Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed South Coast Rail Project, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of the Army Permit Application Number NAE-2007-00698, 64927-64928 [E8-25987]

Download as PDF ebenthall on PROD1PC60 with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 212 / Friday, October 31, 2008 / Notices industry expected to move into the local area. Construction of the proposed lake will require an approximately 2,000 feet long dam across Murder Creek. 2. Alternatives to the applicants’ proposal may exist which would reduce impacts to the surrounding environment. These could include, but are not restricted to, reducing the surface elevation of the lake, thereby building a smaller lake, considering alternate site locations for the lake, pursuing alternate site layouts that may have less impact on the environment, or pursuing alternate sources of water for irrigation and the bio-fuels industry, or combinations of these or other alternatives. A determination of these or other alternatives to be evaluated will be developed during the scoping and evaluation phase of the EIS. 3. Scoping: a. The Corps invites full public participation to promote open communication on the issues surrounding the proposal. All Federal, State, and local agencies, native American tribes, and other persons or organizations that have an interest are urged to participate in the NEPA scoping process. A public scoping meeting will be held to help identify significant issues and to receive public input and comment. The location and time for the public scoping meeting will be advertised through various media outlets at least 30 days prior to the meeting date. b. The Draft EIS will analyze the potential social, economic, and environmental impacts to the local area resulting from the proposed project and alternatives. Specifically, the following major issues will be analyzed in the Draft EIS: hydrologic and hydraulic regimes, threatened and endangered species, fish and wildlife habitat, wetlands, essential fish habitat and other marine habitat, air quality, cultural resources, wastewater treatment capacities and discharges, drainage discharges, transportation systems, alternatives, secondary and cumulative impacts, socioeconomic impacts, environmental justice (effect on minorities and low-income groups) (Executive Order 12898), and protection of children (Executive Order 13045). c. The Corps will serve as the lead Federal agency in the preparation of the Draft EIS. The Corps intends to coordinate and/or consult with an interagency team of Federal and State agencies during scoping and preparation of the Draft EIS. A decision will be made during the scoping process whether other agencies will serve in an official role as cooperating agencies. VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:31 Oct 30, 2008 Jkt 217001 4. It is anticipated that the DEIS will be made available for public review in December 2009. Byron G. Jorns, Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Commander. [FR Doc. E8–25986 Filed 10–30–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3720–58–P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed South Coast Rail Project, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of the Army Permit Application Number NAE– 2007–00698 Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. ACTION: Notice of intent. AGENCY: SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500–1508), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District (Corps) announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate a proposed establishment of passenger rail service between Boston and New Bedford/Fall River, MA. The Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation and Public Works (EOT) has submitted an application for a Department of the Army permit to discharge fill material into waters of the United States (U.S.), ranging in area from less than one acre to approximately eight acres (depending on the alternative selected), including wetlands, incidental to the establishment of the passenger rail service. The EOT has stated that the purpose of their proposed project is to more fully meet the existing and future demand for public transportation between Fall River/New Bedford and Boston, MA, and to enhance regional mobility, while supporting smart growth planning and development strategies in the affected communities. The cities of Taunton, Fall River, and New Bedford are the only cities within 50 miles of Boston that are not currently served by passenger rail. The EIS will also be prepared with the intent to serve as a joint Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) and NEPA document that will comply with the procedural requirements of both state and federal law and serve as a PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 64927 combined EIS/Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The MEPA review will be conducted simultaneously with the NEPA process. The EIS/EIR will evaluate a range of alternative transit routes to determine the Least Environmentally Damaging Practicable Alternative (‘‘LEDPA’’), in accordance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Guidelines for Specification of Disposal Sites for Dredged or Fill Material (40 CFR Part 230). Alternative routes presently identified include four principal rail routes: (1) The ‘‘Attleboro Alternative’’, (2) the ‘‘Stoughton Alternative’’, (3) the ‘‘Middleborough Alternative’’, and (4) the ‘‘Attleboro-Middleborough Hybrid Alternative’’. A fifth alternative is a Rapid Bus Alternative using modified highway infrastructure. A No Build/ Transportation Surface Management alternative will also be evaluated. Public scoping may identify other alternatives for evaluation in the EIS/EIR. DATES: Written comments must be received by: January 9, 2009. ADDRESSES: Comments can be sent to Mr. Alan Anacheka-Nasemann, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division, ATTN: CENAE–R–PEA, 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA, or by e-mail to: SCREIS@usace.army.mil. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Alan Anacheka-Nasemann, (978) 318– 8214, e-mail: SCREIS@usace.army.mil. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Massachusetts EOT has submitted an application under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act for a Department of the Army permit to discharge fill material into waters of the U.S. incidental to establishment of passenger rail service between Boston and New Bedford and Fall River, MA, known as the ‘‘South Coast Rail Project.’’ To date, the proposed South Coast Rail Project has been undergoing review and analysis of alternatives in accordance with the Corps’ New England District’s Highway Methodology. EOT completed a preliminary analysis of alternatives in April 2008, which consisted of investigating, analyzing and screening a number of alternatives. Five alternative transit routes, with mode variations and slight route variations, resulted from the screening process. The ‘‘Attleboro Alternative’’ would expand service via the existing AMTRAK Northeast Corridor, with added capacity, new track and existing freight lines from Attleboro via Norton to Taunton. This route could potentially affect two Commonwealth of Massachusetts Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) known as Fowl Meadow/ E:\FR\FM\31OCN1.SGM 31OCN1 ebenthall on PROD1PC60 with NOTICES 64928 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 212 / Friday, October 31, 2008 / Notices Ponkapoag Bog and the Three-Mile River Watershed, and would also include construction of new track (‘‘Attleboro bypass’’), near or over Chartley Pond in the vicinity of an existing National Grid electrical line right-of-way. The ‘‘Stoughton Alternative’’ would extend the existing Stoughton commuter rail line from its current terminus in Stoughton along a presently abandoned right-of-way through Easton and Raynham to Taunton. This would follow an existing railroad grade that crosses Hockomock Swamp, a Massachusetts ACEC. The ‘‘Middleborough Alternative’’ would extend the existing Old Colony commuter rail line through Middleborough to Taunton. Continuation from Taunton to New Bedford would be via an existing freight track via Lakeville and Berkley. The ‘‘Attleboro-Middleborough Hybrid Alternative’’ would extend existing Old Colony commuter rail line through Middleborough to Taunton and add trains to the existing Amtrak Northeast Corridor via Attleboro and along the Attleboro bypass. This alternative could potentially affect Three-Mile River Watershed ACEC. The links between Taunton and New Bedford/Fall River are common to all four rail alternatives. The ‘‘Rapid Bus’’ alternative would involve construction of new Rapid Bus dedicated lanes along existing Massachusetts Highways 24 and 128, and Interstate Highway 93. The No Build/Transportation Surface Management alternative would involve enhancement to existing bus services without infrastructure improvements. Elements of all of the alternatives proposed at this time by EOT would be located in waters of the U.S. Estimates of surface area impacts range from less than one to approximately eight acres, depending on the alignment. The proposed alternative routes could affect natural resources, including Commonwealth of Massachusetts Wildlife Management Areas and Areas of Critical Environmental Concern. Although there are no Federally listed threatened or endangered species known to be found in the proposed alternative route areas, the Hockomock Swamp ACEC is known to contain at least sixteen species listed as threatened, endangered or species of special concern by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. All of the proposed alternative routes would affect historic and cultural resources, including properties eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and historic districts that have cultural importance in the affected communities. Consultation on the VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:31 Oct 30, 2008 Jkt 217001 extent of the impacts on these resources will be undertaken with the State Historic Preservation Office under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The Corps is seeking participation and input of all interested federal, state and local agencies, Native American groups, and other concerned private organizations or individuals on the scope of the EIS/EIR. Significant issues to be analyzed in depth in the EIS/EIR include: Impacts to waters of the U.S., including vernal pools and other wetlands; cultural resources, threatened and endangered species; transportation; air quality, including greenhouse gas emissions; noise and vibration; surface water and groundwater; hydrology and water quality; and socioeconomic effects. It is anticipated that the Draft EIS/ Draft EIR will be made available to the public in the late spring of 2009. Two scoping meetings will be held. The meeting dates are: 1. Tuesday, December 2, 2008, 6:30 p.m., University of Massachusetts (U–Mass) Dartmouth, Woodland Commons Building, 285 Old Westport Road, North Dartmouth, MA 02747–2300, Parking is available in lot #7. 2. Wednesday, December 3, 2008, 6:30 p.m., Taunton High School Auditorium, 50 Williams Street, Taunton, MA 02780. Pre-registration for each meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. on the dates and locations listed above. Dated: October 22, 2008. Lieutenant Colonel Stephen E. Lefebvre, Deputy District Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England. [FR Doc. E8–25987 Filed 10–30–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3720–58–P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Elementary and Secondary Education; Overview Information; Advanced Placement (AP) Test Fee Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.330B. DATES: Applications Available: October 31, 2008. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: December 15, 2008. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: February 13, 2009. Full Text of Announcement I. Funding Opportunity Description Purpose of Program: The AP Test Fee program awards grants to eligible State PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 educational agencies (SEAs) to enable them to pay all or a portion of advanced placement test fees on behalf of eligible low-income students who (1) are enrolled in an advanced placement course and (2) plan to take an advanced placement exam. The program is designed to increase the number of lowincome students who take advanced placement tests and receive scores for which college academic credit is awarded. Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6531– 6537. Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General Administration Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 84, 85, 97, 98, and 99. Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants except federally recognized Indian tribes. II. Award Information Type of Award: Discretionary grants. Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested $70,000,000 for the new Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate (AP/IB) program authorized under Title VI, Subtitle A, Part II of the America COMPETES Act, and the AP Test Fee and Advanced Placement Incentive (API) programs authorized under Title I, Part G of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (ESEA) for FY 2009, of which we expect to use an estimated $12,000,000 for this program. The remaining funds would support new grants under the AP/IB program and continuation grants under the API program. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant process if Congress appropriates funds for this program. Estimated Range of Awards: $2,164— $3,507,966. Estimated Average Size of Awards: $285,714. Estimated Number of Awards: 42. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. Project Period: Up to 12 months. III. Eligibility Information 1. Eligible Applicants: SEAs in any State, including the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the freely associated states of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, E:\FR\FM\31OCN1.SGM 31OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 212 (Friday, October 31, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64927-64928]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-25987]


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

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental 
Impact Report for the Proposed South Coast Rail Project, Commonwealth 
of Massachusetts, Department of the Army Permit Application Number NAE-
2007-00698

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as implemented by the Council on 
Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, New England District (Corps) announces its 
intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate a 
proposed establishment of passenger rail service between Boston and New 
Bedford/Fall River, MA. The Massachusetts Executive Office of 
Transportation and Public Works (EOT) has submitted an application for 
a Department of the Army permit to discharge fill material into waters 
of the United States (U.S.), ranging in area from less than one acre to 
approximately eight acres (depending on the alternative selected), 
including wetlands, incidental to the establishment of the passenger 
rail service. The EOT has stated that the purpose of their proposed 
project is to more fully meet the existing and future demand for public 
transportation between Fall River/New Bedford and Boston, MA, and to 
enhance regional mobility, while supporting smart growth planning and 
development strategies in the affected communities. The cities of 
Taunton, Fall River, and New Bedford are the only cities within 50 
miles of Boston that are not currently served by passenger rail.
    The EIS will also be prepared with the intent to serve as a joint 
Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) and NEPA document that 
will comply with the procedural requirements of both state and federal 
law and serve as a combined EIS/Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The 
MEPA review will be conducted simultaneously with the NEPA process.
    The EIS/EIR will evaluate a range of alternative transit routes to 
determine the Least Environmentally Damaging Practicable Alternative 
(``LEDPA''), in accordance with the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency Guidelines for Specification of Disposal Sites for Dredged or 
Fill Material (40 CFR Part 230). Alternative routes presently 
identified include four principal rail routes: (1) The ``Attleboro 
Alternative'', (2) the ``Stoughton Alternative'', (3) the 
``Middleborough Alternative'', and (4) the ``Attleboro-Middleborough 
Hybrid Alternative''. A fifth alternative is a Rapid Bus Alternative 
using modified highway infrastructure. A No Build/Transportation 
Surface Management alternative will also be evaluated. Public scoping 
may identify other alternatives for evaluation in the EIS/EIR.

DATES: Written comments must be received by: January 9, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Comments can be sent to Mr. Alan Anacheka-Nasemann, U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division, 
ATTN: CENAE-R-PEA, 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA, or by e-mail to: 
SCREIS@usace.army.mil.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Alan Anacheka-Nasemann, (978) 318-
8214, e-mail: SCREIS@usace.army.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Massachusetts EOT has submitted an 
application under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act for a Department 
of the Army permit to discharge fill material into waters of the U.S. 
incidental to establishment of passenger rail service between Boston 
and New Bedford and Fall River, MA, known as the ``South Coast Rail 
Project.'' To date, the proposed South Coast Rail Project has been 
undergoing review and analysis of alternatives in accordance with the 
Corps' New England District's Highway Methodology. EOT completed a 
preliminary analysis of alternatives in April 2008, which consisted of 
investigating, analyzing and screening a number of alternatives. Five 
alternative transit routes, with mode variations and slight route 
variations, resulted from the screening process. The ``Attleboro 
Alternative'' would expand service via the existing AMTRAK Northeast 
Corridor, with added capacity, new track and existing freight lines 
from Attleboro via Norton to Taunton. This route could potentially 
affect two Commonwealth of Massachusetts Areas of Critical 
Environmental Concern (ACECs) known as Fowl Meadow/

[[Page 64928]]

Ponkapoag Bog and the Three-Mile River Watershed, and would also 
include construction of new track (``Attleboro bypass''), near or over 
Chartley Pond in the vicinity of an existing National Grid electrical 
line right-of-way. The ``Stoughton Alternative'' would extend the 
existing Stoughton commuter rail line from its current terminus in 
Stoughton along a presently abandoned right-of-way through Easton and 
Raynham to Taunton. This would follow an existing railroad grade that 
crosses Hockomock Swamp, a Massachusetts ACEC. The ``Middleborough 
Alternative'' would extend the existing Old Colony commuter rail line 
through Middleborough to Taunton. Continuation from Taunton to New 
Bedford would be via an existing freight track via Lakeville and 
Berkley. The ``Attleboro-Middleborough Hybrid Alternative'' would 
extend existing Old Colony commuter rail line through Middleborough to 
Taunton and add trains to the existing Amtrak Northeast Corridor via 
Attleboro and along the Attleboro bypass. This alternative could 
potentially affect Three-Mile River Watershed ACEC. The links between 
Taunton and New Bedford/Fall River are common to all four rail 
alternatives. The ``Rapid Bus'' alternative would involve construction 
of new Rapid Bus dedicated lanes along existing Massachusetts Highways 
24 and 128, and Interstate Highway 93. The No Build/Transportation 
Surface Management alternative would involve enhancement to existing 
bus services without infrastructure improvements.
    Elements of all of the alternatives proposed at this time by EOT 
would be located in waters of the U.S. Estimates of surface area 
impacts range from less than one to approximately eight acres, 
depending on the alignment. The proposed alternative routes could 
affect natural resources, including Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
Wildlife Management Areas and Areas of Critical Environmental Concern. 
Although there are no Federally listed threatened or endangered species 
known to be found in the proposed alternative route areas, the 
Hockomock Swamp ACEC is known to contain at least sixteen species 
listed as threatened, endangered or species of special concern by the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
    All of the proposed alternative routes would affect historic and 
cultural resources, including properties eligible for listing on the 
National Register of Historic Places and historic districts that have 
cultural importance in the affected communities. Consultation on the 
extent of the impacts on these resources will be undertaken with the 
State Historic Preservation Office under Section 106 of the National 
Historic Preservation Act.
    The Corps is seeking participation and input of all interested 
federal, state and local agencies, Native American groups, and other 
concerned private organizations or individuals on the scope of the EIS/
EIR. Significant issues to be analyzed in depth in the EIS/EIR include: 
Impacts to waters of the U.S., including vernal pools and other 
wetlands; cultural resources, threatened and endangered species; 
transportation; air quality, including greenhouse gas emissions; noise 
and vibration; surface water and groundwater; hydrology and water 
quality; and socioeconomic effects.
    It is anticipated that the Draft EIS/Draft EIR will be made 
available to the public in the late spring of 2009.
    Two scoping meetings will be held. The meeting dates are: 1. 
Tuesday, December 2, 2008, 6:30 p.m., University of Massachusetts (U-
Mass) Dartmouth, Woodland Commons Building, 285 Old Westport Road, 
North Dartmouth, MA 02747-2300, Parking is available in lot 7.
    2. Wednesday, December 3, 2008, 6:30 p.m., Taunton High School 
Auditorium, 50 Williams Street, Taunton, MA 02780.
    Pre-registration for each meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. on the 
dates and locations listed above.

    Dated: October 22, 2008.
Lieutenant Colonel Stephen E. Lefebvre,
Deputy District Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England.
[FR Doc. E8-25987 Filed 10-30-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
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