Environmental Impact Statement for the Lake Tahoe Passenger Ferry Project, Placer and El Dorado Counties and City of South Lake Tahoe, California, 71026-71028 [2013-28352]

Agencies

• Federal Transit Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 27, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71026-71028]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28352]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Environmental Impact Statement for the Lake Tahoe Passenger Ferry 
Project, Placer and El Dorado Counties and City of South Lake Tahoe, 
California

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS).

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is issuing this 
Notice of Intent (NOT) to advise other agencies and the public that it 
will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed 
Lake Tahoe Passenger Ferry Project. The project consists of a cross-
lake ferry service with a South Shore Ferry Terminal at the Ski Run 
Marina in South Lake Tahoe, El Dorado County, California, and a North 
Shore Ferry Terminal at the Grove Street Pier just west of the Tahoe 
City Marina in Tahoe City, Placer County, California. The project area 
encompasses the proposed ferry route on Lake Tahoe, the two ferry 
terminals, and a vessel assembly and maintenance location using 
existing facilities at Tahoe Keys Marina, City of South Lake Tahoe, El 
Dorado County, California. The EIS will evaluate alternatives to the 
proposed action, including, additional terminal locations, if they are 
adequate for operations.
    The EIS will be prepared in accordance with the requirements of the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and its implementing 
regulations with FTA as the lead agency. The EIS will be prepared as a 
joint document that includes an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) 
prepared pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 
with Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) as the CEQA lead agency, and 
an EIS for the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) prepared pursuant 
to the Tahoe Regional Planning Compact (Public Law 96-551), Code of 
Ordinances, and Rules of Procedure.
    The purpose of this notice is to alert interested parties regarding 
the intent to prepare the EIS; to provide information on the nature of 
the proposed action and possible alternatives; to invite public 
participation in the EIS process, including providing comments on the 
scope of the Draft EIS/EIR/EIS; and to announce that public scoping 
meetings will be conducted.

DATES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS/EIR/EIS, including the 
project's purpose and need, the alternatives to be considered, the 
impacts to be evaluated, and the methodologies to be used in the 
evaluations should be sent to TTD on or before January 3, 2014 at the 
address below. See ADDRESSES below. Public scoping meetings to accept 
comments on the scope of the EIS/EIR/EIS will be held on the following 
dates:
     Wednesday, December 4, 2013; beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the 
TRPA Advisory Planning Commission Meeting at TRPA's offices at 128 
Market Street, Stateline, NV 89449.
     Friday, December 13, 2013; beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the 
TTD Board Meeting at the Granlibaken Conference Center at 725 
Granlibaken Road, Tahoe City, CA 96145.
    The TRPA APC and TTD Board meetings will begin at 9:30 a.m.; 
however, scoping for the proposed project is not time certain. Please 
refer to the agendas posted at www.tahoetransportation.org and 
www.trpa.org no more than one week prior to the meetings for updated 
information.
    The locations are accessible to persons with disabilities. Any 
individual who requires special assistance, such as a language 
interpreter, to participate in the scoping meetings should contact 
Alfred Knotts with TTD at least three days prior to the meetings at 
(775) 589-5503 or aknotts@tahoetransportation.org.
    Scoping materials will be available at the meetings and are 
available on the TTD Web site (https://tahoetransportation.org/current-capital-projects/lake-tahoe-passenger-ferry-alternatives-analysis). 
Paper copies of the scoping materials may also be obtained from Alfred 
Knotts with TTD at (775) 589-5503 or aknotts@tahoetransportation.org. 
Representatives of Native American tribal governments and of all 
federal, state, regional and local agencies that may have an interest 
in any aspect of the project will be invited to be participating or 
cooperating agencies, as appropriate.

ADDRESSES: Comments will be accepted at the public scoping meetings or 
they may be sent to Mr. Alfred Knotts, Project Manager, Tahoe 
Transportation District, P.O. Box 499, Zephyr Cove, NV 89449, or via 
email at aknotts@tahoetransportation.org.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ted Matley, Community Planner, Region 
IX Office, Federal Transit Administration, 201 Mission Street, Suite 
1650, San Francisco, CA 94015, phone (415) 744-2590, or via email at 
ted.matley@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Scoping

    Scoping is the process of determining the scope, focus, and content 
of an EIS. FTA, TTD, and TRPA invite all interested individuals and 
organizations, public agencies, and Native American tribes to comment 
on the scope of the Draft EIS/EIR/EIS. Comments should focus on: 
alternatives that may be less costly or have less environmental or 
community impact, while achieving similar transportation objectives and 
the identification of any significant social, economic, or 
environmental issues relating to the alternatives that should be 
addressed in the Draft EIS/EIR/EIS.
    NEPA ``scoping'' has specific and fairly limited objectives: to 
identify the significant environmental issues associated with 
alternatives to be examined in detail, while also limiting 
consideration of issues that are not truly significant. It is in the 
NEPA scoping process that potentially significant environmental 
impacts, which give rise to the need to prepare an EIS, should be 
identified. Transit projects may also generate environmental benefits 
that should also be discussed.
    In the interest of producing a readable and user-friendly public 
document, and pursuant to Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR) Sec.  1502.07 and Sec.  1502.10, the EIS/EIR/EIS shall be clear 
and concise and limited to 300 pages to the extent feasible recognizing 
CEQA and TRPA requirements. The EIS/EIR/

[[Page 71027]]

EIS technical appendices shall be included in a separate volume.

Purpose and Need for the Project

    A public transit project connecting the north and south shores of 
Lake Tahoe is needed for environmental and mobility reasons. The Lake 
Tahoe Region has seven points of entry, all served by state or federal 
highways. Access around the Lake is provided by state or federal 
highways with much of the route limited to winding, two-lane roadways 
with changing and often steep grades. During summer and winter months, 
heavy traffic congestion and rugged mountain terrain can make traveling 
around the Lake slow and difficult, particularly driving between the 
north and south shores on the narrow, winding highways. During the 
winter season traveling these routes can be hazardous as a result of 
snow and ice on the roadways. Routes can also be restricted in winter 
to vehicles with only four-wheel drive or closed all together due to 
avalanche control.
    There is no current fixed-schedule, cross-region, public transit 
service between the north and south shores, so all travel must occur by 
automobile or other personal motor vehicles. Currently, seasonal water 
taxi service is available from Tahoe City south to Homewood and north 
to Carnelian Bay. A south shore water taxi operates between Camp 
Richardson Resort and Lakeside Marina; however, it does not stop at Ski 
Run Marina. The absence of a north-south, public transit connection 
across the region results in added traffic congestion, substantial 
vehicle miles travelled and attendant criteria air pollutant and 
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and limited transportation options for 
transit-dependent populations and visitors to the Region. Substantial 
motor vehicle air pollutant emissions in the Region also contribute to 
diminished water quality and clarity in Lake Tahoe.
    The purpose of the Lake Tahoe Passenger Ferry Project is to support 
regional goals and planning mandates by: providing a multi-modal 
transportation alternative and promoting smart growth; enhancing 
transportation and regional mobility with a safe, reliable, year-round 
transit service between the north and south shores; reducing vehicle 
miles traveled and GHG emissions; improving and maintaining air and 
water quality; and promoting livability and connectivity within the 
Tahoe Region. Development of the proposed project would help reduce 
regional automobile travel, alleviate roadway congestion, and provide a 
safe, convenient, and affordable alternative for traveling between the 
north and south shores of Lake Tahoe.

Project Location and Environmental Setting

    The proposed action would include development of a South Shore 
Ferry Terminal at the Ski Run Marina in the City of South Lake Tahoe 
and a North Shore Ferry Terminal at the Grove Street Pier at the end of 
Grove Street in Tahoe City. A network of shared-use paths, sidewalks, 
and bicycle lanes exist near both proposed terminal locations. A brief 
description of the existing facilities and surrounding land uses is 
provided below.
    Ski Run Marina is a privately-owned marina located at the northern 
end of Ski Run Boulevard in the City of South Lake Tahoe. The marina 
includes two connected fixed piers. The piers extend approximately 120 
feet and 65 feet from the shore of Lake Tahoe. The Tahoe Queen, a 
paddle-wheel touring vessel, docks on the westernmost of the two piers. 
Street access to the terminal site is provided by Ski Run Boulevard and 
US 50. Existing non-motorized access to Ski Run Marina includes a 
shared-use path that runs parallel to US 50 on the north side of the 
highway and on both sides of Ski Run Boulevard. Transit access is 
provided year-round by the South Shore bus service along US 50, which 
provides service from the south shore ``Y'' in the City of South Lake 
Tahoe to Stateline, Nevada with connections to the Emerald Bay trolley 
(providing seasonal service from the ``Y'' to Tahoe City) and the Lake 
Valley Express (Stateline to the Carson Valley communities of Carson 
City, Minden, and Gardnerville in Nevada).
    Surrounding land uses include Ski Run Marina Village (a collection 
of shops and restaurants), Tahoe Beach & Ski and Lake Tahoe Vacation 
Resort (timeshare accommodations), Tahoe Meadows (an approximately 100 
acre private residential community listed on the National Register of 
Historic Places), Ski Run Boulevard commercial district, Heavenly 
Mountain Resort at the end of Ski Run Boulevard, and numerous business 
establishments along US 50.
    The Grove Street Pier is a privately-owned pier located just west 
of the Tahoe City Marina and approximately 0.5 mile east of the 
intersection of SR 89 and SR 28, known as the ``Y''. The existing Grove 
Street Pier is a fixed pier that is approximately 400 feet long and 8 
feet wide. Surrounding land uses include Commons Beach (a 4-acre park 
and beach area), the Lakeside Bicycle Trail, the Tahoe City Marina, 
Safeway, the Marina Mall, the Boatworks Mall, and business 
establishments along SR 28 within the commercial corridor of Tahoe 
City. Tahoe Area Regional Transit (TART) operates a local, year-round 
bus service along SR 28, which provides service between Tahoe City and 
Truckee and to Lake Tahoe communities from Tahoma to Incline Village. 
The recently completed Tahoe City Transit Center is west of the pier. 
Tahoe City has the largest population of the California communities on 
the north shore of Lake Tahoe and provides access to nearby ski 
resorts, including Squaw Valley USA, Alpine Meadows Resort, Homewood 
Mountain Resort, Northstar, Sugar Bowl, and other smaller resorts.

Proposed Alternatives

    The TTD conducted an Alternatives Analysis (AA) to evaluate the 
costs, benefits, and impacts of a range of transportation alternatives 
to address north-south mobility within the Lake Tahoe Basin. A copy of 
the AA is available on TTD's Web site at https://tahoetransportation.org/current-capital-projects/lake-tahoe-passenger-ferry-alternatives-analysis. Ten alternatives were evaluated in the AA. 
The alternatives included four with ferry service only, two with bus 
service only, and four hybrid alternatives with a combination of bus 
and ferry service. The AA was approved by the TTD Board on December 9, 
2012. The proposed action reflects the locally preferred alternative 
(LPA) adopted by the TTD Board on April 13, 2012. The alternatives 
being evaluated include:
    No Project Alternative: Under the No Project Alternative, no ferry 
terminals would be developed and year-round transit service between the 
north and south shores would not occur.
    Proposed Action: Ferry service would be provided year-round, with a 
travel time of approximately 25 minutes between terminals and hourly 
headways (i.e., the length of time between departures). Projected daily 
ridership is estimated to be between 1,600 to 1,800 passengers, using 
two ferry vessels. Limited parking for ferry passengers would be 
provided at or near the terminals. Passengers would also be encouraged 
to use existing public transit and/or pedestrian and bicycle facilities 
to access the terminals.
    The proposed ferry vessels would be catamarans (a vessel with two 
parallel hulls) with a passenger capacity of up to 150 persons. The 
vessel currently under consideration would provide space for bicycles. 
The passenger ferry, Rich Passage I, used for service between Seattle 
and Bremerton in Washington, is representative of the type of vessel 
proposed for the Lake Tahoe Passenger

[[Page 71028]]

Ferry Project. The vessels would be assembled at a site within the 
Tahoe Keys Marina in the City of South Lake Tahoe.
    Vessel maintenance would also occur at the Tahoe Keys Marina using 
existing dry-dock and other facilities. Some required maintenance 
inspections could take place in the water. The Tahoe Keys Marina 
already provides maintenance services to vessels of a similar size 
(such as, The Safari Rose, an 80-foot vessel, and the Woodwind II).
    Refueling of the ferry vessels would occur by truck or would 
require development of fueling facilities or improvement of existing 
fueling infrastructure at the identified ferry terminals.
    Modifications to the existing piers would involve increasing the 
length of the piers, adding ramped access that meets Americans with 
Disability Act (ADA) standards, and constructing a floating pier 
platform that would be long enough to accommodate the ferry and at 
least 16 feet in width. The area surrounding the proposed pier 
expansions and floating platforms would require dredging for 
construction and maintenance dredging to provide sufficient depth 
during low-lake-level periods. The security requirements at each ferry 
terminal would likely include fencing, gates, security cameras, 
lighting, and alarms
    Alternatives: Action alternatives that may be considered could 
include alternative pier designs (such as, a fixed versus floating 
pier), landside facility configurations, vessel sizes, operational 
characteristics (such as, service frequency), terminal locations, and/
or assembly and maintenance sites. Other reasonable alternatives 
identified through the public and agency scoping process will be 
evaluated for potential inclusion in the Draft EIS/EIR/EIS.

Probable Effects

    The purpose of this EIS/EIR/EIS is to study, in a public setting, 
the effects of the proposed action and its alternatives on the 
physical, human, and natural environment. The FTA, TTD, and TRPA will 
evaluate all significant environmental, social, and economic impacts of 
the construction and operation of the proposed project. The probable 
impacts will be determined as a part of the project scoping. Measures 
to avoid, minimize, and mitigate adverse impacts will also be 
identified and evaluated.

FTA Procedures

    The regulations implementing NEPA call for public involvement in 
the EIS process. FTA is required by 23 U.S.C. Sec.  139 to do the 
following: (1) extend an invitation to other federal and non-federal 
agencies and Native American tribes that may have an interest in the 
proposed project to become ``participating agencies;'' (2) provide an 
opportunity for involvement by participating agencies and the public to 
help define the purpose and need for a proposed project, as well as the 
range of alternatives for consideration in the EIS; and (3) establish a 
plan for coordinating public and agency participation in, and comment 
on, the environmental review process. An invitation to become a 
participating or cooperating agency, with scoping materials appended, 
will be extended to other federal and non-federal agencies and Native 
American tribes that may have an interest in the proposed project. It 
is possible that FTA will not be able to identify all federal and non-
federal agencies and Native American tribes that may have such an 
interest. Any federal or non-federal agency or Native American tribe 
interested in the proposed project that does not receive an invitation 
to become a participating agency should notify at the earliest 
opportunity the Project Manager identified above under ADDRESSES.
    A comprehensive public involvement program and a Coordination Plan 
for public and interagency involvement will be developed for the 
project and posted by TTD on the project Web site (https://tahoetransportation.org/current-capital-projects/lake-tahoe-passenger-ferry-alternatives-analysis). The public involvement program includes a 
full range of activities including a public scoping process to define 
the issues of concern, a project Web page on the TTD Web site, and 
outreach to local officials, community and civic groups, and the 
public. Specific activities or events for involvement will be detailed 
in the public involvement program.
    FTA will comply with all applicable Federal environmental laws, 
regulations, and executive orders during the environmental review 
process. These requirements include, but are not limited to, the 
project-level air quality conformity regulation of the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (40 CFR part 93); the Sec.  
404(b)(1) guidelines of EPA (40 CFR part 230); the regulation 
implementing EPA's Anti-degradation Policy (40 CFR 131.12) for 
Outstanding National Resource Waters, such as Lake Tahoe; the 
regulations implementing Section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act (36 CFR part 800), Section 7 of the Endangered Species 
Act (50 CFR part 402), and Section 4(1) of the Department of 
Transportation Act (23 CFR part 774); and, Executive Orders 12898 on 
environmental justice, 11988 on floodplain management, 11990 on 
wetlands, 13175 on Indian trust assets and Native American 
consultation, 13112 on invasive species, and 12962 on recreational 
fisheries.

    Dated: November 19, 2013.
Leslie T. Rogers,
Regional Administrator Regional IX, Federal Transit Administration.
[FR Doc. 2013-28352 Filed 11-26-13; 8:45 am]
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