Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Construction of Railroad Bridges Across Sand Creek and Lake Pend Oreille at Sandpoint, Bonner County, Idaho., 2241-2243 [2019-01134]
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 25 / Wednesday, February 6, 2019 / Notices
83. Anne Marie Wilford-Graham
Middletown, New York
Court of Federal Claims No: 18-1991V
84. Douglas Rankin
Washington, District of Columbia
Court of Federal Claims No: 18-1996V
85. Gretchen Zufall
New York, New York
Court of Federal Claims No: 18-1997V
Inpatient Hospital Per Diem Rate
(Excludes Physician/Practitioner
Services)
ACTION:
Calendar Year 2019
[FR Doc. 2019–01240 Filed 2–5–19; 8:45 am]
Lower 48 States
The United States Coast
Guard announces the availability of a
draft Environmental Assessment (EA) in
accordance with National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA), as amended, and the National
Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), as
amended, for the proposed construction
of railroad bridges across Lake Pend
Oreille and Sand Creek at Sandpoint,
Bonner County, Idaho. The proposed
bridges will be built parallel to existing
railroad bridges crossing the same
waterbodies. As structures over
navigable waters of the United States,
the proposed bridges will require a
Coast Guard Bridge Permit. The Coast
Guard is making the draft EA available
for public review and requests public
comments. In order to ensure the widest
dissemination possible, the Coast Guard
distributed a separate document
announcing this Notice of Availability
to a mailing list that includes seasonal
residents and visitors to the Lake Pend
Oreille region.
DATES: Comments and related material
must be submitted to the online docket
at https://www.regulations.gov or reach
the Docket Management Facility on or
before March 25, 2019. See the ‘‘Public
Participation and Request for
Comments’’ portion of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for
further instructions on submitting
comments.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
identified by docket number USCG–
2018–1085 using the Federal
eRulemaking Portal at https://
www.regulations.gov.
See the ‘‘Public Participation and
Request for Comments’’ portion of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
below for instructions on submitting
comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If
you have questions on this notice or the
public meetings, please contact Mr.
Steven Fischer, District Bridge Manager,
Thirteenth Coast Guard District, U.S.
Coast Guard; telephone 206–220–7282.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
BILLING CODE 4165–15–P
$3,442
$3,434
Outpatient Per Visit Rate (Excluding
Medicare)
Calendar Year 2019
$455
$682
Calendar Year 2019
Lower 48 States
Alaska
$405
$646
Medicare Part B Inpatient Ancillary Per
Diem Rate
RIN 0917–AA16
Reimbursement Rates for Calendar
Year 2019
ACTION:
Alaska
Calendar Year 2019
Lower 48 States
Indian Health Service, HHS.
Alaska
Notice.
$789
$1,144
Outpatient Surgery Rate (Medicare)
Notice is given that the
Principal Deputy Director of the Indian
Health Service (IHS), under the
authority of sections 321(a) and 322(b)
of the Public Health Service Act, and
the Indian Health Care Improvement
Act, has approved the following rates
for inpatient and outpatient medical
care provided by IHS facilities for
Calendar Year 2019 for Medicare and
Medicaid beneficiaries, beneficiaries of
other federal programs, and for
recoveries under the Federal Medical
Care Recovery Act. The inpatient rates
for Medicare Part A are excluded from
the table below, as Medicare inpatient
payments for IHS hospital facilities are
made based on the prospective payment
system or reasonable costs when IHS
facilities are designated as Medicare
Critical Access Hospitals. Since the
inpatient per diem rates set forth below
do not include all physician services
and practitioner services, additional
payment shall be available to the extent
that those services are provided.
SUMMARY:
Established Medicare rates for
freestanding Ambulatory Surgery
Centers.
Effective Date for Calendar Year 2019
Rates
Consistent with previous annual rate
revisions, the Calendar Year 2019 rates
will be effective for services provided
on/or after January 1, 2019, to the extent
consistent with payment authorities,
including the applicable Medicaid State
plan.
Michael D. Weahkee,
RADM, Assistant Surgeon General, U.S.
Public Health Service, Principal Deputy
Director, Indian Health Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–01181 Filed 2–5–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165–16–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket No. USCG–2018–1085]
RIN 1625–AA09
Notice of Availability of Draft
Environmental Assessment for the
Proposed Construction of Railroad
Bridges Across Sand Creek and Lake
Pend Oreille at Sandpoint, Bonner
County, Idaho.
AGENCY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:09 Feb 05, 2019
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Coast Guard, DHS.
Frm 00103
Fmt 4703
Notice of availability and
request for comments; notice of public
meetings.
SUMMARY:
Outpatient Per Visit Rate (Medicare)
Indian Health Service
AGENCY:
Lower 48 States
Alaska
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
2241
Sfmt 4703
I. Background, Purpose and Legal Basis
The BNSF Railway Company (BNSF)
has proposed to construct a second
mainline track and associated bridges
across Lake Pend Oreille and Sand
Creek parallel to existing BNSF railroad
track and bridges in and around
Sandpoint, Bonner County, Idaho
(Project). The present single-track
configuration has become a constraint to
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06FEN1
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
2242
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 25 / Wednesday, February 6, 2019 / Notices
efficient rail movement, resulting in
congestion on the BNSF main line, rail
yards and on sidings as trains await
clearance to cross the existing single
track bridges. Moreover, trains awaiting
an opportunity to cross the bridge often
block vehicular traffic at both public
and private at-grade rail crossings. The
delays attributable to this congestion
hinder the timely transport and delivery
of people, goods and services to local
and regional destinations. According to
BNSF, the Project will relieve this
congestion and allow for the more
efficient movement of trains through the
Lake Pend Oreille region. Alternatives
considered for the Project include a ‘‘No
Action Alternative’’ that simply
preserves the status quo and a Proposed
Action Alternative that satisfies the
purpose and need of the Project. Several
additional alternatives including (a) a
second main line track placed east of
the existing main track line, (b) alternate
routes and (c) shifting rail traffic to
other railroads were considered and
dismissed based on infeasibility or
impracticability.
The federal bridge statutes, including
the River and Harbors Act of 1899, as
amended, the Act of March 23, 1906, as
amended, and the General Bridge Act of
1946 (33 U.S.C. 525 et seq.), require that
the location and plans of bridges in or
over navigable waters of the United
States be approved by the Secretary of
Homeland Security, who has delegated
that responsibility to the Coast Guard.
Lake Pend Oreille and Sand Creek are
navigable waters of the U.S. as defined
in 33 CFR 2.36(a). In exercising these
bridge authorities, the Coast Guard
considers navigational and
environmental impacts, which include
historic and tribal effects. The Coast
Guard’s primary responsibility
regarding BNSF’s proposed railroad
bridges is to ensure the structures do not
unreasonably obstruct navigation.
Because the intent of the bridge
statutes is to preserve navigation, the
Coast Guard’s permit authority is
limited to the bridge and its essential
components including approaches and
abutments. Consequently, the Coast
Guard does not have the authority to
approve or disapprove broader aspects
of a project beyond the bridges
themselves. For example, if a project
sponsor proposes to build a new
highway or rail line and the project
includes a bridge, the Coast Guard’s
permit authority is limited to the bridge
and its effect upon navigation, but does
not extend to the connecting highway or
rail line.
The Coast Guard is the lead federal
agency for this Project and, as such,
responsible for the review of its
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:09 Feb 05, 2019
Jkt 247001
potential effects on the human
environment, including historic
properties and tribal impacts, pursuant
to NEPA and NHPA. The Coast Guard
is therefore required by law to ensure
potential environmental effects are
carefully evaluated in each bridge
permitting decision. As part of this
evaluation process, the Coast Guard
solicits comments from State and
Federal agencies with expertise in, and
authority over, particular resources that
may be impacted by a project.
Additionally, the Coast Guard seeks
input from any tribes that may be
affected or otherwise have expertise or
equities in the Project. Following tribal
and expert agency outreach, the Coast
Guard revises its evaluation, and then
seeks comments from the general
public. Agencies that have already
participated in the environmental
review of this Project include the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS), the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), Idaho
Department of Lands (IDL) and the
Idaho Department of Environmental
Quality (IDEQ). In addition to the Coast
Guard Bridge Permit, this Project
requires the following permits:
• An Individual Permit from USACE
under Section 404 of the Clean Water
Act (33 U.S.C. 1344) and Section 10 of
the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33
U.S.C. 403) to temporarily and
permanently discharge rock into water
and wetlands, all discharges being
associated with construction of the
proposed bridges.
• An Encroachment Permit from IDL
in accordance with the Idaho Lake
Protection Act. BNSF submitted an
application for the Encroachment
Permit to IDL on February 22, 2018, and
IDL subsequently convened two local
public hearings on May 23, 2018, to
solicit comments from the public. A
Final Order approving the application
for Encroachment Permit No. L–96–S–
0096E was signed June 21, 2018.
• A Section 401 Water Quality
Certification, which was issued by IDEQ
on September 21, 2018, in accordance
with Section 401(a)(1) of the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act (Clean
Water Act) (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.).
On February 26, 2018, USACE and
IDL issued respective public notices
informing members of the public that
BNSF had submitted a joint USACE–IDL
application for the Project. During the
comment period, the agencies received
approximately 5,000 comments in favor
of and opposed to the Project. The
comments in favor of the Project
generally spoke to economic benefits
and requests to expedite the
PO 00000
Frm 00104
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
environmental review and issue
required permits. The opposition
comments identified a variety of
concerns including, but not limited to,
(a) requests to elevate the level of
federal environmental review to an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS);
(b) the potential for derailments within
the Lake Pend Oreille region and
preparedness for response to a
derailment causing a spill of coal or
petroleum products; (c) fugitive coal
dust emissions and the effects upon air
and water quality; and (d) the potential
for increased rail traffic through the
Lake Pend Oreille rail corridor.
Although this is the Coast Guard’s
initial effort to obtain public comment
for the proposed Project, it has reviewed
all previous comments received by IDL
and USACE and incorporated that
information in the draft EA.
Additionally, the comments provided
by USACE, EPA, USFWS, IDEQ and the
Kootenai Tribe were incorporated in the
draft EA, which is now available for
public comment.
Based on the information received to
date, the Coast Guard has determined
that an Environmental Assessment is an
appropriate level of environmental
documentation for this Project. After
consideration of all additional
comments, the Coast Guard may issue a
Finding of No Significant Impact or may
determine the Project will have
significant impacts requiring an EIS. If
the Coast Guard determines at EIS is
required, there will be additional
opportunity for public comment in
accordance with NEPA procedures for
the preparation of an EIS.
We are seeking public input on the
Draft EA, including comments on
completeness and adequacy of the
document, and on other environmental
and historic preservation concerns that
may be related to the proposed Project.
While you may submit any comments to
the docket to communicate information
or views regarding this Project, please
know that we have already considered
the comments submitted during the
USACE–IDL public comment period,
and those comments are now part of the
official Coast Guard record for BNSF’s
Bridge Permit application. We
specifically request you submit
comments related to relevant
information or topics missing from or
not adequately addressed in the draft
EA, and how we can obtain that
information. This includes suggesting
analyses and methodologies for use in
the Draft EA or possible sources of data
or information not included in the Draft
EA. The most informative comments for
the Coast Guard in making a permit
decision are those that provide detailed,
E:\FR\FM\06FEN1.SGM
06FEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 25 / Wednesday, February 6, 2019 / Notices
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resource-specific information about the
size, nature or effect of the impacts the
bridge permit will have on the human
environment. Public comments will be
considered in determining the
environmental impacts and preparation
of a final environmental document.
The East Bonner County Library at
1407 Cedar Street, Sandpoint, Idaho
83864 will maintain a printed copy of
the draft EA for public review. The
document will be available for
inspection at this location between 9
a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through
Thursday and 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Friday
and Saturday, except Federal holidays.
The Thirteenth Coast Guard District
Bridge Office at 915 2nd Avenue,
Seattle, WA 98174–1067 will also
maintain a printed copy of the draft EA
for public review. The document will be
available for inspection at this location
between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
II. Public Participation and Request for
Comments
The Coast Guard views public
participation as essential and will
consider all comments and materials
received during the comment period. If
you submit a comment, please include
the docket number identified in this
notice, indicate the specific section of
the document to which each comment
applies and provide a reason for each
suggestion or recommendation. Please
submit comments through the Federal
eRulemaking Portal at https://
www.regulations.gov. If your comment
or materials cannot be submitted using
https://www.regulations.gov, please
contact the person noted in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of
this document for alternate instructions.
Anonymous comments will be
accepted. All comments will be posted
without change to https://
www.regulations.gov and will include
any personal information you have
provided. For more information about
privacy and the docket, you may review
a Privacy Act notice regarding the
Federal Docket Management system in
the March 24, 2005 issue of the Federal
Register (70 FR 15086).
Documents mentioned in this notice
as being available in this docket and all
public comments will be included in
our online docket at https://
www.regulations.gov and may be
viewed by following that website’s
instructions. Additionally, if you sign
up for email alerts, you will be notified
when comments are posted.
III. Public Meetings
The Coast Guard intends to hold two
public meetings to provide the public
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18:09 Feb 05, 2019
Jkt 247001
opportunity to submit oral and written
comments on the draft EA. The two
meetings will be held on Wednesday,
March 13, 2019 at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. at
the Ponderay Events Center, 401 Bonner
Mill Way, Ponderay, Idaho 83852. Each
meeting is anticipated to last
approximately two hours.
The meetings are open to the public.
Those who plan to attend a meeting and
wish to present comments may request
to do so through the online docket at
https://www.regulations.gov, and will be
called in order of requests received.
Attendees who have not previously
made a request to present comments
will follow those who have already
submitted a request, as time permits. If
a large number of persons wish to speak,
the presiding officer may be required to
limit the time allotted to each speaker.
The public meetings may end early if all
present wishing to speak have done so.
A transcript of the meetings will be
made available for public review
approximately 30 days after the
meeting. All comments will be
incorporated into the official case
record. Written comments and related
material may also be submitted to Coast
Guard personnel identified at that
meeting for placement into the docket.
Information on Service for Individuals
With Disabilities: For information on
facilities or services for individuals with
disabilities or to request special
assistance at the public meeting contact
Mr. Steven Fischer at the telephone
number under the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
notice.
This notice is issued under the
authority of 5 U.S.C. 552 (a).
Dated: January 31, 2019.
Brian L. Dunn,
Chief, Office of Bridge Programs, U.S. Coast
Guard.
[FR Doc. 2019–01134 Filed 2–5–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110–04–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
[1651–0015]
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Application for Extension of
Bond for Temporary Importation
U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP), Department of
Homeland Security.
ACTION: 30-Day notice and request for
comments; extension of an existing
collection of information.
AGENCY:
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
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2243
The Department of Homeland
Security, U.S. Customs and Border
Protection will be submitting the
following information collection request
to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for review and approval in
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). The
information collection is published in
the Federal Register to obtain comments
from the public and affected agencies.
Comments are encouraged and must be
submitted (no later than March 8, 2019)
to be assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are
invited to submit written comments on
this proposed information collection to
the Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Office of Management and
Budget. Comments should be addressed
to the OMB Desk Officer for Customs
and Border Protection, Department of
Homeland Security, and sent via
electronic mail to dhsdeskofficer@
omb.eop.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional PRA information
should be directed to Seth Renkema,
Chief, Economic Impact Analysis
Branch, U.S. Customs and Border
Protection, Office of Trade, Regulations
and Rulings, 90 K Street NE, 10th Floor,
Washington, DC 20229–1177,
Telephone number (202) 325–0056 or
via email CBP_PRA@cbp.dhs.gov. Please
note that the contact information
provided here is solely for questions
regarding this notice. Individuals
seeking information about other CBP
programs should contact the CBP
National Customer Service Center at
877–227–5511, (TTY) 1–800–877–8339,
or CBP website at https://www.cbp.gov/.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CBP
invites the general public and other
Federal agencies to comment on the
proposed and/or continuing information
collections pursuant to the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501
et seq.). This proposed information
collection was previously published in
the Federal Register (83 FR 52498) on
October 17, 2018, allowing for a 60-day
comment period. This notice allows for
an additional 30 days for public
comments. This process is conducted in
accordance with 5 CFR 1320.8. Written
comments and suggestions from the
public and affected agencies should
address one or more of the following
four points: (1) Whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of the
functions of the agency, including
whether the information will have
practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information,
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\06FEN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 6, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2241-2243]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-01134]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket No. USCG-2018-1085]
RIN 1625-AA09
Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Assessment for the
Proposed Construction of Railroad Bridges Across Sand Creek and Lake
Pend Oreille at Sandpoint, Bonner County, Idaho.
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments; notice of
public meetings.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The United States Coast Guard announces the availability of a
draft Environmental Assessment (EA) in accordance with National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the National
Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), as amended, for the proposed
construction of railroad bridges across Lake Pend Oreille and Sand
Creek at Sandpoint, Bonner County, Idaho. The proposed bridges will be
built parallel to existing railroad bridges crossing the same
waterbodies. As structures over navigable waters of the United States,
the proposed bridges will require a Coast Guard Bridge Permit. The
Coast Guard is making the draft EA available for public review and
requests public comments. In order to ensure the widest dissemination
possible, the Coast Guard distributed a separate document announcing
this Notice of Availability to a mailing list that includes seasonal
residents and visitors to the Lake Pend Oreille region.
DATES: Comments and related material must be submitted to the online
docket at https://www.regulations.gov or reach the Docket Management
Facility on or before March 25, 2019. See the ``Public Participation
and Request for Comments'' portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section for further instructions on submitting comments.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2018-1085 using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov.
See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion
of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for instructions on
submitting comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice
or the public meetings, please contact Mr. Steven Fischer, District
Bridge Manager, Thirteenth Coast Guard District, U.S. Coast Guard;
telephone 206-220-7282.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background, Purpose and Legal Basis
The BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) has proposed to construct a second
mainline track and associated bridges across Lake Pend Oreille and Sand
Creek parallel to existing BNSF railroad track and bridges in and
around Sandpoint, Bonner County, Idaho (Project). The present single-
track configuration has become a constraint to
[[Page 2242]]
efficient rail movement, resulting in congestion on the BNSF main line,
rail yards and on sidings as trains await clearance to cross the
existing single track bridges. Moreover, trains awaiting an opportunity
to cross the bridge often block vehicular traffic at both public and
private at-grade rail crossings. The delays attributable to this
congestion hinder the timely transport and delivery of people, goods
and services to local and regional destinations. According to BNSF, the
Project will relieve this congestion and allow for the more efficient
movement of trains through the Lake Pend Oreille region. Alternatives
considered for the Project include a ``No Action Alternative'' that
simply preserves the status quo and a Proposed Action Alternative that
satisfies the purpose and need of the Project. Several additional
alternatives including (a) a second main line track placed east of the
existing main track line, (b) alternate routes and (c) shifting rail
traffic to other railroads were considered and dismissed based on
infeasibility or impracticability.
The federal bridge statutes, including the River and Harbors Act of
1899, as amended, the Act of March 23, 1906, as amended, and the
General Bridge Act of 1946 (33 U.S.C. 525 et seq.), require that the
location and plans of bridges in or over navigable waters of the United
States be approved by the Secretary of Homeland Security, who has
delegated that responsibility to the Coast Guard. Lake Pend Oreille and
Sand Creek are navigable waters of the U.S. as defined in 33 CFR
2.36(a). In exercising these bridge authorities, the Coast Guard
considers navigational and environmental impacts, which include
historic and tribal effects. The Coast Guard's primary responsibility
regarding BNSF's proposed railroad bridges is to ensure the structures
do not unreasonably obstruct navigation.
Because the intent of the bridge statutes is to preserve
navigation, the Coast Guard's permit authority is limited to the bridge
and its essential components including approaches and abutments.
Consequently, the Coast Guard does not have the authority to approve or
disapprove broader aspects of a project beyond the bridges themselves.
For example, if a project sponsor proposes to build a new highway or
rail line and the project includes a bridge, the Coast Guard's permit
authority is limited to the bridge and its effect upon navigation, but
does not extend to the connecting highway or rail line.
The Coast Guard is the lead federal agency for this Project and, as
such, responsible for the review of its potential effects on the human
environment, including historic properties and tribal impacts, pursuant
to NEPA and NHPA. The Coast Guard is therefore required by law to
ensure potential environmental effects are carefully evaluated in each
bridge permitting decision. As part of this evaluation process, the
Coast Guard solicits comments from State and Federal agencies with
expertise in, and authority over, particular resources that may be
impacted by a project. Additionally, the Coast Guard seeks input from
any tribes that may be affected or otherwise have expertise or equities
in the Project. Following tribal and expert agency outreach, the Coast
Guard revises its evaluation, and then seeks comments from the general
public. Agencies that have already participated in the environmental
review of this Project include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Idaho Department of Lands (IDL)
and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ). In addition
to the Coast Guard Bridge Permit, this Project requires the following
permits:
An Individual Permit from USACE under Section 404 of the
Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344) and Section 10 of the Rivers and
Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 403) to temporarily and permanently
discharge rock into water and wetlands, all discharges being associated
with construction of the proposed bridges.
An Encroachment Permit from IDL in accordance with the
Idaho Lake Protection Act. BNSF submitted an application for the
Encroachment Permit to IDL on February 22, 2018, and IDL subsequently
convened two local public hearings on May 23, 2018, to solicit comments
from the public. A Final Order approving the application for
Encroachment Permit No. L-96-S-0096E was signed June 21, 2018.
A Section 401 Water Quality Certification, which was
issued by IDEQ on September 21, 2018, in accordance with Section
401(a)(1) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act)
(33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.).
On February 26, 2018, USACE and IDL issued respective public
notices informing members of the public that BNSF had submitted a joint
USACE-IDL application for the Project. During the comment period, the
agencies received approximately 5,000 comments in favor of and opposed
to the Project. The comments in favor of the Project generally spoke to
economic benefits and requests to expedite the environmental review and
issue required permits. The opposition comments identified a variety of
concerns including, but not limited to, (a) requests to elevate the
level of federal environmental review to an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS); (b) the potential for derailments within the Lake Pend
Oreille region and preparedness for response to a derailment causing a
spill of coal or petroleum products; (c) fugitive coal dust emissions
and the effects upon air and water quality; and (d) the potential for
increased rail traffic through the Lake Pend Oreille rail corridor.
Although this is the Coast Guard's initial effort to obtain public
comment for the proposed Project, it has reviewed all previous comments
received by IDL and USACE and incorporated that information in the
draft EA. Additionally, the comments provided by USACE, EPA, USFWS,
IDEQ and the Kootenai Tribe were incorporated in the draft EA, which is
now available for public comment.
Based on the information received to date, the Coast Guard has
determined that an Environmental Assessment is an appropriate level of
environmental documentation for this Project. After consideration of
all additional comments, the Coast Guard may issue a Finding of No
Significant Impact or may determine the Project will have significant
impacts requiring an EIS. If the Coast Guard determines at EIS is
required, there will be additional opportunity for public comment in
accordance with NEPA procedures for the preparation of an EIS.
We are seeking public input on the Draft EA, including comments on
completeness and adequacy of the document, and on other environmental
and historic preservation concerns that may be related to the proposed
Project. While you may submit any comments to the docket to communicate
information or views regarding this Project, please know that we have
already considered the comments submitted during the USACE-IDL public
comment period, and those comments are now part of the official Coast
Guard record for BNSF's Bridge Permit application. We specifically
request you submit comments related to relevant information or topics
missing from or not adequately addressed in the draft EA, and how we
can obtain that information. This includes suggesting analyses and
methodologies for use in the Draft EA or possible sources of data or
information not included in the Draft EA. The most informative comments
for the Coast Guard in making a permit decision are those that provide
detailed,
[[Page 2243]]
resource-specific information about the size, nature or effect of the
impacts the bridge permit will have on the human environment. Public
comments will be considered in determining the environmental impacts
and preparation of a final environmental document.
The East Bonner County Library at 1407 Cedar Street, Sandpoint,
Idaho 83864 will maintain a printed copy of the draft EA for public
review. The document will be available for inspection at this location
between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. and 5
p.m. Friday and Saturday, except Federal holidays. The Thirteenth Coast
Guard District Bridge Office at 915 2nd Avenue, Seattle, WA 98174-1067
will also maintain a printed copy of the draft EA for public review.
The document will be available for inspection at this location between
8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
II. Public Participation and Request for Comments
The Coast Guard views public participation as essential and will
consider all comments and materials received during the comment period.
If you submit a comment, please include the docket number identified in
this notice, indicate the specific section of the document to which
each comment applies and provide a reason for each suggestion or
recommendation. Please submit comments through the Federal eRulemaking
Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. If your comment or materials
cannot be submitted using https://www.regulations.gov, please contact
the person noted in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
document for alternate instructions.
Anonymous comments will be accepted. All comments will be posted
without change to https://www.regulations.gov and will include any
personal information you have provided. For more information about
privacy and the docket, you may review a Privacy Act notice regarding
the Federal Docket Management system in the March 24, 2005 issue of the
Federal Register (70 FR 15086).
Documents mentioned in this notice as being available in this
docket and all public comments will be included in our online docket at
https://www.regulations.gov and may be viewed by following that
website's instructions. Additionally, if you sign up for email alerts,
you will be notified when comments are posted.
III. Public Meetings
The Coast Guard intends to hold two public meetings to provide the
public opportunity to submit oral and written comments on the draft EA.
The two meetings will be held on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 at 8 a.m.
and 6 p.m. at the Ponderay Events Center, 401 Bonner Mill Way,
Ponderay, Idaho 83852. Each meeting is anticipated to last
approximately two hours.
The meetings are open to the public. Those who plan to attend a
meeting and wish to present comments may request to do so through the
online docket at https://www.regulations.gov, and will be called in
order of requests received. Attendees who have not previously made a
request to present comments will follow those who have already
submitted a request, as time permits. If a large number of persons wish
to speak, the presiding officer may be required to limit the time
allotted to each speaker. The public meetings may end early if all
present wishing to speak have done so.
A transcript of the meetings will be made available for public
review approximately 30 days after the meeting. All comments will be
incorporated into the official case record. Written comments and
related material may also be submitted to Coast Guard personnel
identified at that meeting for placement into the docket.
Information on Service for Individuals With Disabilities: For
information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities
or to request special assistance at the public meeting contact Mr.
Steven Fischer at the telephone number under the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice.
This notice is issued under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 552 (a).
Dated: January 31, 2019.
Brian L. Dunn,
Chief, Office of Bridge Programs, U.S. Coast Guard.
[FR Doc. 2019-01134 Filed 2-5-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
