Environmental Impact Statement for the Milwaukee, WI (Milwaukee Intermodal Station) to Minneapolis, MN (Minneapolis Transportation Interchange) Rail Corridor, 76778-76780 [2010-31013]
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 236 / Thursday, December 9, 2010 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Notice of Intent To Rule on Request To
Release Airport Property at the
Kearney Municipal Airport, Kearney,
NE
Federal Aviation
Administration, (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of request to release
airport property.
AGENCY:
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on
November 16, 2010.
Jim A. Johnson,
Manager, Airports Division, Central Region.
The FAA proposes to rule and
invites public comment on the release of
land at the Kearney Municipal Airport
under the provisions of Section 125 of
the Wendell H. Ford Aviation
Investment Reform Act for the 21st
Century (AIR 21).
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before January 10, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Comments on this
application may be mailed or delivered
to the FAA at the following address:
Federal Aviation Administration,
Central Region, Airports Division, 901
Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106–
2325. In addition, one copy of any
comments submitted to the FAA must
be mailed or delivered to Michael J. Tye,
City Attorney, City of Kearney, 1419
Central Avenue, P.O. Box 636, Kearney,
NE, 68848–0636.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Nicoletta Oliver, Airports Compliance
Specialist, FAA, Central Region, 901
Locust, Kansas City, MO 64106–2325,
(816) 329–2642.
The request to release property may
be reviewed in person at this same
location.
SUMMARY:
The FAA
proposes to rule and invites public
comment on the request to release
property at the Kearney Municipal
Airport under the provisions of AIR21.
On November 4, 2010, the FAA
determined that the request to release
property at the Kearney Municipal
Airport, submitted by the City of
Kearney, met the procedural
requirements of the Federal Aviation
Administration. The FAA will approve
or disapprove the request, in whole or
in part, no later than January 7, 2011.
The following is a brief overview of
the request.
The City of Kearney requests the
release of approximately 170 acres of
airport property.
The land is currently not being used
for aeronautical purposes. The purpose
of this release is to sell the land to Delux
Manufacturing Co. Inc. for use as farm
land and generate revenue for the
airport.
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Any person may inspect the request
in person at the FAA office listed above
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
In addition, any person may, upon
request, inspect the application, notice
and other documents that are relevant to
the request, in person at the City of
Kearney, Kearney, Nebraska.
[FR Doc. 2010–30976 Filed 12–8–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Milwaukee, WI (Milwaukee
Intermodal Station) to Minneapolis, MN
(Minneapolis Transportation
Interchange) Rail Corridor
Federal Railroad
Administration, Department of
Transportation.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement.
AGENCY:
FRA is issuing this notice to
advise the public that a Tier I
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
will be prepared for the Milwaukee, WI
to Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
(Milwaukee-Twin Cities) High-Speed
Rail Corridor Program. The project
includes passenger stations,
maintenance facilities, and the
construction of a high-speed rail line
between Milwaukee and the Twin
Cities. This corridor is part of a larger
network of high-speed passenger rail
corridors in the Midwest, with a hub in
Chicago, IL. The effort to develop these
high-speed rail corridors and expand
the passenger rail system in the
Midwest is known as the Midwest
Regional Rail Initiative (MWRRI). FRA
is 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 FRA will be considered in
the preparation of the EIS. Alternatives
under consideration include taking no
action (No Build), as well as several
build alternatives along a variety of
corridors between Milwaukee and the
Twin Cities.
DATES: Locations, dates, and start and
end times for public meetings involving
the EIS are listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section of this notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Daniel Krom, Director, Passenger Rail
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
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Office, Minnesota Department of
Transportation, 395 John Ireland
Boulevard, MS 480, St. Paul, MN 55155,
telephone (651)–366–3193; or Ms.
Colleen Vaughn, Office of Railroad
Policy and Development, Federal
Railroad Administration (FRA), 1200
New Jersey Avenue, SE., MS–20/W38–
303, Washington, DC 20590, telephone
(202) 493–6096.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FRA, in
cooperation with the Minnesota
Department of Transportation (Mn/
DOT), and the Wisconsin Department of
Transportation (WisDOT), will prepare a
Tier 1 EIS for the Milwaukee-Twin
Cities High-Speed Rail Corridor Program
from the Milwaukee Intermodal Station
in Milwaukee, WI to the Minneapolis
Transportation Interchange in
Minneapolis, MN. The objective of the
tiered EIS is to evaluate potential
intercity passenger rail route
alternatives at the corridor level and
will result in the creation of a Service
Development Plan for the corridor.
Objectives: The objectives of this
MWRRI project are to meet current and
future regional travel needs through
significant improvements to the level
and quality of passenger rail service and
provide a stimulus for joint
development in communities served by
the system by:
• Using existing rail rights-of-way to
connect rural, small urban, and major
metropolitan areas;
• Improving safety, reliability and ontime performance;
• Providing a transportation choice
for smaller communities which do not
have or are under-served by commercial
air service;
• Providing improved travel times
that are competitive with the
automobile mode; and
• Using modern train equipment
operating at speeds up to 110 mph.
Environmental Review Process: The
EIS will be developed 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). FRA, with Mn/DOT and
WisDOT, will use a tiered process, as
provided for in 40 CFR 1508.28 and in
accordance with FRA guidance, in the
completion of the environmental review
of the Project. The Tier 1 EIS will
address broad corridor-level issues and
proposals. Subsequent phases or tiers
will analyze, at a greater level of detail,
narrower site-specific proposals based
on the decisions made in Tier 1.
Tier 1: The Tier 1 EIS will result in
a NEPA document with the appropriate
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 236 / Thursday, December 9, 2010 / Notices
level of detail for corridor-level
decisions and will address broad overall
issues of concern, including but not
limited to:
• Confirming the purpose and need
for the proposed action.
• Confirming the study area
appropriate to assess reasonable and
feasible alternatives.
• Identifying a comprehensive set of
goals and objectives for the corridor in
conjunction with the project sponsors
and other stakeholders. These goals and
objectives will be crafted to allow
comprehensive evaluation of all aspects
of the project necessary to achieve the
goals, including train operations,
vehicles and infrastructure.
• Identifying the reasonable and
feasible alternatives to be considered
including a no action/no build
alternative, consistent with the current
and planned use of the corridor and the
existing services within and adjacent to
the study area.
• Developing criteria and screen
alternatives to eliminate those
alternatives that do not meet the
purpose and need of the proposed
action.
• Identifying the general alignment(s)
of the reasonable and feasible
alternatives.
• Identifying right-of-way
requirements for the reasonable and
feasible alternatives.
• Identifying the infrastructure and
equipment investment requirements for
the reasonable and feasible alternatives.
• Identifying the operational changes
required for the reasonable and feasible
alternatives.
• Describing the environmental
impacts associated with proposed
changes in passenger rail train
frequency, speed, and on-time
performance.
• Characterizing the environmental
consequences of the reasonable and
feasible alternatives.
• Establishing the timing and
sequencing of independent actions to
maintain a state of good repair and to
implement the proposed action.
• Identifying a preferred alternative
for route alignment.
• Selecting component projects for
Tier 2 NEPA documentation.
Alternatives: A No-Build Alternative
will be studied as the baseline for
comparison with the proposed project.
The No-Build Alternative represents
other transportation modes such as auto,
air travel, intercity bus, and existing rail
and the physical characteristics and
capacities as they exist at the time of the
Tier 1 EIS, with planned and funded
improvements that will be in place at
the time the project becomes
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operational. Several alternatives will be
evaluated in the Tier 1 EIS including:
• Route A1: This alternative uses
Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) right-ofway from Milwaukee, WI to Watertown,
WI; right-of-way owned by the State of
Wisconsin from Watertown to Junction
A in Madison; Union Pacific Railroad
Company (UP) right-of-way under lease
to Wisconsin & Southern Railroad
(WSOR) from Junction A to Johnson
Street Yard in Madison, WI; CP right-ofway from Johnson Street Yard in
Madison through Portage, WI and La
Crosse, WI to Red Wing, MN and to
Hastings, MN; CP or BNSF Railway Co.
(BNSF) right-of-way from Hastings, MN
to St. Paul, MN; and CP and BNSF
rights-of-way from St. Paul, MN to
Minneapolis, MN.
• Route A2: This alternative uses CP
right-of-way from Milwaukee, WI to
Watertown, WI, through Portage, WI and
La Crosse, WI to Red Wing, MN and to
Hastings, MN; CP or BNSF right-of-way
from Hastings, MN to St. Paul, MN; and
CP and BNSF rights-of-way from St.
Paul, MN to Minneapolis, MN.
• Route B1: This alternative uses CP
right-of-way from Milwaukee, WI to
Watertown, WI; right-of-way owned by
the State of Wisconsin from Watertown
to Junction A in Madison, WI; UP rightof-way under lease to WSOR from
Junction A to Johnson Street Yard in
Madison; CP right-of-way from Johnson
Street Yard in Madison through Portage,
WI to Winona, MN; Dakota, Minnesota,
& Eastern Railroad Co. (DM&E) right-ofway through Rochester, MN to
Owatonna, MN; UP right-of-way to
Northfield, MN; CP right-of-way to St.
Paul, MN; and CP and BNSF rights-ofway from St. Paul to Minneapolis, MN.
• Route B2: This alternative uses CP
right-of-way from Milwaukee, WI to
Watertown, WI, through Portage, WI to
Winona, MN; DM&E right-of-way
through Rochester, MN to Owatonna,
MN; UP right-of-way to Northfield, MN;
CP right-of way to St. Paul, MN; and CP
and BNSF rights-of-way from St. Paul to
Minneapolis, MN.
• Route C1: This alternative uses CP
right-of-way from Milwaukee, WI to
Watertown, WI; right-of-way owned by
the State of Wisconsin from Watertown
to Junction A in Madison, WI; UP rightof-way under lease to WSOR from
Junction A to Johnson Street Yard in
Madison; CP right-of-way from Johnson
Street Yard in Madison through Portage,
WI to Camp Douglas, WI; UP right-ofway through Eau Claire, WI to St. Paul,
MN; and CP and BNSF rights-of-way to
Minneapolis, MN.
• Route C2: This alternative uses CP
right-of-way from Milwaukee, WI to
Watertown, WI, through Portage, WI to
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76779
Camp Douglas, WI; UP right-of-way
through Eau Claire, WI to St. Paul, MN;
and CP and BNSF rights-of-way to
Minneapolis, MN.
Scoping and Comments: FRA
encourages broad participation in the
EIS process during scoping and
subsequent review of the resulting
environmental documents. Comments
and suggestions are invited from all
interested agencies and the public at
large to ensure the full range of issues
related to the proposed action and all
reasonable alternatives are addressed
and all significant issues are identified.
In particular, FRA is interested in
determining whether there are areas of
environmental concern where there
might be the potential for significant
impacts identifiable at a corridor level.
Letters describing the proposed project
and soliciting comments will be sent to
appropriate Federal, State, and local
agencies, and appropriate railroads.
Public agencies with jurisdiction are
requested to advise the FRA, Mn/DOT,
and WisDOT of the applicable permit
and environmental review requirements
of each agency, and the scope and
content of the environmental
information that is germane to the
agency’s statutory responsibilities in
connection with the proposed
improvements.
Agency scoping meetings have been
and will be held for this project at the
dates and times below. These meetings
have been and will be advertised locally
and held at the following cities and
dates:
1. St. Paul, MN on November 29, 2010
from 5 p.m.–7 p.m.
2. La Crosse, WI/La Crescent, MN on
November 30, 2010 from 5 p.m.–7 p.m.
3. Eau Claire, WI on December 1, 2010
from 5 p.m.–7 p.m.
4. Fond du Lac, WI on December 2,
2010 from 5 p.m.–7 p.m.
5. Rochester, MN on December 6,
2010 from 5 p.m.–7 p.m.
6. Madison, WI on December 7, 2010
from 5 p.m.–7 p.m.
7. Milwaukee, WI at a date and
location to be determined.
Scoping meetings will also take place
after the publication of this Notice in
the Federal Register. Two additional
rounds of public meetings will be held
in the same seven locations stated above
during February 2011 and February
2012.
Letters describing the proposed action
alternatives and soliciting comments
will be sent to appropriate Federal,
State, and local agencies in Minnesota
and Wisconsin. An iterative public
involvement/information program will
support the process. The program will
involve newsletters, a project hotline,
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 236 / Thursday, December 9, 2010 / Notices
informational workshops, small group
meetings, and other methods to solicit
and incorporate public input throughout
the planning process. To ensure that the
full range of issues relating to the
proposed action is addressed, comments
and suggestions are invited from all
interested parties. Comments and
questions concerning the extension of
the proposed action should be directed
to Mn/DOT or to the FRA at the
addresses provided above. Additional
information can be obtained by visiting
the project Web site at https://
www.dot.state.mn.us/passengerrail/
mwrri/phase7.html or sending an email
to MWRRIPhase7@state.mn.us.
Issued in Washington, DC, on December 6,
2010.
Mark E. Yachmetz,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Policy
and Development.
[FR Doc. 2010–31013 Filed 12–8–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Petition for Waiver of Compliance
In accordance with part 211 of title 49
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR),
notice is hereby given that the Federal
Railroad Administration (FRA) has
received a request for a waiver of
compliance from certain requirements
of its safety standards. The individual
petition is described below, including
the party seeking relief, the regulatory
provisions involved, the nature of the
relief being requested, and the
petitioner’s arguments in favor of relief.
Madison Railroad
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[Waiver Petition Docket Number FRA–2010–
0158]
The Madison Railroad (MR) of
Madison, Indiana, has petitioned for a
permanent waiver of compliance for
Locomotive Number 2013, from the
requirements of the Railroad Safety
Glazing Standards, Title 49 CFR part
223, which require certified glazing in
all windows and with the Railroad
Safety Appliance Standards, Title 49
CFR part 231, where the vertical
handholds do not meet current design
requirements. In addition, Caboose
CMPA 79718, a standard cupola type
road caboose that was built in the late
1970’s, originally used by MR as their
offices. MR desires to utilize this
caboose to offer train rides as a
community service 4 times a year. MR
states all the existing glazing is safety
plate glass in very good condition;
however, does not comply with the
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Railroad Safety Glazing Standards, Title
49 CFR part 223, which require certified
glazing in all caboose windows.
MR, a division of the City of Madison
Port Authority, owns and operates a 25
mile Shortline from Madison to North
Vernon, Indiana, approximately 4 times
a week at a speed of 10 miles per hour
(mph) or less. Approximately twice per
month, the railroad operates on 25 miles
from North Vernon to Madison to
service a customer on the Madison
hilltop. The locomotive operates at 10
mph or less, moves one to three loads
south, and then makes a return trip with
empties. Locomotive Number 2013
would normally be used as a back-up
locomotive to Locomotive Number
3634.
Interested parties are invited to
participate in these proceedings by
submitting written views, data, or
comments. FRA does not anticipate
scheduling a public hearing in
connection with these proceedings since
the facts do not appear to warrant a
hearing. If any interested party desires
an opportunity for oral comment, they
should notify FRA, in writing, before
the end of the comment period and
specify the basis for their request.
All communications concerning these
proceedings should identify the
appropriate docket number (e.g., Waiver
Petition Docket Number FRA–2010–
0158) and may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
• Web site: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: 202–493–2251.
• Mail: Docket Operations Facility,
U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200
New Jersey Avenue, SE., W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590.
• Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey
Avenue, SE., Room W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
Communications received within 45
days of the date of this notice will be
considered by FRA before final action is
taken. Comments received after that
date will be considered as far as
practicable. All written communications
concerning these proceedings are
available for examination during regular
business hours (9 a.m.–5 p.m.) at the
above facility. All documents in the
public docket are also available for
inspection and copying on the Internet
at the docket facility’s Web site at https://
www.regulations.gov.
Anyone is able to search the
electronic form of any written
communications and comments
received into any of our dockets by the
name of the individual submitting the
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document (or signing the document, if
submitted on behalf of an association,
business, labor union, etc.). You may
review DOT’s complete Privacy Act
Statement in the Federal Register
published on April 11, 2000 (Volume
65, Number 70; Page 19477) or at
https://www.dot.gov/privacy.html.
Issued in Washington, DC on December 3,
2010.
Robert C. Lauby,
Deputy Associate Administrator for
Regulatory and Legislative Operations.
[FR Doc. 2010–30910 Filed 12–8–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Petition for Waiver of Compliance
In accordance with Title 49 Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) part 211,
notice is hereby given that the Federal
Railroad Administration (FRA) has
received a request for a waiver of
compliance from certain requirements
of its safety standards. The individual
petition is described below, including
the party seeking relief, the regulatory
provisions involved, the nature of the
relief being requested, and the
petitioner’s arguments in favor of relief.
Roger W. Stabler and Gloria J. Stabler
[Waiver Petition Docket Number FRA–2010–
0153]
The owners, Mr. Roger W. Stabler and
Ms. Gloria J. Stabler (the Stablers), a
private partnership in Woodland in the
State of California, have petitioned FRA
for a permanent waiver of compliance,
for one private passenger car (Two
Rivers), from the requirements of 49
CFR Part 223, Safety Glazing Standards,
which requires certified glazing in all
windows.
The passenger car, Two Rivers, was
built by Pullman Standard in 1948, and
does not have glazing material that
meets the provisions of 49 CFR 223.15,
Requirements for existing passenger
cars, for certified glazing in the 23 sidefacing windows (including windows in
the end vestibule doors). There are no
end-facing windows in this car.
The Two Rivers car is interchanged
with the general system of railroads,
moved short distances over freight
railroads for storage when not in use,
and occasionally operated behind
Amtrak passenger trains. Also, the Two
Rivers car is occasionally used in
special trains made up of similarly
owned passenger cars being operated for
the pleasure of the owner and affiliated
members of the American Association of
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 236 (Thursday, December 9, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76778-76780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-31013]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Environmental Impact Statement for the Milwaukee, WI (Milwaukee
Intermodal Station) to Minneapolis, MN (Minneapolis Transportation
Interchange) Rail Corridor
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration, Department of Transportation.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: FRA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a Tier I
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for the
Milwaukee, WI to Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN (Milwaukee-Twin Cities) High-
Speed Rail Corridor Program. The project includes passenger stations,
maintenance facilities, and the construction of a high-speed rail line
between Milwaukee and the Twin Cities. This corridor is part of a
larger network of high-speed passenger rail corridors in the Midwest,
with a hub in Chicago, IL. The effort to develop these high-speed rail
corridors and expand the passenger rail system in the Midwest is known
as the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative (MWRRI). FRA is 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 FRA will be considered in the preparation of the EIS.
Alternatives under consideration include taking no action (No Build),
as well as several build alternatives along a variety of corridors
between Milwaukee and the Twin Cities.
DATES: Locations, dates, and start and end times for public meetings
involving the EIS are listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
of this notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Daniel Krom, Director, Passenger
Rail Office, Minnesota Department of Transportation, 395 John Ireland
Boulevard, MS 480, St. Paul, MN 55155, telephone (651)-366-3193; or Ms.
Colleen Vaughn, Office of Railroad Policy and Development, Federal
Railroad Administration (FRA), 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., MS-20/W38-
303, Washington, DC 20590, telephone (202) 493-6096.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FRA, in cooperation with the Minnesota
Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT), and the Wisconsin Department of
Transportation (WisDOT), will prepare a Tier 1 EIS for the Milwaukee-
Twin Cities High-Speed Rail Corridor Program from the Milwaukee
Intermodal Station in Milwaukee, WI to the Minneapolis Transportation
Interchange in Minneapolis, MN. The objective of the tiered EIS is to
evaluate potential intercity passenger rail route alternatives at the
corridor level and will result in the creation of a Service Development
Plan for the corridor.
Objectives: The objectives of this MWRRI project are to meet
current and future regional travel needs through significant
improvements to the level and quality of passenger rail service and
provide a stimulus for joint development in communities served by the
system by:
Using existing rail rights-of-way to connect rural, small
urban, and major metropolitan areas;
Improving safety, reliability and on-time performance;
Providing a transportation choice for smaller communities
which do not have or are under-served by commercial air service;
Providing improved travel times that are competitive with
the automobile mode; and
Using modern train equipment operating at speeds up to 110
mph.
Environmental Review Process: The EIS will be developed 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). FRA, with Mn/DOT and WisDOT, will use a tiered
process, as provided for in 40 CFR 1508.28 and in accordance with FRA
guidance, in the completion of the environmental review of the Project.
The Tier 1 EIS will address broad corridor-level issues and proposals.
Subsequent phases or tiers will analyze, at a greater level of detail,
narrower site-specific proposals based on the decisions made in Tier 1.
Tier 1: The Tier 1 EIS will result in a NEPA document with the
appropriate
[[Page 76779]]
level of detail for corridor-level decisions and will address broad
overall issues of concern, including but not limited to:
Confirming the purpose and need for the proposed action.
Confirming the study area appropriate to assess reasonable
and feasible alternatives.
Identifying a comprehensive set of goals and objectives
for the corridor in conjunction with the project sponsors and other
stakeholders. These goals and objectives will be crafted to allow
comprehensive evaluation of all aspects of the project necessary to
achieve the goals, including train operations, vehicles and
infrastructure.
Identifying the reasonable and feasible alternatives to be
considered including a no action/no build alternative, consistent with
the current and planned use of the corridor and the existing services
within and adjacent to the study area.
Developing criteria and screen alternatives to eliminate
those alternatives that do not meet the purpose and need of the
proposed action.
Identifying the general alignment(s) of the reasonable and
feasible alternatives.
Identifying right-of-way requirements for the reasonable
and feasible alternatives.
Identifying the infrastructure and equipment investment
requirements for the reasonable and feasible alternatives.
Identifying the operational changes required for the
reasonable and feasible alternatives.
Describing the environmental impacts associated with
proposed changes in passenger rail train frequency, speed, and on-time
performance.
Characterizing the environmental consequences of the
reasonable and feasible alternatives.
Establishing the timing and sequencing of independent
actions to maintain a state of good repair and to implement the
proposed action.
Identifying a preferred alternative for route alignment.
Selecting component projects for Tier 2 NEPA
documentation.
Alternatives: A No-Build Alternative will be studied as the
baseline for comparison with the proposed project. The No-Build
Alternative represents other transportation modes such as auto, air
travel, intercity bus, and existing rail and the physical
characteristics and capacities as they exist at the time of the Tier 1
EIS, with planned and funded improvements that will be in place at the
time the project becomes operational. Several alternatives will be
evaluated in the Tier 1 EIS including:
Route A1: This alternative uses Canadian Pacific Railway
(CP) right-of-way from Milwaukee, WI to Watertown, WI; right-of-way
owned by the State of Wisconsin from Watertown to Junction A in
Madison; Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP) right-of-way under lease
to Wisconsin & Southern Railroad (WSOR) from Junction A to Johnson
Street Yard in Madison, WI; CP right-of-way from Johnson Street Yard in
Madison through Portage, WI and La Crosse, WI to Red Wing, MN and to
Hastings, MN; CP or BNSF Railway Co. (BNSF) right-of-way from Hastings,
MN to St. Paul, MN; and CP and BNSF rights-of-way from St. Paul, MN to
Minneapolis, MN.
Route A2: This alternative uses CP right-of-way from
Milwaukee, WI to Watertown, WI, through Portage, WI and La Crosse, WI
to Red Wing, MN and to Hastings, MN; CP or BNSF right-of-way from
Hastings, MN to St. Paul, MN; and CP and BNSF rights-of-way from St.
Paul, MN to Minneapolis, MN.
Route B1: This alternative uses CP right-of-way from
Milwaukee, WI to Watertown, WI; right-of-way owned by the State of
Wisconsin from Watertown to Junction A in Madison, WI; UP right-of-way
under lease to WSOR from Junction A to Johnson Street Yard in Madison;
CP right-of-way from Johnson Street Yard in Madison through Portage, WI
to Winona, MN; Dakota, Minnesota, & Eastern Railroad Co. (DM&E) right-
of-way through Rochester, MN to Owatonna, MN; UP right-of-way to
Northfield, MN; CP right-of-way to St. Paul, MN; and CP and BNSF
rights-of-way from St. Paul to Minneapolis, MN.
Route B2: This alternative uses CP right-of-way from
Milwaukee, WI to Watertown, WI, through Portage, WI to Winona, MN; DM&E
right-of-way through Rochester, MN to Owatonna, MN; UP right-of-way to
Northfield, MN; CP right-of way to St. Paul, MN; and CP and BNSF
rights-of-way from St. Paul to Minneapolis, MN.
Route C1: This alternative uses CP right-of-way from
Milwaukee, WI to Watertown, WI; right-of-way owned by the State of
Wisconsin from Watertown to Junction A in Madison, WI; UP right-of-way
under lease to WSOR from Junction A to Johnson Street Yard in Madison;
CP right-of-way from Johnson Street Yard in Madison through Portage, WI
to Camp Douglas, WI; UP right-of-way through Eau Claire, WI to St.
Paul, MN; and CP and BNSF rights-of-way to Minneapolis, MN.
Route C2: This alternative uses CP right-of-way from
Milwaukee, WI to Watertown, WI, through Portage, WI to Camp Douglas,
WI; UP right-of-way through Eau Claire, WI to St. Paul, MN; and CP and
BNSF rights-of-way to Minneapolis, MN.
Scoping and Comments: FRA encourages broad participation in the EIS
process during scoping and subsequent review of the resulting
environmental documents. Comments and suggestions are invited from all
interested agencies and the public at large to ensure the full range of
issues related to the proposed action and all reasonable alternatives
are addressed and all significant issues are identified. In particular,
FRA is interested in determining whether there are areas of
environmental concern where there might be the potential for
significant impacts identifiable at a corridor level. Letters
describing the proposed project and soliciting comments will be sent to
appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and appropriate
railroads. Public agencies with jurisdiction are requested to advise
the FRA, Mn/DOT, and WisDOT of the applicable permit and environmental
review requirements of each agency, and the scope and content of the
environmental information that is germane to the agency's statutory
responsibilities in connection with the proposed improvements.
Agency scoping meetings have been and will be held for this project
at the dates and times below. These meetings have been and will be
advertised locally and held at the following cities and dates:
1. St. Paul, MN on November 29, 2010 from 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
2. La Crosse, WI/La Crescent, MN on November 30, 2010 from 5 p.m.-7
p.m.
3. Eau Claire, WI on December 1, 2010 from 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
4. Fond du Lac, WI on December 2, 2010 from 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
5. Rochester, MN on December 6, 2010 from 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
6. Madison, WI on December 7, 2010 from 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
7. Milwaukee, WI at a date and location to be determined.
Scoping meetings will also take place after the publication of this
Notice in the Federal Register. Two additional rounds of public
meetings will be held in the same seven locations stated above during
February 2011 and February 2012.
Letters describing the proposed action alternatives and soliciting
comments will be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies
in Minnesota and Wisconsin. An iterative public involvement/information
program will support the process. The program will involve newsletters,
a project hotline,
[[Page 76780]]
informational workshops, small group meetings, and other methods to
solicit and incorporate public input throughout the planning process.
To ensure that the full range of issues relating to the proposed action
is addressed, comments and suggestions are invited from all interested
parties. Comments and questions concerning the extension of the
proposed action should be directed to Mn/DOT or to the FRA at the
addresses provided above. Additional information can be obtained by
visiting the project Web site at https://www.dot.state.mn.us/passengerrail/mwrri/phase7.html or sending an email to
MWRRIPhase7@state.mn.us.
Issued in Washington, DC, on December 6, 2010.
Mark E. Yachmetz,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Policy and Development.
[FR Doc. 2010-31013 Filed 12-8-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
