Environmental Impact Statement: Cook County, IL, 25309 [2010-10770]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 88 / Friday, May 7, 2010 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration Environmental Impact Statement: Cook County, IL jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of Intent. SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this Notice to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for the 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project, which involves construction of new railroad main tracks, two new rail flyover bridges, and a new rail/roadway grade separation structure within existing rail corridors in the cities of Chicago and Hometown, Cook County, Illinois. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Norman R. Stoner, P.E., Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Springfield, Illinois 62703, Phone: (217) 492–4600. George Weber, Chief, Bureau of Railroads, Illinois Department of Transportation, 100 W Randolph Street, Suite 6–600, Chicago, Illinois 60601–3229, Phone: (312) 793–4222. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Illinois Department of Transportation, Bureau of Railroads, will prepare an EIS on a proposal to reconfigure freight and passenger rail tracks within an existing approximately 12-mile corridor generally centered along 75th Street in south Chicago. The proposed project comprises several elements of the overall Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program (CREATE), a joint effort of the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Chicago Department of Transportation, and the Association of American Railroads to restructure, modernize, and expand freight and passenger rail facilities and highway grade separations in the Chicago metropolitan area. Alternative configurations of rail flyovers and track realignments will be considered and refined. The no-action alternative will also be evaluated. A preferred alternative will be presented at a public hearing. Preliminary measures to minimize harm, construction cost estimates, and estimated right-of-way and relocation requirements will also be developed. The proposed action will reduce rail congestion and delays by eliminating conflicts between four freight railroads and two passenger railroads operating in the corridor, improve roadway safety by eliminating an existing at-grade roadway crossing, and allow passenger VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:19 May 06, 2010 Jkt 220001 rail access from the Metra Southwest Service to the LaSalle Street Station, thereby reducing congestion at Union Station. The project area consists of urban residential and industrial land uses, so no natural resource impacts are anticipated. Potential impacts may include residential relocations, effects on community cohesion and travel patterns, impacts to publicly-owned parks, and impacts to properties potentially eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. There is also the potential for noise and air quality impacts. To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed action are addressed, and all substantive issues are identified, this project is being developed using the principles of Context Sensitive Solutions per the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Policies and Procedures. A Stakeholder Involvement Plan (SIP) will be developed that will detail the public involvement activities that will be conducted as part of this study, and will address the Coordination Plan requirements of 23 U.S.C. 139(g) within the context of the NEPA process. Under the SIP, an interdisciplinary Project Study Group will be formed to develop the project, and a Community Advisory Group will be formed to provide input to the study process. As part of the EIS process, a scoping meeting for obtaining input from Resource Agencies will be held on June 11, 2010. Public informational meetings, focus meetings with stakeholders, a public hearing, newsletters, a project Web site and interest group meetings will provide opportunities for public involvement. The project’s Draft EIS will be available for public and agency review prior to the public hearing. The time and location of the public hearing will be announced in local newspapers. Comments or questions concerning this proposed action and the Draft EIS should be directed to FHWA or the Illinois Department of Transportation 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 of Federal program and activities apply to this program.) Issued on: April 28, 2010. Norman R. Stoner, Division Administrator. [FR Doc. 2010–10770 Filed 5–6–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–22–P PO 00000 Frm 00125 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 25309 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration Notice of Final Federal Agency Actions on Proposed Expanded Intermodal Freight Terminal in Michigan AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of Decision by FHWA and Notice of Limitation of Claims for Judicial Review of Actions by FHWA and Other Federal Agencies. SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of a Record of Decision by FHWA pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Protection Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321, as amended and the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500–1508). In addition, this Notice announces actions taken by FHWA and other Federal agencies that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(1)(1). These actions relate to proposed improvements to the Livernois-Junction Yard, also known as the Detroit Intermodal Freight Terminal (DIFT) and associated external-toterminal road and rail improvements in Wayne County, Michigan. These actions grant approvals for the project. DATES: By this notice, the FHWA is advising the public of final agency actions subject to 23 U.S.C. 771 and 23 U.S.C. 139(1)(1). A claim seeking judicial review of the Federal Agency actions on the highway project will be barred unless the claim is filed on or before November 3rd, 2010 (180 days from May 7th). If the Federal law that authorizes that judicial review of a claim provides a time period of less than 180 days for filing such claim, then that shorter time period still applies. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David Williams, Environmental Program Manager, Federal Highway Administration Michigan Division, 315 West Allegan Street, Room 201, Lansing, MI 48933; phone: (517) 702–1820, Fax: (517) 377–1804; and e-mail: David.Williams@dot.gov. Mr. Ryan Rizzo, Major Project Manager, Federal Highway Administration Michigan Division, 315 West Allegan Street, Room 201, Lansing, MI 48933; phone: (517) 702–1833, Fax: (517) 377–1844; e-mail: Ryan.Rizzo@dot.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given that the FHWA and other Federal agencies have taken final agency actions by issuing approvals for the following expansion project in the State of Michigan: Detroit Intermodal Freight Terminal. The selected alternative will: Expand the Norfolk Southern (NS) and E:\FR\FM\07MYN1.SGM 07MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 88 (Friday, May 7, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 25309]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-10770]



[[Page 25309]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Cook County, IL

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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

SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this Notice to advise the public that an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for the 75th 
Street Corridor Improvement Project, which involves construction of new 
railroad main tracks, two new rail flyover bridges, and a new rail/
roadway grade separation structure within existing rail corridors in 
the cities of Chicago and Hometown, Cook County, Illinois.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Norman R. Stoner, P.E., Division 
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Springfield, Illinois 
62703, Phone: (217) 492-4600. George Weber, Chief, Bureau of Railroads, 
Illinois Department of Transportation, 100 W Randolph Street, Suite 6-
600, Chicago, Illinois 60601-3229, Phone: (312) 793-4222.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Illinois 
Department of Transportation, Bureau of Railroads, will prepare an EIS 
on a proposal to reconfigure freight and passenger rail tracks within 
an existing approximately 12-mile corridor generally centered along 
75th Street in south Chicago. The proposed project comprises several 
elements of the overall Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation 
Efficiency Program (CREATE), a joint effort of the Illinois Department 
of Transportation, the Chicago Department of Transportation, and the 
Association of American Railroads to restructure, modernize, and expand 
freight and passenger rail facilities and highway grade separations in 
the Chicago metropolitan area. Alternative configurations of rail 
flyovers and track realignments will be considered and refined. The no-
action alternative will also be evaluated. A preferred alternative will 
be presented at a public hearing. Preliminary measures to minimize 
harm, construction cost estimates, and estimated right-of-way and 
relocation requirements will also be developed.
    The proposed action will reduce rail congestion and delays by 
eliminating conflicts between four freight railroads and two passenger 
railroads operating in the corridor, improve roadway safety by 
eliminating an existing at-grade roadway crossing, and allow passenger 
rail access from the Metra Southwest Service to the LaSalle Street 
Station, thereby reducing congestion at Union Station. The project area 
consists of urban residential and industrial land uses, so no natural 
resource impacts are anticipated. Potential impacts may include 
residential relocations, effects on community cohesion and travel 
patterns, impacts to publicly-owned parks, and impacts to properties 
potentially eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic 
Places. There is also the potential for noise and air quality impacts.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed, and all substantive issues are identified, this 
project is being developed using the principles of Context Sensitive 
Solutions per the Illinois Department of Transportation's Policies and 
Procedures. A Stakeholder Involvement Plan (SIP) will be developed that 
will detail the public involvement activities that will be conducted as 
part of this study, and will address the Coordination Plan requirements 
of 23 U.S.C. 139(g) within the context of the NEPA process. Under the 
SIP, an interdisciplinary Project Study Group will be formed to develop 
the project, and a Community Advisory Group will be formed to provide 
input to the study process. As part of the EIS process, a scoping 
meeting for obtaining input from Resource Agencies will be held on June 
11, 2010. Public informational meetings, focus meetings with 
stakeholders, a public hearing, newsletters, a project Web site and 
interest group meetings will provide opportunities for public 
involvement. The project's Draft EIS will be available for public and 
agency review prior to the public hearing. The time and location of the 
public hearing will be announced in local newspapers. Comments or 
questions concerning this proposed action and the Draft EIS should be 
directed to FHWA or the Illinois Department of Transportation 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 of 
Federal program and activities apply to this program.)

    Issued on: April 28, 2010.
Norman R. Stoner,
Division Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010-10770 Filed 5-6-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P
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