Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement for the California High-Speed Rail Project Merced to Fresno Section, 50324-50326 [2011-20582]

Download as PDF mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 50324 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 156 / Friday, August 12, 2011 / Notices Once completed, the California HST system will provide intercity, highspeed passenger rail service on more than 800 miles of tracks throughout California, connecting the major population centers of Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay Area, the Central Valley, Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, Orange County, and San Diego. It will use state-of-the-art, electrically powered, high-speed, steel-wheel-onsteel-rail technology, including contemporary safety, signaling, and automated train-control systems, with trains capable of operating up to 220 miles per hour (mph) over a fully gradeseparated, dedicated double track alignment. The FRA and Authority certified a Statewide Program EIR/EIS (Tier 1) for the California HST system in November 2005 as the first phase of a tiered environmental review process for the California HST system. In 2008, the FRA and Authority certified another program EIR/EIS for the Bay Area to Central Valley portion of the HST system. The Fresno to Bakersfield Section Draft EIR/ EIS (Tier 2) analyzes the environmental impacts and benefits of implementing the high-speed train in the more geographically limited area between Fresno and Bakersfield, and is based on more detailed project planning and engineering. This Draft EIR/EIS analysis builds on the earlier decisions and program EIR/EISs, and provides more site-specific and detailed analysis. The Authority plans to complete the California HST System in two phases. Phase 1 will connect San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim via the Pacheco Pass and the Central Valley with a mandated express travel time of 2 hours and 40 minutes or less. Phase 2 will connect the Central Valley to the state’s capital, Sacramento, and will extend the system from Los Angeles, CA to San Diego, CA. This Project is for one section in Phase 1 and is receiving funding from FRA for design and environmental review as well as for the construction of an initial Section in the Central Valley. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), enacted February 17, 2009, contained $8 billion to fund high-speed intercity passenger rail (HSIPR) projects. In response to the Recovery Act funding, FRA developed and began implementation of the HSIPR Program to fund projects to improve existing intercity passenger rail service and to develop new high speed intercity passenger rail corridors. FRA’s HSIPR Program also received an additional $2.1 billion from the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development and VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:37 Aug 11, 2011 Jkt 223001 Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010. The California High-Speed Rail Authority applied for and was selected to receive over $3.5 billion in HSIPR funds from FRA to complete preliminary engineering and NEPA reviews and associated documentation for all eight segments comprising the California HST System and to construct an initial Central Valley Section from Madera County to Bakersfield (Kern County) California. Completion of the environmental review process marked by issuance of a Record of Decision (ROD) by FRA is a prerequisite for any construction related Federal funding or approvals from FRA. The approximately 114-mile-long Fresno to Bakersfield Section is a critical Phase 1 link connecting Merced to Fresno and Bay Area HST Sections to the north and the Bakersfield to Palmdale and Palmdale to Los Angeles HST Sections to the south. The Fresno to Bakersfield Section includes HST stations in the cities of Fresno and Bakersfield, with a third potential station located in the vicinity of Hanford (Kings/Tulare Regional Station) that would serve the Hanford, Visalia, and Tulare area. The Fresno and Bakersfield stations are this Section’s beginning and ending points, or project termini. This Draft EIR/EIS has been prepared by the FRA and the Authority consistent with the provisions of Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Counsel of Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500 et seq.), FRA’s Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts (64 FR 28545 (May 26, 1999)), the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Public Resources Code § 21000–21178), and CEQA Guidelines (California Code of Regulations Title 14, Chapter 3 § 15000–15387). Copies of the Draft EIR/EIS are available online at FRA’s Web site: https://www.fra.dot.gov; the Authority’s Web site: https:// www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov; and they are also available for viewing at the following locations near the planned rail system: • Fresno County Public Library, Central Branch, Central Reference Department, 2420 Mariposa Street, Fresno, CA; • Fresno County Public Library, Clovis Regional Library, 1155 Fifth Street, Clovis, CA; • Fresno County Public Library, Laton Branch, 6313 DeWoody Street, Laton, CA; PO 00000 Frm 00159 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 • Kern County Library, Beale Memorial Library, 701 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA; • Kern County Library, Corcoran Branch, 1001 Chittenden Avenue, Corcoran, CA; • Kern County Library, Delano Branch, 925 10th Avenue, Delano, CA; • Kern County Library, Shafter Branch, 236 James Street, Shafter, CA; • Kern County Library, Wasco Branch, 1102 7th Street, Wasco, CA; • Kings County Library, Hanford Branch (Main Library), 401 N. Douty Street, Hanford, CA; • Kings County Library, Lemoore Branch, 457 C Street, Lemoore, CA; • Tulare County Library, Visalia Branch (Main Library), 200 West Oak Avenue, Visalia, CA; and • Tulare Public Library, 475 North M Street, Tulare, CA. Issued in Washington, DC on August 9, 2011. Corey W. Hill, Director, Rail Project Development and Delivery. [FR Doc. 2011–20571 Filed 8–11–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–06–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Report/ Environmental Impact Statement for the California High-Speed Rail Project Merced to Fresno Section Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), United States Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: FRA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR)/ Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been prepared for the California High-Speed Train (HST) Project Merced to Fresno Section (Project). FRA is the lead Federal agency and the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) is the lead state agency for the environmental review process. The Authority proposes to construct and operate a reliable high-speed electric-powered passenger train system along an approximately 65-mile corridor, from Merced, CA, to Fresno, CA that links those cities by delivering predictable and consistent travel times. The Project includes high-speed track alignments, stations in downtown Merced and Fresno. A heavy maintenance facility for assembly, testing, and commissioning of trains, SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\12AUN1.SGM 12AUN1 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 156 / Friday, August 12, 2011 / Notices miles of tracks throughout California, connecting the major population centers of Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay Area, the Central Valley, Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, Orange County, and San Diego. It will use state-of-the-art, electrically powered, high-speed, steelwheel-on-steel-rail technology, including contemporary safety, signaling, and automated train-control systems, with trains capable of operating up to 220 miles per hour (mph) over a fully grade-separated, dedicated double track alignment. The FRA and Authority certified a Statewide Program EIR/EIS (Tier 1) for the California HST system in November DATES: Written comments on the Draft 2005 as the first phase of a tiered EIR/EIS for the Project should be environmental review process for the provided to the Authority on or before September 28, 2011. Public hearings are California HST system. In 2008, the FRA and Authority certified another program scheduled on September 14, 2011, EIR/EIS for the Bay Area to Central September 15, 2011, and September 20, Valley portion of the HST system. The 2011 in Merced, CA, Madera, CA, and Fresno, CA respectively at the times and Merced to Fresno Section Draft EIR/EIS (Tier 2) analyzes the environmental dates listed in the Addresses Section impacts and benefits of implementing below. the high-speed train in the more ADDRESSES: Written comments on the geographically limited area between Draft EIR/EIS should be sent to the Merced and Fresno, and is based on California High-Speed Rail Authority, more detailed project planning and Merced to Fresno EIR/EIS Comment, engineering. This Draft EIR/EIS analysis 770 L Street, Suite 800, Sacramento, CA builds on the earlier decisions and 95814, through the Authority’s Web site program EIR/EISs, and provides more at https://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov, or site-specific and detailed analysis. via e-mail with the subject line ‘‘Draft The Authority plans to complete the EIR/EIS’’ to merced_fresno@hsr.ca.gov. California HST System in two phases. Comments may also be provided orally Phase 1 will connect San Francisco to or in writing at the public hearings Los Angeles/Anaheim via the Pacheco scheduled at the following locations: Pass and the Central Valley with a • Merced, CA, Wednesday, mandated express travel time of 2 hours September 14, 2011, 3 to 8 p.m., Merced and 40 minutes or less. Phase 2 will Community Senior Center, 755 West connect the Central Valley to the state’s 15th Street, Merced, CA 95340; capital, Sacramento, and will extend the • Madera, CA, Thursday, September system from Los Angeles to San Diego. 15, 2011, 3 to 8 p.m., Madera City This Project is for one section in Phase Council Chambers, 205 W. 4th Street, 1 and is receiving funding from FRA for Madera, CA 93637; and design and environmental review as • Fresno, CA, Tuesday, September 20, well as for the construction of an initial 2011, 3 to 8 p.m., Fresno Convention Section in the Central Valley. Center, 848 M Street, Fresno, CA. The American Recovery and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery David Valenstein, Chief, Environment Act), enacted February 17, 2009, and Systems Planning Division, Office contained $8 billion to fund high-speed of Railroad Policy and Development, and intercity passenger rail (HSIPR) Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. projects. In response to the Recovery Department of Transportation, 1200 Act funding, FRA developed and began New Jersey Avenue, SE., MS–20, implementation of the HSIPR Program Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: 202– to fund project to improve existing 493–6368), or Mr. Dan Leavitt, Deputy intercity passenger rail service and to Director for Environmental Review and develop new high speed intercity Planning, California High-Speed Rail passenger rail corridors. FRA’s HSIPR Authority, 770 L Street, Ste. 800, Program also received an additional Sacramento, CA 95814 (telephone: 916– $2.1 billion from the Transportation, 324–1541). Housing, and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Once 2010. The California High-Speed Rail completed, the California HST system Authority applied for and was selected will provide intercity, high-speed to receive over $3.5 billion in HSIPR passenger rail service on more than 800 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES train inspection and service, and train overhaul may be constructed in the Merced to Fresno Section. The Draft EIR/EIS presents the Project’s purpose and need, identifies all reasonable alternatives including track alignments, stations, and heavy maintenance facilities as well as the no action alternative, describes the affected environment, analyzes the potential environmental impacts of all the reasonable alternatives and the no action alternative, and identifies appropriate mitigation measures to minimize the potential environmental impacts. VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:37 Aug 11, 2011 Jkt 223001 PO 00000 Frm 00160 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 50325 funds from FRA to complete preliminary engineering and NEPA reviews, and associated documentation for all eight segments comprising the California HST System and to construct an initial Central Valley Section from Madera County to Bakersfield (Kern County) California. Completion of the environmental review process marked by issuance of a Record of Decision (ROD) by FRA is a prerequisite for any construction related Federal funding or approvals from FRA. The approximately 65-mile-long Merced to Fresno Section is an essential part of the statewide HST System. The Merced to Fresno Section is the location of the connection between the Bay Area and Sacramento branches of the HST System; it will provide Merced and Fresno access to a new transportation mode and will contribute to increased mobility throughout California. This Section will connect the central San Joaquin Valley region to the remainder of the HST System via Merced County, Madera County, and the northern part of the city of Fresno. This Draft EIR/EIS has been prepared by the FRA and the Authority consistent with the provisions of Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Counsel of Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500 et seq.), FRA’s Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts (64 FR 28545 (May 26, 1999)), and in conformity with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (California Public Resources Code Section 21000 et. seq.), and the CEQA Guidelines (California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 15000 et. seq.). Copies of the Draft EIR/EIS are available online at FRA’s Web site: https://www.fra.dot.gov and the Authority’s Web site: https:// www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov; they are also available for viewing at the following locations near the planned rail system: • Fresno County Public Library, Central Branch, 2420 Mariposa Street, Fresno, CA 93721; • Madera County Library, 121 North G Street, Madera, CA 93637; • Chowchilla Branch Library (Madera County Library), 300 Kings Avenue, Chowchilla, CA 93610; • Merced Community Senior Center, 755 West 15th Street, Merced, CA 95340; • Merced County Library, 2100 O Street, Merced, CA 95340; • Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, 22941 Fairmead Boulevard, Chowchilla, CA 93610; E:\FR\FM\12AUN1.SGM 12AUN1 50326 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 156 / Friday, August 12, 2011 / Notices • Le Grand Branch Libarary, 12949 Le Grand Road, Le Grand, CA 95333; • Lao Family Community, 855 W. 15th Street, Merced, CA 95333; • Madera Ranchos Branch Library, 37167 Avenue 12, Suite 4C, Madera, CA 95636; • Merced County Los Banos Branch Library, 1312 South Seventh Street, Los Banos, CA 93635; and • Atwater Branch Library, 1600 Third Street, Atwater, CA 95301. Issued in Washington, DC, on August 9, 2011. Corey W. Hill, Director, Rail Project Development and Delivery. [FR Doc. 2011–20582 Filed 8–11–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–06–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Surface Transportation Board [Docket No. FD 35541] mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Tyburn Railroad, LLC—Acquisition and Operation Exemption—Tyburn Railroad Company Tyburn Railroad, LLC (Tyburn), a noncarrier, has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.31 to acquire from Tyburn Railroad Company and operate approximately 0.9 miles of rail lines in Morrisville, Pa. According to Tyburn, there are no mileposts associated with the lines, which are located at ‘‘1535 S. Pennsylvania Avenue’’ in Morrisville. The lines were formerly a yard owned by Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail) and are located in a Conrail Shared Asset Area. Tyburn states that it will be able to interchange traffic with Norfolk Southern Railway Company (NS) and CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSXT), and Tyburn will enter into standard agreements with Conrail, NS, and CSXT to effect such interchange. This transaction is related to a concurrently filed verified notice of exemption in Docket No. FD 35542, Regional Rail—Continuance in Control Exemption—Tyburn Railroad, wherein Regional Rail, LLC seeks Board approval to continue in control of Tyburn, upon Tyburn’s becoming a Class III rail carrier. The transaction may not be consummated until August 28, 2011 (30 days after the notice of exemption was filed). Tyburn certifies that its projected annual revenues as a result of this transaction will not result in its becoming a Class II or Class I rail carrier and will not exceed $5 million. VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:37 Aug 11, 2011 Jkt 223001 If the verified notice contains false or misleading information, the exemption is void ab initio. Petitions to revoke the exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) may be filed at any time. The filing of a petition to revoke will not automatically stay the effectiveness of the exemption. Petitions to stay must be filed no later than August 19, 2011 (at least 7 days before the exemption becomes effective). An original and 10 copies of all pleadings, referring to Docket No. FD 35541, must be filed with the Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20423–0001. In addition, a copy of each pleading must be served on Karl Morell, Suite 225, 655 15th St., NW., Washington, DC 20005. Board decisions and notices are available on our Web site at https:// www.stb.dot.gov. Decided: August 5, 2011. By the Board. Rachel D. Campbell, Director, Office of Proceedings. Jeffrey Herzig, Clearance Clerk. [FR Doc. 2011–20556 Filed 8–11–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915–01–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Surface Transportation Board [Docket No. FD 35542] Regional Rail, LLC—Continuance in Control Exemption—Tyburn Railroad, LLC Regional Rail, LLC (Regional), a noncarrier, has filed a verified notice of exemption pursuant to 49 CFR 1180.2(d)(2) to continue in control of Tyburn Railroad, LLC (Tyburn), upon Tyburn’s becoming a Class III rail carrier. This transaction is related to a concurrently filed verified notice of exemption in Docket No. FD 35541, Tyburn Railroad—Acquisition and Operation Exemption—Tyburn Railroad, wherein Tyburn seeks Board approval to acquire from Tyburn Railroad Company and operate approximately 0.9 miles of rail lines in Morrisville, Pa. The parties intend to consummate the transaction on or shortly after the effective date of the verified notice of exemption. Regional is a Delaware limited liability company that currently controls 2 Class III railroads, East Penn Railroad, LLC (ESPN) and Middletown and New Jersey Railroad, LLC (Middletown). ESPN operates rail lines in PO 00000 Frm 00161 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 Pennsylvania and Delaware, and Middletown operates rail lines in New York. Regional also owns 100 percent of the issued and outstanding shares of Tyburn. Regional represents that: (1) The rail lines to be operated by Tyburn do not connect with any other railroads in the corporate family; (2) the transaction is not part of a series of anticipated transactions that would connect the rail lines with any other railroads in the corporate family; and (3) the transaction does not involve a Class I rail carrier. Therefore, the transaction is exempt from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 11323. See 49 CFR 1180.2(d)(2). Under 49 U.S.C. 10502(g), the Board may not use its exemption authority to relieve a rail carrier of its statutory obligation to protect the interests of its employees. Section 11326(c), however, does not provide for labor protection for transactions under § 11324 and § 11325 that involve only Class III rail carriers. Accordingly, the Board may not impose labor protective conditions here because all of the carriers involved are Class III carriers. If the verified notice contains false or misleading information, the exemption is void ab initio. Petitions to revoke the exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) may be filed at any time. The filing of a petition to revoke will not automatically stay the effectiveness of the exemption. Stay petitions must be filed no later than August 19, 2011 (at least 7 days before the exemption becomes effective). An original and 10 copies of all pleadings, referring to Docket No. FD 35542, must be filed with the Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20423–0001. In addition, one copy of each pleading must be served on Karl Morell, Suite 225, 655 15th St., NW., Washington, DC 20005. Board decisions and notices are available on our Web site at https:// www.stb.dot.gov. Decided: August 5, 2011. By the Board. Rachel D. Campbell, Director, Office of Proceedings. Jeffrey Herzig, Clearance Clerk. [FR Doc. 2011–20553 Filed 8–11–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915–01–P E:\FR\FM\12AUN1.SGM 12AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 156 (Friday, August 12, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50324-50326]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-20582]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Report/
Environmental Impact Statement for the California High-Speed Rail 
Project Merced to Fresno Section

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), United States Department 
of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: FRA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a Draft 
Environmental Impact Report (EIR)/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
has been prepared for the California High-Speed Train (HST) Project 
Merced to Fresno Section (Project). FRA is the lead Federal agency and 
the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) is the lead state 
agency for the environmental review process.
    The Authority proposes to construct and operate a reliable high-
speed electric-powered passenger train system along an approximately 
65-mile corridor, from Merced, CA, to Fresno, CA that links those 
cities by delivering predictable and consistent travel times. The 
Project includes high-speed track alignments, stations in downtown 
Merced and Fresno. A heavy maintenance facility for assembly, testing, 
and commissioning of trains,

[[Page 50325]]

train inspection and service, and train overhaul may be constructed in 
the Merced to Fresno Section.
    The Draft EIR/EIS presents the Project's purpose and need, 
identifies all reasonable alternatives including track alignments, 
stations, and heavy maintenance facilities as well as the no action 
alternative, describes the affected environment, analyzes the potential 
environmental impacts of all the reasonable alternatives and the no 
action alternative, and identifies appropriate mitigation measures to 
minimize the potential environmental impacts.

DATES: Written comments on the Draft EIR/EIS for the Project should be 
provided to the Authority on or before September 28, 2011. Public 
hearings are scheduled on September 14, 2011, September 15, 2011, and 
September 20, 2011 in Merced, CA, Madera, CA, and Fresno, CA 
respectively at the times and dates listed in the Addresses Section 
below.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the Draft EIR/EIS should be sent to the 
California High-Speed Rail Authority, Merced to Fresno EIR/EIS Comment, 
770 L Street, Suite 800, Sacramento, CA 95814, through the Authority's 
Web site at https://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov, or via e-mail with the 
subject line ``Draft EIR/EIS'' to merced_fresno@hsr.ca.gov. Comments 
may also be provided orally or in writing at the public hearings 
scheduled at the following locations:
     Merced, CA, Wednesday, September 14, 2011, 3 to 8 p.m., 
Merced Community Senior Center, 755 West 15th Street, Merced, CA 95340;
     Madera, CA, Thursday, September 15, 2011, 3 to 8 p.m., 
Madera City Council Chambers, 205 W. 4th Street, Madera, CA 93637; and
     Fresno, CA, Tuesday, September 20, 2011, 3 to 8 p.m., 
Fresno Convention Center, 848 M Street, Fresno, CA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David Valenstein, Chief, 
Environment and Systems Planning Division, Office of Railroad Policy 
and Development, Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., MS-20, Washington, DC 
20590 (telephone: 202-493-6368), or Mr. Dan Leavitt, Deputy Director 
for Environmental Review and Planning, California High-Speed Rail 
Authority, 770 L Street, Ste. 800, Sacramento, CA 95814 (telephone: 
916-324-1541).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Once completed, the California HST system 
will provide intercity, high-speed passenger rail service on more than 
800 miles of tracks throughout California, connecting the major 
population centers of Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay Area, the 
Central Valley, Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, Orange County, and San 
Diego. It will use state-of-the-art, electrically powered, high-speed, 
steel-wheel-on-steel-rail technology, including contemporary safety, 
signaling, and automated train-control systems, with trains capable of 
operating up to 220 miles per hour (mph) over a fully grade-separated, 
dedicated double track alignment.
    The FRA and Authority certified a Statewide Program EIR/EIS (Tier 
1) for the California HST system in November 2005 as the first phase of 
a tiered environmental review process for the California HST system. In 
2008, the FRA and Authority certified another program EIR/EIS for the 
Bay Area to Central Valley portion of the HST system. The Merced to 
Fresno Section Draft EIR/EIS (Tier 2) analyzes the environmental 
impacts and benefits of implementing the high-speed train in the more 
geographically limited area between Merced and Fresno, and is based on 
more detailed project planning and engineering. This Draft EIR/EIS 
analysis builds on the earlier decisions and program EIR/EISs, and 
provides more site-specific and detailed analysis.
    The Authority plans to complete the California HST System in two 
phases. Phase 1 will connect San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim via 
the Pacheco Pass and the Central Valley with a mandated express travel 
time of 2 hours and 40 minutes or less. Phase 2 will connect the 
Central Valley to the state's capital, Sacramento, and will extend the 
system from Los Angeles to San Diego. This Project is for one section 
in Phase 1 and is receiving funding from FRA for design and 
environmental review as well as for the construction of an initial 
Section in the Central Valley.
    The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), 
enacted February 17, 2009, contained $8 billion to fund high-speed and 
intercity passenger rail (HSIPR) projects. In response to the Recovery 
Act funding, FRA developed and began implementation of the HSIPR 
Program to fund project to improve existing intercity passenger rail 
service and to develop new high speed intercity passenger rail 
corridors. FRA's HSIPR Program also received an additional $2.1 billion 
from the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010. The California High-Speed Rail 
Authority applied for and was selected to receive over $3.5 billion in 
HSIPR funds from FRA to complete preliminary engineering and NEPA 
reviews, and associated documentation for all eight segments comprising 
the California HST System and to construct an initial Central Valley 
Section from Madera County to Bakersfield (Kern County) California. 
Completion of the environmental review process marked by issuance of a 
Record of Decision (ROD) by FRA is a prerequisite for any construction 
related Federal funding or approvals from FRA.
    The approximately 65-mile-long Merced to Fresno Section is an 
essential part of the statewide HST System. The Merced to Fresno 
Section is the location of the connection between the Bay Area and 
Sacramento branches of the HST System; it will provide Merced and 
Fresno access to a new transportation mode and will contribute to 
increased mobility throughout California. This Section will connect the 
central San Joaquin Valley region to the remainder of the HST System 
via Merced County, Madera County, and the northern part of the city of 
Fresno.
    This Draft EIR/EIS has been prepared by the FRA and the Authority 
consistent with the provisions of Section 102(2)(c) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the 
Counsel of Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations implementing NEPA 
(40 CFR parts 1500 et seq.), FRA's Procedures for Considering 
Environmental Impacts (64 FR 28545 (May 26, 1999)), and in conformity 
with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (California Public 
Resources Code Section 21000 et. seq.), and the CEQA Guidelines 
(California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 15000 et. seq.).
    Copies of the Draft EIR/EIS are available online at FRA's Web site: 
https://www.fra.dot.gov and the Authority's Web site: https://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov; they are also available for viewing at the 
following locations near the planned rail system:
     Fresno County Public Library, Central Branch, 2420 
Mariposa Street, Fresno, CA 93721;
     Madera County Library, 121 North G Street, Madera, CA 
93637;
     Chowchilla Branch Library (Madera County Library), 300 
Kings Avenue, Chowchilla, CA 93610;
     Merced Community Senior Center, 755 West 15th Street, 
Merced, CA 95340;
     Merced County Library, 2100 O Street, Merced, CA 95340;
     Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, 22941 Fairmead 
Boulevard, Chowchilla, CA 93610;

[[Page 50326]]

     Le Grand Branch Libarary, 12949 Le Grand Road, Le Grand, 
CA 95333;
     Lao Family Community, 855 W. 15th Street, Merced, CA 
95333;
     Madera Ranchos Branch Library, 37167 Avenue 12, Suite 4C, 
Madera, CA 95636;
     Merced County Los Banos Branch Library, 1312 South Seventh 
Street, Los Banos, CA 93635; and
     Atwater Branch Library, 1600 Third Street, Atwater, CA 
95301.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 9, 2011.
Corey W. Hill,
Director, Rail Project Development and Delivery.
[FR Doc. 2011-20582 Filed 8-11-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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