Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Route 460 Location Study, Prince George County to Suffolk, Virginia, 76189-76190 [2013-29836]
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 241 / Monday, December 16, 2013 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement for the Route 460 Location
Study, Prince George County to
Suffolk, Virginia
Federal Highway
Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare a
Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement.
AGENCY:
The Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) and the United
States Department of the Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE), as joint lead federal
agencies and in cooperation with the
Virginia Department of Transportation
(VDOT) will prepare a Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS)
to evaluate the Route 460 Location
Study Final Environmental Impact
Statement (FEIS) and a Department of
the Army Individual Permit (IP)
Application. The purpose of this SEIS is
to evaluate new information regarding
the aquatic resource impacts to the
preferred alternative described in the
June 2008 FEIS and approved in the
September 2008 Record of Decision
(ROD). In addition, FHWA is evaluating
proposed changes to the termini of the
selected alternative and the proposed
interchange at Route 620, and proposed
changes to the selected alignment to
avoid and minimize aquatic resource
impacts. The USACE is preparing the
document as part of its evaluation of the
IP application submitted by U.S. Route
460 Mobility Partners (the Applicant)
for the discharge of fill material into
waters of the United States in
conjunction with the construction of the
Route 460 Corridor Improvements
Project (Project).
DATES: Submit comments on or before
January 15, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ed
Sundra, Federal Highway
Administration, 400 North 8th Street,
Suite 750, Richmond, VA 23219; email:
Ed.Sundra@dot.gov; (804) 775–3357.
Alice Allen-Grimes, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Regulatory Branch, 803 Front
Street, Norfolk, VA 23510; email:
Alice.W.Allen-Grimes@usace.army.mil;
(757) 201–7219.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Description of the Proposed Action
and Background: VDOT proposes to
construct a limited access principle
arterial tolled facility on new location
for approximately 55 miles which
would be located to the south and
roughly parallel to the existing Route
460 corridor between Interstate 295 in
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SUMMARY:
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Jkt 232001
Prince George County and Route 58 in
the City of Suffolk, Virginia. The typical
section consists of a four-lane, divided
highway with two-twelve foot lanes in
each direction, a 40-foot median, and
paved shoulders. Seven interchanges are
proposed along the project at the
secondary roads. The Applicant has
entered into a design-build contract
with VDOT to design and construct the
Project.
Upon determining that the submitted
permit application is complete, the
USACE will issue a public notice and
continue processing the permit
application.
An FEIS for the Route 460 Location
Study was approved by FHWA in June
2008, and a ROD was issued in
September 2008. In November 2012,
based upon the information before them
at the time, FHWA completed a
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) Re-evaluation of the FEIS
concluding that a SEIS was not needed.
Based on new information bearing on
the environmental impacts, including
the aquatic impacts, it was later decided
that an SEIS is required.
The SEIS will review information
from the Route 460 Location Study
FEIS/ROD, incorporate new
information, update the alternatives and
impacts analyses, and assess impacts
not previously evaluated in the FEIS/
ROD. To streamline federal processes,
the SEIS will also include the USACE’s
NEPA evaluation.
2. Alternatives: Alternatives to be
considered for the proposed project are
the No-Build Alternative, the preferred
alternative (applicant preferred
alternative for the USACE); the
preferred alternative revised to include
one or more of the following proposed
changes: Changes to the termini, the
proposed interchange at Route 620, and
alignment shifts to avoid and minimize
impacts; and potentially, other
alternatives identified during the SEIS
process in coordination with the
USACE. The SEIS will document the
alternatives previously eliminated from
consideration by FHWA. In order that
the USACE may fulfill its required
alternatives analysis responsibilities,
consideration will also be given to the
alternative from the DEIS to improve the
existing Route 460 corridor (CBA–2), an
alternative to provide a limited access
tolled facility along the existing Route
460 corridor (CBA–2 Tolled), and any
other options along the existing
alignment that may reduce the needed
footprint and are found to be feasible
and address the purpose and need of the
project as stated in the draft SEIS.
Actions available to the USACE for
the proposed project are to issue the IP,
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Frm 00090
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
76189
issue the IP with special conditions, or
deny the IP.
3. Scoping and Public Review Process:
Throughout the development of the
project, a variety of scoping and public
involvement opportunities were
provided to alert the public about the
project, provide information and
updates, and solicit feedback. These
opportunities included but were not
limited to a series of public hearings in
the corridor when the DEIS was issued
in 2005 and a series of public meetings
in 2007 under Virginia’s PPTA to
evaluate conceptual proposals received
from the private sector in response to
the solicitation of proposals. Most
recently, VDOT hosted public meetings
in 2012 to update the public on the
project and respond to public input.
To ensure that a full range of issues
related to the Project are addressed and
all significant issues identified,
comments and suggestions are invited
from all interested parties via letter or
email. Comments and suggestions
concerning the range of issues to be
evaluated under the SEIS should be
submitted to FHWA and the Corps (see
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT)
within 30 days of issuance of this notice
to ensure timely consideration.
Based on the extensive public
involvement to date on the proposed
Project, no public input on the scope of
the SEIS will be requested beyond the
solicitation by this notice for comments
on the range of issues to be evaluated.
No formal scoping meetings will be
held.
The Draft SEIS is expected to be
published and circulated in the Spring
of 2014. Notification of the availability
of the draft SEIS for public and agency
review will be made in the Federal
Register and using other methods to be
jointly determined by FHWA, USACE
and VDOT. Those methods will identify
where interested parties can go to
review a copy of the draft SEIS.
For the draft SEIS, public meetings
will be held after the publication of the
Draft SEIS and a 45-day comment
period will be provided. The public
meetings will be conducted by VDOT
and announced a minimum of 15 days
in advance of the meetings. VDOT will
provide information for the public
meetings, including date, time and
location through a variety of means
including their Web site (https://
www.virginiadot.org/
default_noflash.asp) and by newspaper
advertisement. In addition to the draft
SEIS public involvement opportunities,
the USACE will issue a public notice for
a 30-day comment period following
receipt of a complete application.
E:\FR\FM\16DEN1.SGM
16DEN1
76190
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 241 / Monday, December 16, 2013 / Notices
4. Issues: Based on coordination
between FHWA, USACE, and VDOT,
the issues to be analyzed in the SEIS
will include, but are not limited to,
alternatives based on the updated effects
to aquatic resources including wetland
and stream impacts, threatened and
endangered species, relocations,
cultural resources, and cost.
5. Additional Review and
Consultation: The SEIS will comply
with other Federal and State
requirements including, but not limited
to, the State water quality certification
under Section 401 of the CWA;
protection of water quality under the
Virginia/National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System; consideration of
minority and low income populations
under Executive Oder 12898; protection
of endangered and threatened species
under Section 7 of the Endangered
Species Act; and protection of cultural
resources under Section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act.
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 49 CFR 1.48; 33
CFR Part 325.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program Number 20.205, Highway Planning
and Construction. The regulations
implementing Executive Order 12372
regarding intergovernmental consultation on
Federal programs and activities apply to this
program.)
Issued by: December 10, 2013.
Edward Sundra,
Director of Program Development, Federal
Highway Administration, Virginia Division.
[FR Doc. 2013–29836 Filed 12–13–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA–2013–0002–N–24]
Proposed Agency Information
Collection Activities; Comment
Request
Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA), United States
Department of Transportation (USDOT).
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and
its implementing regulations, the
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
hereby announces that it is seeking
renewal of the following currently
approved information collection
activities. Before submitting these
information collection requirements for
clearance by the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB), FRA is soliciting
pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
13:51 Dec 13, 2013
Jkt 232001
public comment on specific aspects of
the activities identified below.
DATES: Comments must be received no
later than February 14, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments
on any or all of the following proposed
activities by mail to either: Ms. Janet
Wylie or Ms. Kimberly Toone, Office of
Information Technology, RAD–20,
Federal Railroad Administration, 1200
New Jersey Ave. SE., Mail Stop 35,
Washington, DC 20590. Commenters
requesting FRA acknowledge receipt of
their respective comments must include
a self-addressed stamped postcard
stating, ‘‘Comments on OMB control
number 2130–0580.’’ Alternatively,
comments may be transmitted via
facsimile to (202) 493–6170, or via email
to Ms. Wylie at janet.wylie@dot.gov, or
to Ms. Toone at Kim.Toone@dot.gov.
Please refer to the assigned OMB control
number in any correspondence
submitted. FRA will summarize
comments received in response to this
notice in a subsequent notice and
include them in its information
collection submission to OMB for
approval.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Janet Wylie, Office of Information and
Technology, RAD–20, Federal Railroad
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave.
SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC
20590 (telephone: (202) 493–6353) or
Ms. Kimberly Toone, Office of
Information Technology, RAD–20,
Federal Railroad Administration, 1200
New Jersey Ave. SE., Mail Stop 35,
Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202)
493–6132). (These telephone numbers
are not toll-free.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(PRA), Public Law 104–13, § 2, 109 Stat.
163 (1995) (codified as revised at 44
U.S.C. 3501–3520), and its
implementing regulations, 5 CFR part
1320, require Federal agencies to
provide 60-days notice to the public for
comment on information collection
activities before seeking approval for
reinstatement or renewal by OMB. 44
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 5 CFR
§§ 1320.8(d)(1), 1320.10(e)(1),
1320.12(a). Specifically, FRA invites
interested respondents to comment on
the following summary of proposed
information collection activities
regarding (i) whether the information
collection activities are necessary for
FRA to properly execute its functions,
including whether the activities will
have practical utility; (ii) the accuracy of
FRA’s estimates of the burden of the
information collection activities,
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used to
PO 00000
Frm 00091
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
determine the estimates; (iii) ways for
FRA to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information being
collected; and (iv) ways for FRA to
minimize the burden of information
collection activities on the public by
automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology (e.g., permitting electronic
submission of responses). See 44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)(i)–(iv); 5 CFR
§ 1320.8(d)(1)(i)–(iv). FRA believes that
soliciting public comment will promote
its efforts to reduce the administrative
and paperwork burdens associated with
the collection of information mandated
by Federal regulations. FRA reasons that
comments received will advance three
objectives: (i) reduce reporting burdens;
(ii) ensure that it organizes information
collection requirements in a ‘‘user
friendly’’ format to improve the use of
such information; and (iii) accurately
assess the resources expended to
retrieve and produce information
requested. See 44 U.S.C. 3501.
Below is a brief summary of currently
approved information collection
activities that FRA will submit for
clearance by OMB as required under the
PRA:
Title: Notice of Funding Availability
and Solicitations of Applications for
Grants under the Railroad Rehabilitation
and Repair Grant Program.
OMB Control Number: 2130–0580.
Abstract: The Consolidated Security,
Disaster Assistance, and Continuing
Appropriations Act, 2009 (Pub. L. 110–
329; September 30, 2008), established
the Railroad Rehabilitation and Repair
Program, making Federal funds
available directly to States. This
Program allowed grants to fund up to 80
percent of the cost of rehabilitation and
repairs to Class II and Class III railroad
infrastructure damaged by hurricanes,
floods, and other natural disasters in
areas that are located in counties that
have been identified in a Disaster
Declaration for Public Assistance by the
President under title IV of the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act of 1974. Funding was
made available on a reimbursement
basis for costs incurred after a major
disaster declaration that was made
between January 1, 2008 and the date of
the publication of the notice of funding
availability in the counties covered by
such a declaration. Rehabilitation and
repairs include rights-of-way, bridges,
signals, and other infrastructure which
is part of the general railroad system of
transportation and primarily used by
railroads to move freight traffic.
FRA recently revised this Information
Collection Request (ICR) to allow for the
E:\FR\FM\16DEN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 241 (Monday, December 16, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76189-76190]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-29836]
[[Page 76189]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Route 460
Location Study, Prince George County to Suffolk, Virginia
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the United
States Department of the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), as joint lead
federal agencies and in cooperation with the Virginia Department of
Transportation (VDOT) will prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement (SEIS) to evaluate the Route 460 Location Study Final
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and a Department of the Army
Individual Permit (IP) Application. The purpose of this SEIS is to
evaluate new information regarding the aquatic resource impacts to the
preferred alternative described in the June 2008 FEIS and approved in
the September 2008 Record of Decision (ROD). In addition, FHWA is
evaluating proposed changes to the termini of the selected alternative
and the proposed interchange at Route 620, and proposed changes to the
selected alignment to avoid and minimize aquatic resource impacts. The
USACE is preparing the document as part of its evaluation of the IP
application submitted by U.S. Route 460 Mobility Partners (the
Applicant) for the discharge of fill material into waters of the United
States in conjunction with the construction of the Route 460 Corridor
Improvements Project (Project).
DATES: Submit comments on or before January 15, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ed Sundra, Federal Highway
Administration, 400 North 8th Street, Suite 750, Richmond, VA 23219;
email: Ed.Sundra@dot.gov; (804) 775-3357. Alice Allen-Grimes, U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Branch, 803 Front Street, Norfolk, VA
23510; email: Alice.W.Allen-Grimes@usace.army.mil; (757) 201-7219.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Description of the Proposed Action and Background: VDOT proposes
to construct a limited access principle arterial tolled facility on new
location for approximately 55 miles which would be located to the south
and roughly parallel to the existing Route 460 corridor between
Interstate 295 in Prince George County and Route 58 in the City of
Suffolk, Virginia. The typical section consists of a four-lane, divided
highway with two-twelve foot lanes in each direction, a 40-foot median,
and paved shoulders. Seven interchanges are proposed along the project
at the secondary roads. The Applicant has entered into a design-build
contract with VDOT to design and construct the Project.
Upon determining that the submitted permit application is complete,
the USACE will issue a public notice and continue processing the permit
application.
An FEIS for the Route 460 Location Study was approved by FHWA in
June 2008, and a ROD was issued in September 2008. In November 2012,
based upon the information before them at the time, FHWA completed a
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Re-evaluation of the FEIS
concluding that a SEIS was not needed. Based on new information bearing
on the environmental impacts, including the aquatic impacts, it was
later decided that an SEIS is required.
The SEIS will review information from the Route 460 Location Study
FEIS/ROD, incorporate new information, update the alternatives and
impacts analyses, and assess impacts not previously evaluated in the
FEIS/ROD. To streamline federal processes, the SEIS will also include
the USACE's NEPA evaluation.
2. Alternatives: Alternatives to be considered for the proposed
project are the No-Build Alternative, the preferred alternative
(applicant preferred alternative for the USACE); the preferred
alternative revised to include one or more of the following proposed
changes: Changes to the termini, the proposed interchange at Route 620,
and alignment shifts to avoid and minimize impacts; and potentially,
other alternatives identified during the SEIS process in coordination
with the USACE. The SEIS will document the alternatives previously
eliminated from consideration by FHWA. In order that the USACE may
fulfill its required alternatives analysis responsibilities,
consideration will also be given to the alternative from the DEIS to
improve the existing Route 460 corridor (CBA-2), an alternative to
provide a limited access tolled facility along the existing Route 460
corridor (CBA-2 Tolled), and any other options along the existing
alignment that may reduce the needed footprint and are found to be
feasible and address the purpose and need of the project as stated in
the draft SEIS.
Actions available to the USACE for the proposed project are to
issue the IP, issue the IP with special conditions, or deny the IP.
3. Scoping and Public Review Process: Throughout the development of
the project, a variety of scoping and public involvement opportunities
were provided to alert the public about the project, provide
information and updates, and solicit feedback. These opportunities
included but were not limited to a series of public hearings in the
corridor when the DEIS was issued in 2005 and a series of public
meetings in 2007 under Virginia's PPTA to evaluate conceptual proposals
received from the private sector in response to the solicitation of
proposals. Most recently, VDOT hosted public meetings in 2012 to update
the public on the project and respond to public input.
To ensure that a full range of issues related to the Project are
addressed and all significant issues identified, comments and
suggestions are invited from all interested parties via letter or
email. Comments and suggestions concerning the range of issues to be
evaluated under the SEIS should be submitted to FHWA and the Corps (see
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) within 30 days of issuance of this
notice to ensure timely consideration.
Based on the extensive public involvement to date on the proposed
Project, no public input on the scope of the SEIS will be requested
beyond the solicitation by this notice for comments on the range of
issues to be evaluated. No formal scoping meetings will be held.
The Draft SEIS is expected to be published and circulated in the
Spring of 2014. Notification of the availability of the draft SEIS for
public and agency review will be made in the Federal Register and using
other methods to be jointly determined by FHWA, USACE and VDOT. Those
methods will identify where interested parties can go to review a copy
of the draft SEIS.
For the draft SEIS, public meetings will be held after the
publication of the Draft SEIS and a 45-day comment period will be
provided. The public meetings will be conducted by VDOT and announced a
minimum of 15 days in advance of the meetings. VDOT will provide
information for the public meetings, including date, time and location
through a variety of means including their Web site (https://www.virginiadot.org/default_noflash.asp) and by newspaper
advertisement. In addition to the draft SEIS public involvement
opportunities, the USACE will issue a public notice for a 30-day
comment period following receipt of a complete application.
[[Page 76190]]
4. Issues: Based on coordination between FHWA, USACE, and VDOT, the
issues to be analyzed in the SEIS will include, but are not limited to,
alternatives based on the updated effects to aquatic resources
including wetland and stream impacts, threatened and endangered
species, relocations, cultural resources, and cost.
5. Additional Review and Consultation: The SEIS will comply with
other Federal and State requirements including, but not limited to, the
State water quality certification under Section 401 of the CWA;
protection of water quality under the Virginia/National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System; consideration of minority and low income
populations under Executive Oder 12898; protection of endangered and
threatened species under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act; and
protection of cultural resources under Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act.
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 49 CFR 1.48; 33 CFR Part 325.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205,
Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing
Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on
Federal programs and activities apply to this program.)
Issued by: December 10, 2013.
Edward Sundra,
Director of Program Development, Federal Highway Administration,
Virginia Division.
[FR Doc. 2013-29836 Filed 12-13-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P