1500 et seq.)
implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), FRA's
Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts (64 FR 28545; May 26,
1999), and FHWA regulations (23 CFR part 771 et seq.).
In addition to NEPA, the Tier I EIS will address other applicable
statutes, regulations, and executive orders, including the 1990 Clean
Air Act Amendments, Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, the National
Historic Preservation Act of 1966, Section 4(f) of the Department of
Transportation Act, the Endangered Species Act, and Executive Order
12898 on Environmental Justice.
The goals of the EIS are to: (1) Examine the regional
transportation implications of the project concept; (2) evaluate the
modal and technology alternatives available to provide HSGT between the
two cities; (3) develop and evaluate location alternatives; and (4)
determine the logical segments to be carried forward for detailed
evaluation in subsequent (Tier II) environmental documents.
In a Tier I EIS, alternatives will be evaluated at a broad level of
analysis. Proposed alternatives include a No-Build Alternative (used as
a baseline for comparison of all alternatives), HSGT in a corridor that
roughly parallels Interstate-75, one or more corridors utilizing a
portion of an existing CSX transportation rail line, and a corridor
that roughly parallels U.S. Route 411. Other possible corridor
locations are expected to be identified during the alternatives
development phase of the study.
GDOT will contact appropriate federal, state, and local agencies,
as well as other organizations and individuals who have previously
expressed interest, or are known to be interested, in this proposal to
describe the proposed scope and solicit comments. Formal scoping
meetings have been scheduled as indicated above.
Additional public information meetings and public hearings will be
held during the development of the Tier I EIS. Public notice will be
given of the times and locations of scoping meetings, public
information meetings, and public hearings. The Draft Tier I EIS will be
made available for review and comment prior to the public hearings.
To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed
action are addressed and all significant issues are identified,
comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties.
Comments or questions concerning this proposed action and the Tier I
EIS should be directed to GDOT at the addresses provided above.
Issued in Washington, DC on August 16, 2007.
Rodney Barry, P.E.,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Atlanta, GA.
Mark E. Yachmetz,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Development, Federal Railroad
Administration, Washington, DC.
[FR Doc. 07-4109 Filed 8-21-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
