Environmental Impact Statement for New Orleans Rail Gateway (NORG), Jefferson and Orleans Parishes, LA, 2120-2123 [2012-603]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 9 / Friday, January 13, 2012 / Notices
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inspection may be viewed on the
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Bradford Ward,
Acting Assistant United States Trade
Representative for Monitoring and
Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2012–606 Filed 1–12–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190–W2–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
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[Summary Notice No. PE–2012–02]
Petition for Exemption; Summary of
Petition Received
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of petition for exemption
received.
AGENCY:
This notice contains a
summary of a petition seeking relief
SUMMARY:
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from specified requirements of Title 14,
Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR).
The purpose of this notice is to improve
the public’s awareness of, and
participation in, this aspect of the FAA’s
regulatory activities. Neither publication
of this notice nor the inclusion or
omission of information in the summary
is intended to affect the legal status of
the petition or its final disposition.
DATES: Comments on this petition must
identify the petition docket number and
must be received on or before February
2, 2012.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments
identified by docket number FAA–
2011–1240 using any of the following
methods:
• Government-wide rulemaking Web
site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov
and follow the instructions for sending
your comments digitally.
• Mail: Send comments to the Docket
Management Facility; U.S. Department
of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., West Building Ground
Floor, Room W12–140, Washington, DC
20590.
• Fax: Fax comments to the Docket
Management Facility at (202) 493–2251.
• Hand Delivery: Bring comments to
the Docket Management Facility in
Room W12–140 of the West Building
Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
Privacy: We will post all comments
we receive, without change, to https://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information you provide.
Using the search function of our docket
Web site, anyone can find and read the
comments received into any of our
dockets, including the name of the
individual sending the comment (or
signing the comment for an association,
business, labor union, etc.). You may
review the DOT’s complete Privacy Act
Statement in the Federal Register
published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR
19477–78).
Docket: To read background
documents or comments received, go to
https://www.regulations.gov at any time
or to the Docket Management Facility in
Room W12–140 of the West Building
Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mark Forseth, ANM–113, (425) 227–
2796, Federal Aviation Administration,
1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA
98057–3356, or Frances Shaver, (202)
267–4059, Office of Rulemaking (ARM–
207), Federal Aviation Administration,
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800 Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20591. This notice is
published pursuant to 14 CFR 11.85.
Issued in Washington, DC, on January 9,
2012.
Julie Ann Lynch,
Acting Director, Office of Rulemaking.
Petition for Exemption
Docket No.: FAA–2011–1240.
Petitioner: Embraer S.A.
Section of 14 CFR Affected:
§ 25.791(a).
Description of Relief Sought: Embraer
S.A. requests an exemption from the
interior-cabin location requirements for
no-smoking placard placement on
Embraer Model EMB–550 airplanes.
[FR Doc. 2012–611 Filed 1–12–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Environmental Impact Statement for
New Orleans Rail Gateway (NORG),
Jefferson and Orleans Parishes, LA
Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
AGENCY:
FRA is issuing this notice to
advise the public that it will prepare an
EIS with the Louisiana Department of
Transportation and Development (LA
DOTD) to evaluate environmental and
related impacts of upgrading the New
Orleans Rail Gateway (NORG) and
infrastructure in Jefferson and Orleans
Parishes, Louisiana (proposed action).
FRA is also issuing this notice to solicit
public and agency input into the
development of the scope of the EIS and
to advise the public that outreach
activities conducted by LA DOTD and
its representatives will be considered in
preparation of the EIS. FRA is issuing
this Notice to alert interested parties, to
provide information on the nature of the
proposed action, including the purpose
and need for the proposed action,
possible alternatives to be considered in
the preparation of the EIS, potentially
significant impacts to the natural and
built environment of those alternatives,
and to invite public participation in the
EIS process.
DATES: Two public scoping meetings
will be advertised locally and will be
held from 6 p.m.–7:30 p.m. at the
following dates and locations.
• February 7, 2012 at the Xavier
University of Louisiana, University
Center, 3rd Floor, Mary and William
McCaffrey Ballroom B, 4980 Dixon
Street, New Orleans, LA 70125
SUMMARY:
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• February 8, 2012 at the Joseph S.
Yenni Building, Council Chambers,
1221 Elmwood Park Boulevard,
Jefferson, LA 70123
Information on the meeting locations
is also available on the following Web
site: https://www.dotd.la.gov/
administration/public_info/projects/
NORG/.
Persons requiring special assistance in
order to participate in these public
scoping meetings should contact Mr.
Dean Goodell, Intermodal
Transportation Manager, Louisiana
Department of Transportation and
Development, 1201 Capitol Access
Road, Room S–515, Baton Rouge, LA
70802, or by telephone at (225) 379–
3031, at least five (5) working days prior
to the public meetings dates.
To ensure all significant issues are
identified and considered, the public
will be invited to comment on the
proposed action. Comments on the
scope of the EIS, including the proposed
action’s purpose and need, the
alternatives to be considered, the
impacts to be evaluated, and the
methodologies to be used in the
evaluations will be accepted at the
public scoping meetings. Those
attending the public scoping meetings
will be asked to register at the meeting
location and may comment in written
form, or orally. Interested parties may
also provide written comments on the
scope of the EIS to Mr. Dean Goodell,
Intermodal Transportation Manager,
Louisiana Department of Transportation
and Development, 1201 Capitol Access
Road, Room S–515, Baton Rouge, LA
70802, telephone (225) 379–3031.
Comments will be considered if
postmarked within ten (10) calendar
days following the meetings.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Catherine Dobbs, Environmental
Protection Specialist, Federal Railroad
Administration, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., Washington 20590,
telephone: (202) 493–6347 or Mr. Dean
Goodell, Intermodal Transportation
Manager, Louisiana Department of
Transportation and Development, 1201
Capitol Access Road, Room S–515,
Baton Rouge, LA 70802, telephone (225)
379–3031. Information and documents
regarding the environmental review
process will be made available through
the following Web site: https://
www.dotd.la.gov/administration/
public_info/projects/NORG/.
Environmental Review Process
The EIS will be prepared in
accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the
Council on Environmental Quality
(CEQ) regulations implementing NEPA
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and the FRA’s Procedures for
Considering Environmental Impacts as
set forth in 64 FR 28545 dated May 26,
1999 (Environmental Procedures). The
EIS will also address Section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act,
Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of
Transportation Act of 1966 (49 U.S.C.
303) and other applicable Federal and
state laws and regulations.
The study will result in a NEPA
document that will address broad
overall issues of concern, including but
not limited to:
• Describing the purpose and need for
the proposed action.
• Describing the environment likely
to be affected by the proposed action.
• Developing evaluation criteria to
identify alternatives that meet the
purpose and need of the proposed
action and those that do not.
• Identifying the range of reasonable
alternatives that satisfy the purpose and
need for the proposed action.
• Developing the no-build alternative
to serve as a baseline for comparison.
• Describing and evaluating the
potential environmental impacts and
mitigation associated with the proposed
alternatives.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FRA
and the LA DOTD will prepare the EIS
for the New Orleans Rail Gateway
Program and infrastructure in Jefferson
and Orleans Parishes, Louisiana in
coordination with the New Orleans
Regional Planning Commission
(NORPC) and the railroads operating in
the New Orleans metropolitan area. The
Class I railroads, which are members of
the Association of American Railroads
(AAR), include Burlington Northern
Santa Fe Railway (BNSF), Canadian
National (CN), CSX, Kansas City
Southern Railway (KCS), Norfolk
Southern Railroad (NS), and Union
Pacific (UP) railroads, the terminal
switching railroad, the New Orleans
Public Belt Railroad (NOPB), and the
National Railroad Passenger Corporation
(Amtrak). LA DOTD and these railroads
are advancing the proposed action as a
public-private partnership (P3) among
these entities.
I. New Orleans Rail Gateway (NORG)
The NORG is a rail corridor within
Jefferson and Orleans Parishes,
beginning on the west bank of the
Mississippi River near the St. Charles/
Jefferson Parish line. From the Parish
line it proceeds easterly along tracks of
the UP and BNSF through the Avondale
Yard at West Bridge Junction (WBJ) and
crosses the Mississippi River on the
Huey P. Long Bridge (HPLB), which is
owned and operated by the New
Orleans Public Belt Railroad. At the
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base of the HPLB, it traverses East
Bridge Junction (EBJ) to the Back Belt
tracks owned and operated by the NS.
The NORG proceeds along the Back
Belt, entering the City of New Orleans
at the 17th Street Canal. It proceeds
through the City of New Orleans along
the Back Belt, and connects with CSX
trackage at Elysian Fields Avenue, and
continues on CSX trackage crossing the
Inner Harbor Navigation Canal on the
Almonaster Bridge, traversing the CSX
Gentilly Yard and proceeding easterly
through New Orleans East to its
terminus near Industrial Parkway.
II. Study Area
For the purpose of the EIS, a Study
Area has been established that includes
the above described NORG corridor and
the other existing rail corridors within
the New Orleans metropolitan area, and
is of sufficient geographic extent to
allow for a variety of alternatives to be
considered and potential impacts to the
human, natural, and cultural
environments to be assessed. The Study
Area encompasses approximately 110
square miles and is roughly bounded on
the west by the Jefferson/St. Charles
Parish line; on the north by I–10 within
Jefferson Parish then turns north along
the Jefferson/Orleans Parish line,
eastward along Filmore Avenue, north
along Franklin Avenue, northeast near
Leon C Simon Drive and Lakeshore
Drive, southeast along Martin Drive,
southwest along Wales Street,
southward along Press Drive and then
continuing eastward along Dwyer Road;
on the east along Maxent Canal near
Bayou Sauvage; and on the south
following the Intracoastal waterway and
Mississippi River, then crossing the
Mississippi River at Louisiana Street
following US 90 to where it meets the
Jefferson/St. Charles Parish line.
III. Purpose and Need
The NORG serves six Class I Railroads
and three Amtrak passenger rail routes
and the NOPB railroad links the Port of
New Orleans, the eighth largest tonnage
port in the United States, to the national
rail network.
The Gateway is a critical link in the
national freight rail system. It is one of
five major rail interchange points
between the eastern and western Class
I Railroads and also has one of the four
major Mississippi River rail bridges. It is
one of only three national rail gateways
that are both rail interchange hubs and
major Mississippi River rail crossings.
Throughout the NORG, trains must
observe a maximum speed of 20 mph,
necessitated, in part, by antiquated
control systems and switches. Flood
gates at various locations are closed up
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 9 / Friday, January 13, 2012 / Notices
to 24 hours prior to and following storm
events, such as Hurricane Katrina in
2005, limiting the railroads’ ability to
transport evacuees and emergency
supplies. The NORG includes the
existing Almonaster Avenue Bridge
across the Inner Harbor Navigation
Canal (IHNC), an 80 year old structure
that is subject to frequent breakdowns.
The electrical and mechanical
components of the bridge are obsolete
and are the cause of continual
maintenance problems. In the closed to
navigation position, the bridge has
virtually no vertical clearance for
marine traffic.
Due to its existing design and limited
capacity, the NORG cannot efficiently
handle current traffic volumes,
routinely resulting in delays to both rail
and road traffic.
The 29-mile NORG handles
approximately 35 freight trains per day
with a combined delay of 29.7 hours per
day for train meets, including
deceleration and acceleration. Each of
the 20 at-grade crossings along the
NORG handles over 20 trains per day.
Several of these crossings are moderate
to high volume arterials, carrying
between 10,000 and 20,000 vehicles
daily. Average daily delays to vehicles
and trucks at these crossings are 112.4
hours and 12.1 hours, respectively.
The NORG is not able to
accommodate anticipated future freight
demand. The U.S. Department of
Transportation forecasts that import and
export freight tonnage could double by
2020 and domestic freight tonnage
could increase by approximately 60
percent. Growth of shipping port traffic
will increase rail traffic in the NORG.
This results in negative impacts to the
community and decreased regional
economic competitiveness.
The purpose of the proposed action is
to:
• Correct physical and operational
deficiencies to improve rail traffic flow
to better serve existing and future users
of the Gateway,
• Improve the reliability of marine
traffic passing through the Inner Harbor
Navigation Canal under the Almonaster
Avenue Bridge,
• Improve the safety of rail and
vehicle operations in the affected area,
• Reduce vehicle congestion at street
crossings,
• Improve emergency evacuation
conditions, and
• Improve overall environmental
quality.
IV. Previous Studies
Over the past 35 years, the FRA, the
LA DOTD, the New Orleans Community
and the railroads have examined rail
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improvements within the Gateway that
would reduce delays and improve rail
service to rail customers in the greater
New Orleans region. Most recently, the
LA DOTD, NORPC, and the AAR,
representing Amtrak and the six Class I
freight railroads serving New Orleans,
studied improvements to the New
Orleans Rail Gateway that would:
• Improve rail service,
• Reduce rail impacts on the adjacent
communities, and
• Further the economic recovery and
development of the metropolitan area.
Studies in 2002, 2004, and 2007
evaluated potential physical and
operational improvements to eliminate
the worst chokepoints and improve
freight movement.
The 2007 NORG Infrastructure
Feasibility Analysis (2007 Study)
evaluated possible improvements to the
Back Belt, Front Belt along the
Mississippi River, and the Middle Belt
along the Earhart Expressway/I–10
Corridor. Improvements to the Front
Belt were determined to be unfeasible
due to the adjacent development and
numerous at-grade crossings. Back Belt
improvements included grade
separating numerous highway-railroad
crossings to improve highway traffic
flow and would provide limited
additional rail capacity with minimal
track construction. Middle Belt
improvements included creating a new
route between East Bridge Junction and
East City Junction by linking existing,
but lightly used rail lines through
Jefferson and Orleans Parishes.
Commonly known as the ‘‘Carrolton
Curve’’, this route was first identified in
1955 and would reroute trains to the
Earhart Expressway/I–10 corridor to
provide additional rail capacity through
a more industrial part of the City of New
Orleans. While the Back and Middle
Belt improvements both improved
public safety by eliminating or
separating most highway-rail grade
crossings, the Middle Belt
improvements appeared to offer the best
benefits for both the public and the
railroads, and would improve
emergency evacuation procedures by
eliminating flood-prone highway
underpasses on I–10 and Airline
Highway.
V. Alternatives To Be Considered
Preliminary alternatives identified
include a No-Build Alternative and
various Build Alternatives. The NoBuild Alternative is defined to serve as
the baseline for comparison of all
alternatives. The No-Build Alternative
represents the transportation system
(highway and rail) as it exists, and as it
would exist after completion of
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programs or projects currently funded or
being implemented. The No-Build
Alternative would draw upon the
following sources on information:
• State Transportation Improvement
Program (STIP)
• New Orleans Urbanized Area
Transportation Improvement Program
(for all travel modes)
• Freight and passenger rail plans.
The Build Alternatives would include
a program of rail and roadway
infrastructure and operations
improvements (program of projects) that
are cost-feasible and satisfy the stated
purpose and need. Improvements to be
considered could include, but not be
limited to, closing or grade-separating
crossings, reconfiguring or adding
trackage, upgrading structures
(including culverts and over/underpass
structures), improving signal systems,
and incorporating positive train control
(PTC) and/or centralized train control
(CTC). The Build Alternatives would
include the alternatives evaluated in the
2007 Study and additional alternatives
identified during scoping and the
alternatives development process.
VI. Possible Effects
The FRA and LA DOTD will evaluate
direct, indirect and cumulative changes
to the social, economic, and physical
environment—including land use and
socioeconomic conditions, ecology,
water resources, historic and
archaeological resources, visual
character and aesthetics, contaminated
and hazardous materials, transportation,
air quality, noise and vibration.
Environmental justice will be examined
for all alternatives, and Limited English
Proficiency and Title VI requirements
documented. The evaluation will take
into account both beneficial and adverse
affects and identify measures to avoid,
minimize, and mitigate adverse
community and environmental impacts.
The analysis will be undertaken
consistent with the National
Environmental Policy Act, Council on
Environmental Quality regulations
defined previously, Section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act, the
Endangered Species Act, Clean Air Act,
Clean Water Act, FRA’s Environmental
Procedures, LA DOTD guidance, and
Section 4(f) of the Department of
Transportation Act of 1966, along with
other applicable Federal and state
regulations.
VII. Scoping Process
To ensure that the full range of issues
related to this proposal is addressed and
all significant issues identified,
comments and suggestions are invited
from all interested parties. Comments or
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 9 / Friday, January 13, 2012 / Notices
questions concerning this proposed
action and the EIS should be directed to
the LA DOTD at the address above.
Letters describing the proposed action
and soliciting comments have been sent
to the appropriate Federal, State and
local agencies, Native American tribes
and to private organizations who have
previously expressed or who are known
to have an interest in this proposal.
Federal agencies with jurisdiction by
law or special expertise with respect to
potential environmental issues will be
requested to act as a Cooperating
Agency in accordance with 40 CFR
1501.6.
Issued in Washington, DC, on January 10,
2012.
Paul Nissenbaum,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Policy
and Development, Federal Railroad
Administration.
LA DOTD will lead the outreach
activities, beginning with the scoping
meetings identified under DATES above.
Public involvement initiatives, including public meetings, newsletters, and
outreach to engage low-, minority-, and
other environmentally-disadvantaged
groups will be held throughout the
course of this study. Opportunities for
public participation will be announced
through mailings, notices,
advertisements, press releases and a
project Web site: https://www.dotd.la.
gov/administration/public_info/
projects/NORG/.
AGENCY:
Two public hearings on the Draft EIS
will be held following its issuance.
Public notice will be given, in local
newspapers, of the time and place of the
meetings and hearings. The Draft EIS
will be available for public and agency
review prior to the public hearings.
Application
No.
Docket No.
[FR Doc. 2012–603 Filed 1–12–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration
Notice of Applications for Modification
of Special Permit
Office of Hazardous Materials
Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration
(PHMSA), DOT.
ACTION: List of applications for
modification of special permits.
In accordance with the
procedures governing the application
for, and the processing of, special
permits from the Department of
Transportation’s Hazardous Material
Regulations (49 CFR Part 107, Subpart
B), notice is hereby given that the Office
of Hazardous Materials Safety has
received the applications described
herein. This notice is abbreviated to
expedite docketing and public notice.
Because the sections affected, modes of
transportation, and the nature of
application have been shown in earlier
Federal Register publications, they are
not repeated here. Requests for
SUMMARY:
Applicant
Regulation(s) affected
2123
modification of special permits (e.g., to
provide for additional hazardous
materials, packaging design changes,
additional mode of transportation, etc.)
are described in footnotes to the
application number. Application
numbers with the suffix ‘‘M’’ denote a
modification request. These
applications have been separated from
the new application for special permits
to facilitate processing.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before January 30, 2012.
Address Comments to: Record Center,
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Washington, DC, 20590.
Comments should refer to the
application number and be submitted in
triplicate. If confirmation of receipt of
comments is desired, include a selfaddressed stamped postcard showing
the special permit number.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Copies of the applications are available
for inspection in the Records Center,
East Building, PHH–30, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, or
at https://regulations.gov.
This notice of receipt of applications
for modification of special permit is
published in accordance with Part 107
of the Federal hazardous materials
transportation law (49 U.S.C. 5117(b);
49 CFR 1.53(b)).
Issued in Washington, DC, on January 6,
2012.
Donald Burger,
Chief, General Approvals and Permits.
Nature of special permit thereof
MODIFICATION SPECIAL PERMITS
.....................
Orbital Sciences Corporation, Mojave, CA.
11606– .........
.....................
Safety-Kleen Systems,
Inc., Plano, TX.
12135–M ......
.....................
Daicel Safety Systems Inc.
Hyogo Prefecture 671–
1682.
49 CFR 173.301(h) ...........
173.302 .............................
173.306(d)(3) ....................
14175–M ......
.....................
.....................
The Linde Group, Murray
Hill, NJ.
Brennar Tank, LLC, Fond
Du Lac, WI.
49 CFR 180.209 ...............
14467–M ......
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11215–M ......
14952–M ......
.....................
Mebrom NV ErtveldeRieme.
49 CFR 173.193 ...............
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49 CFR Part 172, Subparts C, D; 172.101,
Special Provision 109.
49 CFR 173.28(b)(2) .........
49 CFR 178.345–2 ...........
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To modify the special permit to add a Class 9 material.
To modify the special permit to authorize double
stacking of pallets used for shipping and to authorize approved third party transporters to transport
the material authorized in the permit.
To modify the special permit to authorize a new design of non-DOT specification cylinders (pressure
vessels) for use as components of automobile vehicle safety systems.
To modify the special permit to authorize additional
Division 2.2 gases.
To modify the special permit to authorize construction
of series 400 cargo tanks using certain materials
not authorized in 178.345(2) as materials of construction and to add additional UNS Designation
tanks.
To modify the special permit to Belgium to authorize
an alternative method of retesting qualification.
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2120-2123]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-603]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Environmental Impact Statement for New Orleans Rail Gateway
(NORG), Jefferson and Orleans Parishes, LA
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: FRA is issuing this notice to advise the public that it will
prepare an EIS with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and
Development (LA DOTD) to evaluate environmental and related impacts of
upgrading the New Orleans Rail Gateway (NORG) and infrastructure in
Jefferson and Orleans Parishes, Louisiana (proposed action). FRA is
also issuing this notice to solicit public and agency input into the
development of the scope of the EIS and to advise the public that
outreach activities conducted by LA DOTD and its representatives will
be considered in preparation of the EIS. FRA is issuing this Notice to
alert interested parties, to provide information on the nature of the
proposed action, including the purpose and need for the proposed
action, possible alternatives to be considered in the preparation of
the EIS, potentially significant impacts to the natural and built
environment of those alternatives, and to invite public participation
in the EIS process.
DATES: Two public scoping meetings will be advertised locally and will
be held from 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at the following dates and locations.
February 7, 2012 at the Xavier University of Louisiana,
University Center, 3rd Floor, Mary and William McCaffrey Ballroom B,
4980 Dixon Street, New Orleans, LA 70125
[[Page 2121]]
February 8, 2012 at the Joseph S. Yenni Building, Council
Chambers, 1221 Elmwood Park Boulevard, Jefferson, LA 70123
Information on the meeting locations is also available on the
following Web site: https://www.dotd.la.gov/administration/public_info/projects/NORG/.
Persons requiring special assistance in order to participate in
these public scoping meetings should contact Mr. Dean Goodell,
Intermodal Transportation Manager, Louisiana Department of
Transportation and Development, 1201 Capitol Access Road, Room S-515,
Baton Rouge, LA 70802, or by telephone at (225) 379-3031, at least five
(5) working days prior to the public meetings dates.
To ensure all significant issues are identified and considered, the
public will be invited to comment on the proposed action. Comments on
the scope of the EIS, including the proposed action's purpose and need,
the alternatives to be considered, the impacts to be evaluated, and the
methodologies to be used in the evaluations will be accepted at the
public scoping meetings. Those attending the public scoping meetings
will be asked to register at the meeting location and may comment in
written form, or orally. Interested parties may also provide written
comments on the scope of the EIS to Mr. Dean Goodell, Intermodal
Transportation Manager, Louisiana Department of Transportation and
Development, 1201 Capitol Access Road, Room S-515, Baton Rouge, LA
70802, telephone (225) 379-3031. Comments will be considered if
postmarked within ten (10) calendar days following the meetings.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Catherine Dobbs, Environmental
Protection Specialist, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., Washington 20590, telephone: (202) 493-6347 or Mr. Dean
Goodell, Intermodal Transportation Manager, Louisiana Department of
Transportation and Development, 1201 Capitol Access Road, Room S-515,
Baton Rouge, LA 70802, telephone (225) 379-3031. Information and
documents regarding the environmental review process will be made
available through the following Web site: https://www.dotd.la.gov/administration/public_info/projects/NORG/.
Environmental Review Process
The EIS will be prepared in accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality
(CEQ) regulations implementing NEPA and the FRA's Procedures for
Considering Environmental Impacts as set forth in 64 FR 28545 dated May
26, 1999 (Environmental Procedures). The EIS will also address Section
106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, Section 4(f) of the U.S.
Department of Transportation Act of 1966 (49 U.S.C. 303) and other
applicable Federal and state laws and regulations.
The study will result in a NEPA document that will address broad
overall issues of concern, including but not limited to:
Describing the purpose and need for the proposed action.
Describing the environment likely to be affected by the
proposed action.
Developing evaluation criteria to identify alternatives
that meet the purpose and need of the proposed action and those that do
not.
Identifying the range of reasonable alternatives that
satisfy the purpose and need for the proposed action.
Developing the no-build alternative to serve as a baseline
for comparison.
Describing and evaluating the potential environmental
impacts and mitigation associated with the proposed alternatives.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FRA and the LA DOTD will prepare the EIS
for the New Orleans Rail Gateway Program and infrastructure in
Jefferson and Orleans Parishes, Louisiana in coordination with the New
Orleans Regional Planning Commission (NORPC) and the railroads
operating in the New Orleans metropolitan area. The Class I railroads,
which are members of the Association of American Railroads (AAR),
include Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF), Canadian National
(CN), CSX, Kansas City Southern Railway (KCS), Norfolk Southern
Railroad (NS), and Union Pacific (UP) railroads, the terminal switching
railroad, the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad (NOPB), and the National
Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak). LA DOTD and these railroads
are advancing the proposed action as a public-private partnership (P3)
among these entities.
I. New Orleans Rail Gateway (NORG)
The NORG is a rail corridor within Jefferson and Orleans Parishes,
beginning on the west bank of the Mississippi River near the St.
Charles/Jefferson Parish line. From the Parish line it proceeds
easterly along tracks of the UP and BNSF through the Avondale Yard at
West Bridge Junction (WBJ) and crosses the Mississippi River on the
Huey P. Long Bridge (HPLB), which is owned and operated by the New
Orleans Public Belt Railroad. At the base of the HPLB, it traverses
East Bridge Junction (EBJ) to the Back Belt tracks owned and operated
by the NS. The NORG proceeds along the Back Belt, entering the City of
New Orleans at the 17th Street Canal. It proceeds through the City of
New Orleans along the Back Belt, and connects with CSX trackage at
Elysian Fields Avenue, and continues on CSX trackage crossing the Inner
Harbor Navigation Canal on the Almonaster Bridge, traversing the CSX
Gentilly Yard and proceeding easterly through New Orleans East to its
terminus near Industrial Parkway.
II. Study Area
For the purpose of the EIS, a Study Area has been established that
includes the above described NORG corridor and the other existing rail
corridors within the New Orleans metropolitan area, and is of
sufficient geographic extent to allow for a variety of alternatives to
be considered and potential impacts to the human, natural, and cultural
environments to be assessed. The Study Area encompasses approximately
110 square miles and is roughly bounded on the west by the Jefferson/
St. Charles Parish line; on the north by I-10 within Jefferson Parish
then turns north along the Jefferson/Orleans Parish line, eastward
along Filmore Avenue, north along Franklin Avenue, northeast near Leon
C Simon Drive and Lakeshore Drive, southeast along Martin Drive,
southwest along Wales Street, southward along Press Drive and then
continuing eastward along Dwyer Road; on the east along Maxent Canal
near Bayou Sauvage; and on the south following the Intracoastal
waterway and Mississippi River, then crossing the Mississippi River at
Louisiana Street following US 90 to where it meets the Jefferson/St.
Charles Parish line.
III. Purpose and Need
The NORG serves six Class I Railroads and three Amtrak passenger
rail routes and the NOPB railroad links the Port of New Orleans, the
eighth largest tonnage port in the United States, to the national rail
network.
The Gateway is a critical link in the national freight rail system.
It is one of five major rail interchange points between the eastern and
western Class I Railroads and also has one of the four major
Mississippi River rail bridges. It is one of only three national rail
gateways that are both rail interchange hubs and major Mississippi
River rail crossings.
Throughout the NORG, trains must observe a maximum speed of 20 mph,
necessitated, in part, by antiquated control systems and switches.
Flood gates at various locations are closed up
[[Page 2122]]
to 24 hours prior to and following storm events, such as Hurricane
Katrina in 2005, limiting the railroads' ability to transport evacuees
and emergency supplies. The NORG includes the existing Almonaster
Avenue Bridge across the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC), an 80
year old structure that is subject to frequent breakdowns. The
electrical and mechanical components of the bridge are obsolete and are
the cause of continual maintenance problems. In the closed to
navigation position, the bridge has virtually no vertical clearance for
marine traffic.
Due to its existing design and limited capacity, the NORG cannot
efficiently handle current traffic volumes, routinely resulting in
delays to both rail and road traffic.
The 29-mile NORG handles approximately 35 freight trains per day
with a combined delay of 29.7 hours per day for train meets, including
deceleration and acceleration. Each of the 20 at-grade crossings along
the NORG handles over 20 trains per day. Several of these crossings are
moderate to high volume arterials, carrying between 10,000 and 20,000
vehicles daily. Average daily delays to vehicles and trucks at these
crossings are 112.4 hours and 12.1 hours, respectively.
The NORG is not able to accommodate anticipated future freight
demand. The U.S. Department of Transportation forecasts that import and
export freight tonnage could double by 2020 and domestic freight
tonnage could increase by approximately 60 percent. Growth of shipping
port traffic will increase rail traffic in the NORG. This results in
negative impacts to the community and decreased regional economic
competitiveness.
The purpose of the proposed action is to:
Correct physical and operational deficiencies to improve
rail traffic flow to better serve existing and future users of the
Gateway,
Improve the reliability of marine traffic passing through
the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal under the Almonaster Avenue Bridge,
Improve the safety of rail and vehicle operations in the
affected area,
Reduce vehicle congestion at street crossings,
Improve emergency evacuation conditions, and
Improve overall environmental quality.
IV. Previous Studies
Over the past 35 years, the FRA, the LA DOTD, the New Orleans
Community and the railroads have examined rail improvements within the
Gateway that would reduce delays and improve rail service to rail
customers in the greater New Orleans region. Most recently, the LA
DOTD, NORPC, and the AAR, representing Amtrak and the six Class I
freight railroads serving New Orleans, studied improvements to the New
Orleans Rail Gateway that would:
Improve rail service,
Reduce rail impacts on the adjacent communities, and
Further the economic recovery and development of the
metropolitan area.
Studies in 2002, 2004, and 2007 evaluated potential physical and
operational improvements to eliminate the worst chokepoints and improve
freight movement.
The 2007 NORG Infrastructure Feasibility Analysis (2007 Study)
evaluated possible improvements to the Back Belt, Front Belt along the
Mississippi River, and the Middle Belt along the Earhart Expressway/I-
10 Corridor. Improvements to the Front Belt were determined to be
unfeasible due to the adjacent development and numerous at-grade
crossings. Back Belt improvements included grade separating numerous
highway-railroad crossings to improve highway traffic flow and would
provide limited additional rail capacity with minimal track
construction. Middle Belt improvements included creating a new route
between East Bridge Junction and East City Junction by linking
existing, but lightly used rail lines through Jefferson and Orleans
Parishes. Commonly known as the ``Carrolton Curve'', this route was
first identified in 1955 and would reroute trains to the Earhart
Expressway/I-10 corridor to provide additional rail capacity through a
more industrial part of the City of New Orleans. While the Back and
Middle Belt improvements both improved public safety by eliminating or
separating most highway-rail grade crossings, the Middle Belt
improvements appeared to offer the best benefits for both the public
and the railroads, and would improve emergency evacuation procedures by
eliminating flood-prone highway underpasses on I-10 and Airline
Highway.
V. Alternatives To Be Considered
Preliminary alternatives identified include a No-Build Alternative
and various Build Alternatives. The No-Build Alternative is defined to
serve as the baseline for comparison of all alternatives. The No-Build
Alternative represents the transportation system (highway and rail) as
it exists, and as it would exist after completion of programs or
projects currently funded or being implemented. The No-Build
Alternative would draw upon the following sources on information:
State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)
New Orleans Urbanized Area Transportation Improvement
Program (for all travel modes)
Freight and passenger rail plans.
The Build Alternatives would include a program of rail and roadway
infrastructure and operations improvements (program of projects) that
are cost-feasible and satisfy the stated purpose and need. Improvements
to be considered could include, but not be limited to, closing or
grade-separating crossings, reconfiguring or adding trackage, upgrading
structures (including culverts and over/underpass structures),
improving signal systems, and incorporating positive train control
(PTC) and/or centralized train control (CTC). The Build Alternatives
would include the alternatives evaluated in the 2007 Study and
additional alternatives identified during scoping and the alternatives
development process.
VI. Possible Effects
The FRA and LA DOTD will evaluate direct, indirect and cumulative
changes to the social, economic, and physical environment--including
land use and socioeconomic conditions, ecology, water resources,
historic and archaeological resources, visual character and aesthetics,
contaminated and hazardous materials, transportation, air quality,
noise and vibration. Environmental justice will be examined for all
alternatives, and Limited English Proficiency and Title VI requirements
documented. The evaluation will take into account both beneficial and
adverse affects and identify measures to avoid, minimize, and mitigate
adverse community and environmental impacts. The analysis will be
undertaken consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act,
Council on Environmental Quality regulations defined previously,
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, the Endangered
Species Act, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, FRA's Environmental
Procedures, LA DOTD guidance, and Section 4(f) of the Department of
Transportation Act of 1966, along with other applicable Federal and
state regulations.
VII. Scoping Process
To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposal is
addressed and all significant issues identified, comments and
suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or
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questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS should be
directed to the LA DOTD at the address above. Letters describing the
proposed action and soliciting comments have been sent to the
appropriate Federal, State and local agencies, Native American tribes
and to private organizations who have previously expressed or who are
known to have an interest in this proposal. Federal agencies with
jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to potential
environmental issues will be requested to act as a Cooperating Agency
in accordance with 40 CFR 1501.6.
LA DOTD will lead the outreach activities, beginning with the
scoping meetings identified under DATES above. Public involvement
initiatives, includ- ing public meetings, newsletters, and outreach to
engage low-, minority-, and other environmentally-disadvantaged groups
will be held throughout the course of this study. Opportunities for
public participation will be announced through mailings, notices,
advertisements, press releases and a project Web site: https://www.dotd.la.gov/administration/public_info/projects/NORG/.
Two public hearings on the Draft EIS will be held following its
issuance. Public notice will be given, in local newspapers, of the time
and place of the meetings and hearings. The Draft EIS will be available
for public and agency review prior to the public hearings.
Issued in Washington, DC, on January 10, 2012.
Paul Nissenbaum,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Policy and Development, Federal
Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-603 Filed 1-12-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
