Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the GA 400 Transit Initiative in Fulton County, Georgia, 17147-17150 [2015-07287]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 61 / Tuesday, March 31, 2015 / Notices
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provides no evidence outlining such
abuse. Moreover, it provides no
evidence that the new $75,000 bond
requirement is not required to protect
against such abuse of market power.
Without any evidence, FMCSA will not
exempt an entire industry from a clearly
articulated congressional directive to
raise the broker and freight forwarder
financial responsibility requirements.
National Transportation Policy (NTP)
Finally, in its application, AIPBA
argues that the $75,000 bond
requirement is contrary to the
transportation policy of 49 U.S.C.
13101, because it violates the federal
government’s policy to ‘‘encourage fair
competition, and reasonable rates for
transportation by motor carriers of
property’’ and to ‘‘allow a variety of
quality and price options to meet
changing market demands and the
diverse requirements of the shipping
and traveling public. . . .’’ 49 U.S.C.
13101(a)(2)(A), (D). AIPBA argues that
the new broker bond amount ‘‘will
likely result in a loss of tens of
thousands of jobs and higher consumer
prices as a matter of supply and
demand.’’ Further, according to AIPBA,
‘‘per Kevin Reid of the National
Association for Minority Truckers, the
anti-competitive effects of the new
broker bond requirement will
detrimentally affect the participation of
minorities in the motor carrier system,
which is another violation of the
transportation policy.’’
In its docket comments in this
proceeding, AIPBA argues that ‘‘a
$75,000 bond to protect carriers is not
necessary to implement the national
transportation policy because there is no
shipper bond to protect carriers when
they receive loads without the
involvement of an intermediary.’’
Further, AIPBA argues that
‘‘enforcement of the new financial
security minimum is contrary to the
national transportation policy of 49
U.S.C. 13101 because it restricts
opportunity, competition and
reasonable rates.’’
On the other hand, with regard to the
National Transportation Policy (NTP),
OOIDA argues that Congress’s new
$75,000 requirement ‘‘burnished the
national transportation goals of
encouraging ‘sound economic
conditions in transportation, including
sound economic conditions among
carriers;’ 49 U.S.C. 13101(a)(1)(C), and
acted to promote efficient transportation
and to enable efficient and wellmanaged carriers to . . . maintain fair
wages and working conditions. Sections
13101(a)(2)(B)&(F).’’ OOIDA’s point is
well taken.
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While AIPBA is correct that the NTP
provides that the policy of the United
States Government is to ‘‘encourage fair
competition, and reasonable rates for
transportation by motor carriers of
property,’’ ‘‘allow a variety of quality
and price options to meet changing
market demands and the diverse
requirements of the shipping and
traveling public’’, 49 U.S.C.
13101(a)(2)(A), (D), and ‘‘promote
greater participation by minorities in the
motor carrier system,’’ 49 U.S.C.
3101(a)(2)(J), these are not the only
elements of the NTP. Among other
goals, the NTP provides that federal
transportation policy includes
‘‘promot[ing] efficiency in the motor
carrier transportation system . . . ,’’ 49
U.S.C. 13101(a)(2)(B), meeting the needs
of shippers, 49 U.S.C. 13101(a)(2)(C),
and ‘‘enabl[ing] efficient and wellmanaged carriers to earn adequate
profits, attract capital, and maintain fair
wages and working conditions. . . .’’ 49
U.S.C. 13101(a)(2)(F).
FMCSA finds that application of the
$75,000 broker and freight forwarder
financial responsibility requirements
under 49 U.S.C. 13906(b), (c) is
‘‘necessary to carry out the
transportation policy of section 13101.
. . .’’ 49 U.S.C. 13541(a)(1). First,
Congress set that amount as the
minimum requirement and in so doing,
must be presumed to have acted in a
manner consistent with the NTP.
Second, as OOIDA, TIA and SFAA have
shown, the previous $10,000 bond was
inadequate in the event of broker
financial problems. In such instances,
both shippers and motor carriers faced
losses. Accordingly, applying the new
$75,000 bond amount is necessary to
meet the ‘‘needs of shippers,’’ 49 U.S.C.
13101(a)(2)(C), and to allow motor
carriers to ‘‘earn adequate profits [and]
attract capital,’’ 49 U.S.C. 13101(a)(2)(F),
as directed by the NTP.
Moreover, AIPBA has not shown why
applying the new $75,000 requirement
is not necessary to carry out those
provisions of the NTP. FMCSA does not
believe that AIPBA has provided
evidence that there has been a decrease
in motor carrier competition or an
increase in shipping rates due to the
implementation of the $75,000 bond
requirement. Indeed at p. 5 of their
docket comments, AIPBA admits that
rates have actually decreased. Further,
aside from an unsubstantiated
projection, AIPBA makes no showing
that the new $75,000 requirement will
undermine the NTP’s goal of
‘‘promot[ing] greater participation by
minorities in the motor carrier system.
. . .’’ 49 U.S.C. 13101(a)(2)(J).
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17147
FMCSA does not find that the $75,000
financial responsibility requirement for
brokers/freight forwarders is ‘‘not
necessary to carry out the transportation
policy of section 13101. . . .’’ 49 U.S.C.
13541(a)(1). Nor does FMCSA find that
continued regulation under section
13906(b), (c) ‘‘is not needed to protect
shippers from the abuse of market
power’’ or that the transaction or service
at issue is of ‘‘limited scope. . . .’’ 49
U.S.C. 13541(a)(2). Finally, granting the
exemption requested by AIPBA is not in
the public interest. 49 U.S.C.
13541(a)(3). Accordingly, AIBPA’s
request is denied.
Issued on: March 25, 2015.
T.F. Scott Darling, III,
Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2015–07353 Filed 3–30–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for
the GA 400 Transit Initiative in Fulton
County, Georgia
Federal Transit Administration
(FTA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare
an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) and Section 4(f) Evaluation.
AGENCY:
The Federal Transit
Administration (FTA) and the
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit
Authority (MARTA) issue this Notice of
Intent (NOI) to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
and an evaluation per 49 U.S.C, 303 and
23 CFR 774 (‘‘Section 4(f)’’) for the
extension of high capacity, rapid transit
in the Georgia (GA) 400 corridor in
north Fulton County, GA from
Dunwoody to Alpharetta. The EIS and
Section 4(f) Evaluation will be prepared
in accordance with regulations
implementing the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and
40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508,
Section 4(f), as well as FTA’s
regulations and guidance implementing
NEPA (23 CFR 771).
The purpose of this NOI is to: (1)
Advise the public and agencies that
MARTA in coordination with the FTA
is preparing an EIS for the proposed
project; (2) provide information
including previous planning studies and
decision, purpose and need, and
alternatives being considered; and, (3)
invite public and agency participation
in the EIS process, which includes a
SUMMARY:
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review and written comments on the
scope of the EIS.
DATES: Scoping Meeting Dates: Public
Scoping meetings will be held on April
14, 16, and 30, 2015 at locations within
the study area. The Scoping meeting
locations are accessible by transit and to
persons with disabilities. Confirmed
times and locations will be published in
local notices and on the project Web site
at https://www.itsmarta.com/north-line400-corr.aspx.
The dates, times, and locations of the
Scoping meetings are:
• Scoping Meeting 1: Tuesday, April
14, 2015 at the North Fulton
Government Service Center located at
7741 Roswell Road #104, Sandy
Springs, GA 30350.
• Scoping Meeting 2: Thursday, April
16, 2015 at the Georgia State University
Alpharetta Center located at 3775
Brookside Parkway, Alpharetta, GA
30022.
• Scoping Meeting 3: Thursday, April
30, 2015 at the East Roswell Park
located at 9000 Fouts Road, Roswell, GA
30076.
All meetings will be held from 6:30
p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Directional signage
will be posted at all meeting locations
to inform participants of the meeting
room number and location.
All meeting locations are considered
private property. With the exception of
on-duty law enforcement and/or
security officials, weapons will not be
allowed on the premises of any meeting
locations under any circumstances. If
there are questions concerning weapons
policies for Scoping meeting locations
or if translation, signing services, or
other special accommodations are
needed, please contact MARTA’s Office
of External Affairs, Toni Thornton at
tthornton@itsmarta.com or 404–848–
5423 at least one week before the
scoping meetings.
Written Comments: Written or
electronic mail (email) comments
should be sent to Mark Eatman, Project
Manager, MARTA, 2424 Piedmont Road
NE., Atlanta GA 30324–3330 or by email
at mreatman@itsmarta.com. If
submitting an email comment, please
type ‘‘Scoping Meeting Comment for
MARTA’’ in the subject line of the
email. MARTA maintains a Facebook
page for the GA 400 Corridor project
and will notify Facebook followers, in
conjunction with publication of this
notice, to submit comments to the
aforementioned email address as well.
The address for the Facebook page is
https://www.facebook.com/Connect400.
Information on the project may also be
found on the project Web site, https://
www.itsmarta.com/north-line-400corr.aspx.
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Mr.
Stan Mitchell, Environmental Protection
Specialist, FTA Region IV, 230
Peachtree Street NW., Suite 1400,
Atlanta, GA 30303 or email:
stanley.a.mitchell@dot.gov, telephone
404–865–5643.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
I. Scoping
FTA and MARTA will undertake a
Scoping process that will allow the
public and interested agencies to
comment on the scope of the
environmental review process. Scoping
is the process of determining the scope,
focus, and content of an EIS. NEPA
Scoping has specific objectives,
identifying issues that will be examined
in detail during the EIS, while at the
same time limiting consideration and
development of issues that are not truly
significant to the purpose and need for
the project. FTA and MARTA invite all
interested individuals, members of the
public, Native American tribes, and
Federal, State, and local agencies to
review and comment on the scope of the
Draft EIS.
To facilitate public and agency
comment, a Scoping Information Packet
will be prepared for review and will be
available before each Scoping meeting
and for handout at each Scoping
meeting. This packet will include draft
descriptions of the project purpose and
need, the alternatives considered,
impacts to be assessed, early
alternatives that are currently not being
considered, and the public outreach and
agency coordination process.
II. Study Area Description
The project study area is located in
Fulton County, Georgia, and includes
small portions of the cities of Sandy
Springs, Roswell, Milton, Dunwoody,
Johns Creek and Alpharetta. The
corridor study area extends
approximately 12 miles along GA 400
from North Springs heavy rail station
(the current northern terminus of the
MARTA heavy rail service) northward
to Windward Parkway near the Fulton/
Forsyth county line.
III. Purpose and Need for the Proposed
Project
MARTA invites comments on the
following preliminary statement of the
project’s purpose and need:
The purpose of the GA 400 Corridor
project is to provide high capacity
transit (bus and/or rail) through the
corridor study area, improve transit
linkages and coverage to communities
within the study area, and enhance
mobility and accessibility to and within
the study area by providing a more
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robust transit network that offers an
alternative to automobile travel.
The GA 400 Corridor is the
transportation spine of northern Fulton
County, one of the fastest growing subregions in the metro-Atlanta region. The
corridor is home to many employment
centers, including Perimeter Center in
the southern portion of the corridor, one
of the largest employment centers in the
region. Transit service to and within the
study area is provided primarily by
MARTA heavy rail and bus. MARTA
heavy rail service extends from
Downtown Atlanta to major retail and
employment centers, including the
Medical Center and Perimeter Center in
Dunwoody and Sandy Springs in the
southern portion of the corridor.
MARTA bus service in the corridor
study area primarily functions as feeder
service to the North Springs heavy rail
station from areas to the north,
including Roswell, Alpharetta and
Milton. The Georgia Regional
Transportation Authority (GRTA) also
operates two express bus routes during
peak hours that connect the southern
portion of the GA 400 corridor to/from
north and southeast destinations outside
the GA 400 corridor.
The following needs for the proposed
project stem from existing conditions
and deficiencies in the corridor study
area:
• Travel demand—Increased travel
demand and traffic congestion;
• Transit mobility—There is
inadequate transit connectivity within
the northern Fulton County study area
and between the study area and DeKalb,
Gwinnett, and Cobb Counties and
central Atlanta. In addition, east-west
transit connectivity is inadequate. The
limited routes across the Chattahoochee
River reflect the inadequate transit
connectivity;
• Transit travel times—Transit travel
times are not competitive with auto
travel times due to the lack of express
service; this is true for north-south trips
within the study area and for trips with
origins and destinations outside the
study area. Transit and auto travel times
cannot be compared for east-west trips
as there is no east-west transit service;
and,
• Economic development—Traffic
congestion caused by insufficient
transportation system capacity affects
both personal travel and goods
movement, which constrains economic
development opportunities.
IV. Alternatives Analysis and Results
In 2011, MARTA initiated the GA 400
Corridor Transit Initiative Alternatives
Analysis (AA) to analyze the corridor
based on current trends and conditions.
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The AA study process identified ways
to enhance transportation choices,
improve transit service, and increase
access to jobs and activity centers for
commuters and residents in the GA 400
corridor. MARTA and corridor
stakeholders examined a broad range of
alternatives for high capacity, fixed
route transit investments in the corridor.
The AA study process reduced the
number of potentially viable alternatives
through a multilayered screening
methodology and by engaging the public
and stakeholders. The AA process
concluded that the GA 400 right-of-way
from the North Springs station to
Windward Parkway near the Fulton/
Forsyth County line is the preferred
alignment. The transit technologies
requiring further evaluation were
identified as heavy rail transit (HRT),
light rail transit (LRT), and bus rapid
transit (BRT). Additional technical and
public and stakeholder input received
during Early Scoping (conducted in
2013 and 2014) established the basis for
selecting a Locally Preferred Alternative
(LPA) within the GA 400 Corridor.
The LPA is a HRT line that would
cross to the west side of Georgia 400
north of North Springs Station but south
of Spalding Dr. This alternative would
have a second crossover back to the east
side of GA 400 north of the
Chattahoochee River. The HRT
alternative received the strongest public
support throughout the study process
due to the higher level of transit service
for corridor commuters and residents. In
addition, two BRT alignments will be
considered as lower-cost options as part
of the DEIS. Stakeholder input received
during Early Scoping, poor performance
shown in technical study and
preliminary analysis eliminated the LRT
alternative. The MARTA Board of
Directors adopted the HRT transit
concept as the LPA for the GA 400
corridor along with consideration of the
additional BRT alternatives on March 5,
2015.
The results of the AA study, Early
Scoping, and the Preliminary
Engineering and Environmental
Analysis study are available at https://
www.itsmarta.com/north-line-400corr.aspx, under Documents.
V. EIS Alternatives Considered
Based on the technical analysis and
input received from the public and
stakeholders regarding the GA 400
corridor, the following proposed
alternatives, along with a brief
description for each, will be evaluated
during the EIS:
No-Build Alternative: The No-Build
Alternative includes all transportation
improvement projects within the GA
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400 Corridor project area that are
programmed in the Atlanta Regional
Commission’s Regional Transportation
Plan (RTP) with the exception of the GA
400 Corridor project. The No-Build
Alternative serves as a comparison
baseline for the project build
alternatives.
Build Alternative 1: Build Alternative
1 is an extension of MARTA’s HRT Red
line. It includes segments that are atgrade, tunnel and on aerial structure.
From the North Springs station, the
alignment for Build Alternative 1 would
cross GA 400 south of Spalding Drive to
run along the west side of GA 400, cross
the Chattahoochee River, and then cross
back over GA 400 to run along the east
side of GA 400 to Windward Parkway.
The Build Alternative 1 is the LPA for
the study corridor.
Build Alternative 2: Build Alternative
2 is a new BRT exclusive guideway that
includes segments that are at-grade and
on aerial structure. The alignment
would extend from the North Springs
station, cross GA 400 south of Spalding
Drive to run along the west side of GA
400, cross the Chattahoochee River and
then cross over GA 400 to run along the
east side of GA 400 to Windward
Parkway.
Build Alternative 3: Build Alternative
3 is a new BRT line operating in a future
Georgia Department of Transportation
(GDOT) Managed Lanes project on GA
400 that includes segments that are atgrade and on aerial structure. Except
when serving the station at Windward
Parkway, this alternative would not
cross over GA 400.
VI. Potential Effects
FTA and MARTA will evaluate
project-specific direct, indirect, and
cumulative effects, including benefits,
to the existing human and natural
environmental setting in which the
Build Alternatives could be located. The
permanent or long-term effects to be
investigated during this study include
effects to public parks and recreation
lands (Section 4(f) Evaluation), traffic
and transportation, land use and
socioeconomic, visual character and
aesthetics, noise and vibration,
historical and archaeological resources,
community effects, and natural
resources. Temporary effects during
construction may include effects to
transportation and traffic, air quality,
water quality, noise and vibration,
natural resources, and encounters with
hazardous materials and contaminated
soils.
The analysis will be undertaken in
conformity with Federal environmental
laws, regulations, and executive orders
applicable to the proposed project
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17149
during the environmental review
process. These requirements include but
are not limited to NEPA, Council on
Environmental Quality (CEQ)
regulations, FTA guidance and relevant
environmental planning guidelines,
Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act (NHPA), Section 4(f) of
the Department of Transportation Act,
Executive Order 12898 regarding
minority and low-income populations,
Executive Order 11990 regarding the
protection of wetlands, the Clean Water
Act, the Endangered Species Act of
1973, and the Clean Air Act of 1970
along with other applicable Federal,
state, and local laws and regulations.
Opportunities for review and comment
on the potential effects will be provided
to the public and agencies. Comments
received will be considered in the
development of the final scope and
content of the EIS. The final scope and
content of the EIS will be documented
in the Scoping Summary Report and the
Annotated Outline for the EIS.
VII. FTA’s Public and Agency
Involvement Procedures
The regulations implementing NEPA
and FTA guidance call for public
involvement in the EIS process. In
accordance with these regulations and
guidance, FTA and MARTA will: (1)
Extend an invitation to other Federal
and non-Federal (state and/or local)
agencies and Native American Tribes
that may have an interest in the
proposed project to become
participating agencies (any interested
agency that does not receive an
invitation can notify any of the contact
persons listed earlier in this NOI); (2)
provide opportunity for involvement by
participating agencies and the public to
help define the purpose and need for
the 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.
Input on a Public Involvement Plan
will be solicited at Scoping meetings
and on the project Web site. The
documents will outline public and
agency involvement for the project.
Once completed, these documents will
be available on the project Web site or
through written request to the MARTA
Project Manager.
VIII. Paperwork Reduction Act
The Paperwork Reduction Act seeks,
in part, to minimize the cost of the
taxpayer of the creation, collection,
maintenance, use, dissemination, and
disposition of information. Consistent
with this goal and with the principles of
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economy and efficiency in government,
it is FTA’s policy to limit, insofar as
possible, distribution of complete
printed sets of NEPA documents.
Accordingly, unless a specific request
for a complete printed set is received
before the document is printed, FTA
and its grant applicants (including
MARTA) will only distribute electronic
copies of the NEPA document. A
complete printed set of the
environmental documents produced for
this project will be available for review
at the grant applicant’s office (MARTA
Headquarters office listed in ADDRESSES
above) and in other possible locations
within the project corridor. An
electronic copy of the complete
environmental documents will be
available on the grant applicant’s project
Web site at https://www.itsmarta.com/
north-line-400-corr.aspx.
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IX. Summary and Next Steps
With the publication of this NOI, the
Scoping process and the public
comment period for the project begins
allowing the public to offer input on the
scope of the EIS until May 11, 2015. In
accordance with the Federal regulations,
this date is at least 45 days following the
publication of this NOI. Public
comments will be received through
those methods explained earlier in this
NOI and will be incorporated into a
Scoping Summary Report. The Scoping
Summary Report will detail the scope of
the EIS and the potential environmental
effects that will be considered during
the study period. After the completion
of the Draft EIS, a public and agency
review period will allow for input on
the Draft EIS and these comments will
be incorporated into the Final EIS for
this project. In accordance with Section
1319 of the Moving Ahead for Progress
in the 21st Century Act (MAP–21),
Accelerated Decision-making in
Environmental Reviews, FTA may
consider the use of errata sheets
attached to the DEIS in place of a
traditional Final EIS and/or
development a single environmental
decision document that consists of a
Final EIS and a Record of Decision
(ROD), if certain conditions exist
following the conclusion of the public
and agency review period for the
project’s Draft EIS.
Yvette G. Taylor,
Regional Administrator, Federal Transit
Administration, Atlanta, GA.
[FR Doc. 2015–07287 Filed 3–30–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–57–P
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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
Department of the Treasury.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Department of the Treasury will
submit the following information
collection requests to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and clearance in accordance
with the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995, Public Law 104–13, on or after the
date of publication of this notice.
DATES: Comments should be received on
or before April 30, 2015 to be assured
of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Send comments regarding
the burden estimate, or any other aspect
of the information collection, including
suggestions for reducing the burden, to
(1) Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Office of Management and
Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for
Treasury, New Executive Office
Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC
20503, or email at OIRA_Submission@
OMB.EOP.gov and (2) Treasury PRA
Clearance Officer, 1750 Pennsylvania
Ave. NW., Suite 8140, Washington, DC
20220, or email at PRA@treasury.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Copies of the submission(s) may be
obtained by calling (202) 927–5331,
email at PRA@treasury.gov, or the entire
information collection request may be
found at www.reginfo.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Internal Revenue Service
OMB Number: 1545–1661.
Type of Review: Extension without
change of a currently approved
collection.
Title: REG–106010–98 (Final)
Qualified Lessee Construction
Allowance for Short-Term Leases.
Abstract: The regulations provide
guidance with respect to Sec. 110,
which provides a safe harbor whereby it
will be assumed that a construction
allowance provided by a lessor to a
lessee is used to construct or improve
lessor property when long-term property
is constructed or improved and used
pursuant to a short-term lease. The
regulations also provide a reporting
requirement that ensures that both the
lessee and lessor consistently treat the
property subject to the construction
allowance as nonresidential real
property owned by the lessor.
Affected Public: Private Sector:
Businesses or other for-profits.
Estimated Annual Burden Hours:
10,000.
OMB Number: 1545–1791.
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Type of Review: Extension without
change of a currently approved
collection.
Title: Membership Applications for
IRPAC, IRSAC, and ETACC (IRS
Committee’s), IRS Advisory Council,
and Tax Check Waiver.
Form: 12339, 12339–B, 12339–C,
13775.
Abstract: The Federal Advisory
Committee Act (FACA) requires that
committee membership be fairly
balanced in terms of points of view
represented and the functions to be
performed. As a result, members of
specific committees often have both the
expertise and professional skills that
parallel the program responsibilities of
their sponsoring agencies.
In order to apply to be a member of
the Internal Revenue Service Advisory
Council (IRSAC), the Information
Reporting Program Advisory Committee
(IRPAC), Advisory Committee on Tax
Exempt and Government Entities, or the
Electronic Tax Administration Advisory
Committee (ETAAC), applicants must
submit a Membership Application.
Selection of committee members is
made based on the FACA’s
requirements and the potential
member’s background and
qualifications. Therefore, an application
is needed to ascertain the desired skills
set for membership. The information
will also be used to perform Federal
Income Tax, FBI, and practitioner
checks as required of all members and
applicants to the Committees or
Council.
The tax check waiver permits the
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to release
information about the applicant which
would otherwise be confidential. This
information will be used in connection
with my application for appointment to
membership in one of the IRS Advisory
Committee/Council. It is necessary for
the purpose of ensuring that all panel
members are tax compliant. Information
provided will be used to qualify or
disqualify individuals to serve as panel
members. The information will be used
as appropriate by the Taxpayer
Advocate service staff, and other
appropriate IRS personnel.
Affected Public: Individual or
Household.
Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 492.
OMB Number: 1545–1941.
Type of Review: Extension without
change of a currently approved
collection.
Title: Consumer Cooperative
Exemption Application.
Form: 3491.
Abstract: A cooperative uses Form
3491 to apply for exemption from filing
information returns (Forms 1099–PATR)
E:\FR\FM\31MRN1.SGM
31MRN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 61 (Tuesday, March 31, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17147-17150]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07287]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the GA 400 Transit Initiative in Fulton County, Georgia
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) and Section 4(f) Evaluation.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Metropolitan
Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) issue this Notice of Intent
(NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and an
evaluation per 49 U.S.C, 303 and 23 CFR 774 (``Section 4(f)'') for the
extension of high capacity, rapid transit in the Georgia (GA) 400
corridor in north Fulton County, GA from Dunwoody to Alpharetta. The
EIS and Section 4(f) Evaluation will be prepared in accordance with
regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
and 40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508, Section 4(f), as well as FTA's
regulations and guidance implementing NEPA (23 CFR 771).
The purpose of this NOI is to: (1) Advise the public and agencies
that MARTA in coordination with the FTA is preparing an EIS for the
proposed project; (2) provide information including previous planning
studies and decision, purpose and need, and alternatives being
considered; and, (3) invite public and agency participation in the EIS
process, which includes a
[[Page 17148]]
review and written comments on the scope of the EIS.
DATES: Scoping Meeting Dates: Public Scoping meetings will be held on
April 14, 16, and 30, 2015 at locations within the study area. The
Scoping meeting locations are accessible by transit and to persons with
disabilities. Confirmed times and locations will be published in local
notices and on the project Web site at https://www.itsmarta.com/north-line-400-corr.aspx.
The dates, times, and locations of the Scoping meetings are:
Scoping Meeting 1: Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at the North
Fulton Government Service Center located at 7741 Roswell Road #104,
Sandy Springs, GA 30350.
Scoping Meeting 2: Thursday, April 16, 2015 at the Georgia
State University Alpharetta Center located at 3775 Brookside Parkway,
Alpharetta, GA 30022.
Scoping Meeting 3: Thursday, April 30, 2015 at the East
Roswell Park located at 9000 Fouts Road, Roswell, GA 30076.
All meetings will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Directional
signage will be posted at all meeting locations to inform participants
of the meeting room number and location.
All meeting locations are considered private property. With the
exception of on-duty law enforcement and/or security officials, weapons
will not be allowed on the premises of any meeting locations under any
circumstances. If there are questions concerning weapons policies for
Scoping meeting locations or if translation, signing services, or other
special accommodations are needed, please contact MARTA's Office of
External Affairs, Toni Thornton at tthornton@itsmarta.com or 404-848-
5423 at least one week before the scoping meetings.
Written Comments: Written or electronic mail (email) comments
should be sent to Mark Eatman, Project Manager, MARTA, 2424 Piedmont
Road NE., Atlanta GA 30324-3330 or by email at mreatman@itsmarta.com.
If submitting an email comment, please type ``Scoping Meeting Comment
for MARTA'' in the subject line of the email. MARTA maintains a
Facebook page for the GA 400 Corridor project and will notify Facebook
followers, in conjunction with publication of this notice, to submit
comments to the aforementioned email address as well. The address for
the Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/Connect400. Information
on the project may also be found on the project Web site, https://www.itsmarta.com/north-line-400-corr.aspx.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Stan Mitchell, Environmental
Protection Specialist, FTA Region IV, 230 Peachtree Street NW., Suite
1400, Atlanta, GA 30303 or email: stanley.a.mitchell@dot.gov, telephone
404-865-5643.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Scoping
FTA and MARTA will undertake a Scoping process that will allow the
public and interested agencies to comment on the scope of the
environmental review process. Scoping is the process of determining the
scope, focus, and content of an EIS. NEPA Scoping has specific
objectives, identifying issues that will be examined in detail during
the EIS, while at the same time limiting consideration and development
of issues that are not truly significant to the purpose and need for
the project. FTA and MARTA invite all interested individuals, members
of the public, Native American tribes, and Federal, State, and local
agencies to review and comment on the scope of the Draft EIS.
To facilitate public and agency comment, a Scoping Information
Packet will be prepared for review and will be available before each
Scoping meeting and for handout at each Scoping meeting. This packet
will include draft descriptions of the project purpose and need, the
alternatives considered, impacts to be assessed, early alternatives
that are currently not being considered, and the public outreach and
agency coordination process.
II. Study Area Description
The project study area is located in Fulton County, Georgia, and
includes small portions of the cities of Sandy Springs, Roswell,
Milton, Dunwoody, Johns Creek and Alpharetta. The corridor study area
extends approximately 12 miles along GA 400 from North Springs heavy
rail station (the current northern terminus of the MARTA heavy rail
service) northward to Windward Parkway near the Fulton/Forsyth county
line.
III. Purpose and Need for the Proposed Project
MARTA invites comments on the following preliminary statement of
the project's purpose and need:
The purpose of the GA 400 Corridor project is to provide high
capacity transit (bus and/or rail) through the corridor study area,
improve transit linkages and coverage to communities within the study
area, and enhance mobility and accessibility to and within the study
area by providing a more robust transit network that offers an
alternative to automobile travel.
The GA 400 Corridor is the transportation spine of northern Fulton
County, one of the fastest growing sub-regions in the metro-Atlanta
region. The corridor is home to many employment centers, including
Perimeter Center in the southern portion of the corridor, one of the
largest employment centers in the region. Transit service to and within
the study area is provided primarily by MARTA heavy rail and bus. MARTA
heavy rail service extends from Downtown Atlanta to major retail and
employment centers, including the Medical Center and Perimeter Center
in Dunwoody and Sandy Springs in the southern portion of the corridor.
MARTA bus service in the corridor study area primarily functions as
feeder service to the North Springs heavy rail station from areas to
the north, including Roswell, Alpharetta and Milton. The Georgia
Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) also operates two express bus
routes during peak hours that connect the southern portion of the GA
400 corridor to/from north and southeast destinations outside the GA
400 corridor.
The following needs for the proposed project stem from existing
conditions and deficiencies in the corridor study area:
Travel demand--Increased travel demand and traffic
congestion;
Transit mobility--There is inadequate transit connectivity
within the northern Fulton County study area and between the study area
and DeKalb, Gwinnett, and Cobb Counties and central Atlanta. In
addition, east-west transit connectivity is inadequate. The limited
routes across the Chattahoochee River reflect the inadequate transit
connectivity;
Transit travel times--Transit travel times are not
competitive with auto travel times due to the lack of express service;
this is true for north-south trips within the study area and for trips
with origins and destinations outside the study area. Transit and auto
travel times cannot be compared for east-west trips as there is no
east-west transit service; and,
Economic development--Traffic congestion caused by
insufficient transportation system capacity affects both personal
travel and goods movement, which constrains economic development
opportunities.
IV. Alternatives Analysis and Results
In 2011, MARTA initiated the GA 400 Corridor Transit Initiative
Alternatives Analysis (AA) to analyze the corridor based on current
trends and conditions.
[[Page 17149]]
The AA study process identified ways to enhance transportation choices,
improve transit service, and increase access to jobs and activity
centers for commuters and residents in the GA 400 corridor. MARTA and
corridor stakeholders examined a broad range of alternatives for high
capacity, fixed route transit investments in the corridor. The AA study
process reduced the number of potentially viable alternatives through a
multilayered screening methodology and by engaging the public and
stakeholders. The AA process concluded that the GA 400 right-of-way
from the North Springs station to Windward Parkway near the Fulton/
Forsyth County line is the preferred alignment. The transit
technologies requiring further evaluation were identified as heavy rail
transit (HRT), light rail transit (LRT), and bus rapid transit (BRT).
Additional technical and public and stakeholder input received during
Early Scoping (conducted in 2013 and 2014) established the basis for
selecting a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) within the GA 400
Corridor.
The LPA is a HRT line that would cross to the west side of Georgia
400 north of North Springs Station but south of Spalding Dr. This
alternative would have a second crossover back to the east side of GA
400 north of the Chattahoochee River. The HRT alternative received the
strongest public support throughout the study process due to the higher
level of transit service for corridor commuters and residents. In
addition, two BRT alignments will be considered as lower-cost options
as part of the DEIS. Stakeholder input received during Early Scoping,
poor performance shown in technical study and preliminary analysis
eliminated the LRT alternative. The MARTA Board of Directors adopted
the HRT transit concept as the LPA for the GA 400 corridor along with
consideration of the additional BRT alternatives on March 5, 2015.
The results of the AA study, Early Scoping, and the Preliminary
Engineering and Environmental Analysis study are available at https://www.itsmarta.com/north-line-400-corr.aspx, under Documents.
V. EIS Alternatives Considered
Based on the technical analysis and input received from the public
and stakeholders regarding the GA 400 corridor, the following proposed
alternatives, along with a brief description for each, will be
evaluated during the EIS:
No-Build Alternative: The No-Build Alternative includes all
transportation improvement projects within the GA 400 Corridor project
area that are programmed in the Atlanta Regional Commission's Regional
Transportation Plan (RTP) with the exception of the GA 400 Corridor
project. The No-Build Alternative serves as a comparison baseline for
the project build alternatives.
Build Alternative 1: Build Alternative 1 is an extension of MARTA's
HRT Red line. It includes segments that are at-grade, tunnel and on
aerial structure. From the North Springs station, the alignment for
Build Alternative 1 would cross GA 400 south of Spalding Drive to run
along the west side of GA 400, cross the Chattahoochee River, and then
cross back over GA 400 to run along the east side of GA 400 to Windward
Parkway. The Build Alternative 1 is the LPA for the study corridor.
Build Alternative 2: Build Alternative 2 is a new BRT exclusive
guideway that includes segments that are at-grade and on aerial
structure. The alignment would extend from the North Springs station,
cross GA 400 south of Spalding Drive to run along the west side of GA
400, cross the Chattahoochee River and then cross over GA 400 to run
along the east side of GA 400 to Windward Parkway.
Build Alternative 3: Build Alternative 3 is a new BRT line
operating in a future Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT)
Managed Lanes project on GA 400 that includes segments that are at-
grade and on aerial structure. Except when serving the station at
Windward Parkway, this alternative would not cross over GA 400.
VI. Potential Effects
FTA and MARTA will evaluate project-specific direct, indirect, and
cumulative effects, including benefits, to the existing human and
natural environmental setting in which the Build Alternatives could be
located. The permanent or long-term effects to be investigated during
this study include effects to public parks and recreation lands
(Section 4(f) Evaluation), traffic and transportation, land use and
socioeconomic, visual character and aesthetics, noise and vibration,
historical and archaeological resources, community effects, and natural
resources. Temporary effects during construction may include effects to
transportation and traffic, air quality, water quality, noise and
vibration, natural resources, and encounters with hazardous materials
and contaminated soils.
The analysis will be undertaken in conformity with Federal
environmental laws, regulations, and executive orders applicable to the
proposed project during the environmental review process. These
requirements include but are not limited to NEPA, Council on
Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations, FTA guidance and relevant
environmental planning guidelines, Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act (NHPA), Section 4(f) of the Department of
Transportation Act, Executive Order 12898 regarding minority and low-
income populations, Executive Order 11990 regarding the protection of
wetlands, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and
the Clean Air Act of 1970 along with other applicable Federal, state,
and local laws and regulations. Opportunities for review and comment on
the potential effects will be provided to the public and agencies.
Comments received will be considered in the development of the final
scope and content of the EIS. The final scope and content of the EIS
will be documented in the Scoping Summary Report and the Annotated
Outline for the EIS.
VII. FTA's Public and Agency Involvement Procedures
The regulations implementing NEPA and FTA guidance call for public
involvement in the EIS process. In accordance with these regulations
and guidance, FTA and MARTA will: (1) Extend an invitation to other
Federal and non-Federal (state and/or local) agencies and Native
American Tribes that may have an interest in the proposed project to
become participating agencies (any interested agency that does not
receive an invitation can notify any of the contact persons listed
earlier in this NOI); (2) provide opportunity for involvement by
participating agencies and the public to help define the purpose and
need for the 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.
Input on a Public Involvement Plan will be solicited at Scoping
meetings and on the project Web site. The documents will outline public
and agency involvement for the project. Once completed, these documents
will be available on the project Web site or through written request to
the MARTA Project Manager.
VIII. Paperwork Reduction Act
The Paperwork Reduction Act seeks, in part, to minimize the cost of
the taxpayer of the creation, collection, maintenance, use,
dissemination, and disposition of information. Consistent with this
goal and with the principles of
[[Page 17150]]
economy and efficiency in government, it is FTA's policy to limit,
insofar as possible, distribution of complete printed sets of NEPA
documents. Accordingly, unless a specific request for a complete
printed set is received before the document is printed, FTA and its
grant applicants (including MARTA) will only distribute electronic
copies of the NEPA document. A complete printed set of the
environmental documents produced for this project will be available for
review at the grant applicant's office (MARTA Headquarters office
listed in ADDRESSES above) and in other possible locations within the
project corridor. An electronic copy of the complete environmental
documents will be available on the grant applicant's project Web site
at https://www.itsmarta.com/north-line-400-corr.aspx.
IX. Summary and Next Steps
With the publication of this NOI, the Scoping process and the
public comment period for the project begins allowing the public to
offer input on the scope of the EIS until May 11, 2015. In accordance
with the Federal regulations, this date is at least 45 days following
the publication of this NOI. Public comments will be received through
those methods explained earlier in this NOI and will be incorporated
into a Scoping Summary Report. The Scoping Summary Report will detail
the scope of the EIS and the potential environmental effects that will
be considered during the study period. After the completion of the
Draft EIS, a public and agency review period will allow for input on
the Draft EIS and these comments will be incorporated into the Final
EIS for this project. In accordance with Section 1319 of the Moving
Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), Accelerated
Decision-making in Environmental Reviews, FTA may consider the use of
errata sheets attached to the DEIS in place of a traditional Final EIS
and/or development a single environmental decision document that
consists of a Final EIS and a Record of Decision (ROD), if certain
conditions exist following the conclusion of the public and agency
review period for the project's Draft EIS.
Yvette G. Taylor,
Regional Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Atlanta, GA.
[FR Doc. 2015-07287 Filed 3-30-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P
