Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Proposed Construction of Railroad Bridges Across Sand Creek and Lake Pend Oreille at Sandpoint, Bonner County, Idaho, 46747-46749 [2019-19120]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 172 / Thursday, September 5, 2019 / Notices
of Health, Center for Scientific Review, 6701
Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301–
827–7490, brianscott@mail.nih.gov.
Name of Committee: Brain Disorders and
Clinical Neuroscience Integrated Review
Group; Clinical Neuroimmunology and Brain
Tumors Study Section.
Date: October 10–11, 2019.
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
applications.
Place: Hyatt Regency Bethesda, One
Bethesda Metro Center, 7400 Wisconsin
Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814.
Contact Person: Wei-Qin Zhao, Ph.D.,
Scientific Review Officer, Center for
Scientific Review, National Institutes of
Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 5181,
MSC 7846, Bethesda, MD 20892–7846, 301–
435–1236, zhaow@csr.nih.gov.
Name of Committee: Infectious Diseases
and Microbiology Integrated Review Group
Host Interactions with Bacterial Pathogens
Study Section.
Date: October 10–11, 2019.
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
applications.
Place: Ritz Carlton Hotel, 1150 22nd Street
NW, Washington, DC 20037.
Contact Person: Fouad A El-Zaatari, Ph.D.,
Scientific Review Officer, Center for
Scientific Review, National Institutes of
Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 3186,
MSC 7808, Bethesda, MD 20892, (301) 435–
1149, elzaataf@csr.nih.gov.
Name of Committee: Integrative,
Functional and Cognitive Neuroscience
Integrated Review; Group
Neuroendocrinology, Neuroimmunology,
Rhythms and Sleep Study Section.
Date: October 10–11, 2019.
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
applications.
Place: Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, 700
Aliceanna Street, Baltimore, MD 21202.
Contact Person: Michael Selmanoff, Ph.D.,
Scientific Review Officer, Center for
Scientific Review, National Institutes of
Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 5164,
MSC 7844, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301–435–
1119, mselmanoff@csr.nih.gov.
Name of Committee: Biological Chemistry
and Macromolecular Biophysics Integrated
Review Group; Synthetic and Biological
Chemistry B Study Section.
Date: October 10–11, 2019.
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
applications.
Place: Hyatt Regency Bethesda, One
Bethesda Metro Center, 7400 Wisconsin
Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814.
Contact Person: Michael Eissenstat, Ph.D.,
Scientific Review Officer, BCMB IRG, Center
for Scientific Review; National Institutes of
Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 4166,
MSC 7806, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301–435–
1722, eissenstatma@csr.nih.gov.
Name of Committee: Biological Chemistry
and Macromolecular Biophysics Integrated
Review Group; Macromolecular Structure
and Function B Study Section.
Date: October 10, 2019.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:53 Sep 04, 2019
Jkt 247001
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
applications.
Place: Bethesda North Marriott Hotel &
Conference Center, Montgomery County
Conference Center Facility, 5701 Marinelli
Road, North Bethesda, MD 20852.
Contact Person: C–L Albert Wang, Ph.D.,
Scientific Review Officer, Center for
Scientific Review; National Institutes of
Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 4146,
MSC 7806, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301–435–
1016, wangca@csr.nih.gov.
Name of Committee: Interdisciplinary
Molecular Sciences and Training Integrated
Review Group; Enabling Bioanalytical and
Imaging Technologies Study Section.
Date: October 10–11, 2019.
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
applications.
Place: Kimpton Hotel Palomar Washington,
2121 P Street NW, Washington, DC, MD
20037.
Contact Person: Kenneth Ryan, Ph.D.,
Scientific Review Officer, Center for
Scientific Review, National Institutes of
Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 3218,
MSC 7717, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301–435–
0229, kenneth.ryan@nih.hhs.gov.
Name of Committee: Infectious Diseases
and Microbiology Integrated Review Group;
Pathogenic Eukaryotes Study Section.
Date: October 10–11, 2019.
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
applications.
Place: Hyatt Regency Bethesda, One
Bethesda Metro Center, 7400 Wisconsin
Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814.
Contact Person: Tera Bounds, DVM, Ph.D.,
Scientific Review Officer, Center for
Scientific Review, National Institutes of
Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 3198,
MSC 7808, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301 435–
2306, boundst@csr.nih.gov.
(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program Nos. 93.306, Comparative Medicine;
93.333, Clinical Research, 93.306, 93.333,
93.337, 93.393–93.396, 93.837–93.844,
93.846–93.878, 93.892, 93.893, National
Institutes of Health, HHS)
Dated: August 29, 2019.
Ronald J. Livingston, Jr.,
Program Analyst, Office of Federal Advisory
Committee Policy.
[FR Doc. 2019–19118 Filed 9–4–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140–01–P
PO 00000
Frm 00042
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
46747
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket No. USCG–2018–1085]
RIN 1625–AA09
Notice of Availability of Final
Environmental Assessment and
Finding of No Significant Impact for
the Proposed Construction of Railroad
Bridges Across Sand Creek and Lake
Pend Oreille at Sandpoint, Bonner
County, Idaho
Coast Guard, DHS.
Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The United States Coast
Guard (USCG) announces the
availability of a Final Environmental
Assessment (FEA) and Finding of No
Significant Impact (FONSI) in
accordance with National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.) and the National Historic
Preservation Act (NHPA), as amended
(16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.) 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 require a Coast
Guard Bridge Permit. This notice
provides information on where to view
the FEA and FONSI. There is no
comment period associated with this
notice.
SUMMARY:
We have uploaded the FEA
and FONSI to our online docket at
https://www.regulations.gov.
Additionally, the East Bonner County
Library at 1407 Cedar Street, Sandpoint,
Idaho, 83864 will maintain printed
copies of the FEA and FONSI for public
review. The documents 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 Sundays and
Federal holidays. The Thirteenth Coast
Guard District Bridge Office at 915 2nd
Avenue, Seattle, WA 98174–1067 will
also maintain printed copies of the FEA
and FONSI for public review. The
documents will be available for
inspection at this location between 8
a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If
you have questions about this notice
please contact Mr. Steven Fischer,
District Bridge Manager, Thirteenth
ADDRESSES:
E:\FR\FM\05SEN1.SGM
05SEN1
46748
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 172 / Thursday, September 5, 2019 / Notices
Coast Guard District, U.S. Coast Guard;
telephone 206–220–7282.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Authority
The FEA and FONSI have been
prepared in accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); Council
on Environmental Quality (CEQ)
Regulations for Implementing NEPA (40
CFR 1500–1508) and associated CEQ
guidelines: Department of Homeland
Security Directive 5100.1, National
Environmental Policy Act Implementing
Procedures and Policy for Considering
Environmental Impacts.
II. Viewing the FEA and FONSI
To view the FEA and FONSI, please
visit https://www.regulations.gov, enter
‘‘USCG–2018–1085’’ in the search field,
press ‘‘Enter,’’ and then select the
‘‘Open Docket Folder’’ option. The FEA
and FONSI are also available for public
review at the East Bonner County
Library at 1407 Cedar Street, Sandpoint,
Idaho, 83864, between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m.
and 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, except
Sundays and Federal holidays. The
Thirteenth Coast Guard District Bridge
Office at 915 2nd Avenue, Seattle, WA
98174–1067 will also maintain printed
copies of the FEA and FONSI for public
review. The documents will be available
for inspection at this location between
8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
III. Privacy Act
Anyone can search the electronic
form of comments received into any of
our dockets by the name of the
individual submitting the comment (or
signing the comment, if submitted on
behalf of an association, business, labor
union, etc.). You may review a Privacy
Act system of records notice regarding
our public dockets in the January 17,
2008 issue of the Federal Register (73
FR 3316).
IV. Background and Purpose
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
efficient rail movement, resulting in
congestion on the BNSF main line, rail
yards and sidings as trains await
clearance to cross the existing singletrack bridges. Moreover, trains awaiting
an opportunity to cross the bridges often
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:53 Sep 04, 2019
Jkt 247001
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. This Project
is intended to relieve this congestion
and enable more efficient movement of
trains through the Lake Pend Oreille
region. The capacity of the rail line
through Sandpoint and across Lake
Pend Oreille is approximately 79 trains
per day while the current average rail
traffic volume on that line segment is
approximately 60 trains per day. Adding
a second main line track along this
segment would not increase capacity of
the rail line because there are other
constraints outside of the Lake Pend
Oreille area.
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 for 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 these 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
PO 00000
Frm 00043
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
not extend to the connecting highway or
rail line.
As lead federal agency for this Project,
the Coast Guard is responsible for the
review of its potential effects on the
human environment, including historic
properties and tribal impacts, pursuant
to NEPA and the NHPA. The Coast
Guard is therefore required by law to
ensure potential environmental effects
are carefully evaluated in each bridge
permitting decision.
• On July 13, 2018, as part of this
evaluation process, the Coast Guard
solicited comments from State and
Federal agencies with expertise in, and
authority over, particular resources that
may be impacted by the project.
Additionally, the Coast Guard sought
input from all tribes that may be
affected or otherwise have expertise or
equities in the Project. Following tribal
and expert agency outreach, the Coast
Guard revised its evaluation, and then
sought comments from the general
public. Agencies that have 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).
On February 6, 2019, the USCG issued
a notice in the Federal Register
announcing the availability of a Draft
Environmental Assessment for public
review and comment (FR USCG–2018–
1085). The Coast Guard then held Public
Meetings in Ponderay, Idaho on March
13, 2019. During the comment period,
the USCG received 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 comments in
opposition to the Project 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) concern regarding 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.
With regard to derailments, the
Federal Railroad Administration
accident statistics and additional detail
regarding BNSF’s plan to prevent
derailments has been added to Section
3.14 (Hazardous Materials and Wastes)
E:\FR\FM\05SEN1.SGM
05SEN1
khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 172 / Thursday, September 5, 2019 / Notices
to better characterize derailment risk.
Additional details regarding spill
response planning for different types of
spills under various weather conditions
have been added to Section 3.14. In
addition, the Lake Pend Oreille
Geographic Response Plan, which is to
be implemented in the event of a rail
accident, is included in Appendix N of
the Final EA.
With regard to fugitive coal dust
emissions and the effects upon air and
water quality, Section 3.1 of the Final
EA explains that the current use of load
profiling and dust suppressants has
been shown to achieve at least an 85
percent reduction in fugitive coal dust
and allow only trace amounts to be lost
during transit, which are well below
levels that could be harmful to human
or ecological health. Section 3.1 also
references several NEPA documents
from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
and the Surface Transportation Board
supporting this determination.
With regard to concern for increased
rail traffic through the Lake Pend Oreille
rail corridor, the maximum capacity of
the rail line through Sandpoint and
across Lake Pend Oreille is
approximately 79 trains per day while
the current average rail traffic volume
on that line segment is approximately
60 trains per day. This Project does not
add any origin or destination facilities;
therefore, it would not induce increases
or decreases in rail traffic, but rather is
designed to increase efficiency of rail
current rail transportation. The market
conditions influencing rail train traffic
growth in the study area exist with or
without construction of a second main
line track and associated bridges.
Adding a second main line track along
this segment would not increase overall
capacity of the rail line because there
are other constraints on the main lines
leading into the Sandpoint and Lake
Pend Oreille area.
Based on the information examined
through the study of this Project, the
USCG has determined that an
Environmental Assessment is the
appropriate level of environmental
documentation. The USCG has
determined that there are no significant
impacts associated with the Project and
has issued a Finding of No Significant
Impact.
This notice is being provided for
information purposes only, and as such,
there is no public comment period
associated with this notice.
This notice is issued under the
authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:53 Sep 04, 2019
Jkt 247001
Dated: August 29, 2019.
Brian L. Dunn,
Chief, Office of Bridge Programs, U.S. Coast
Guard.
[FR Doc. 2019–19120 Filed 9–4–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110–04–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket No. USCG–2019–0604]
Cook Inlet Regional Citizens’ Advisory
Council (CIRCAC) Recertification
Coast Guard, DHS.
Notice of recertification.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
This notice informs the public
that the Coast Guard has recertified the
Cook Inlet Regional Citizens’ Advisory
Council (CIRCAC) as an alternative
voluntary advisory group for Cook Inlet,
Alaska. This certification allows the
CIRCAC to monitor the activities of
terminal facilities and crude oil tankers
under an alternative composition, other
than prescribed, Cook Inlet Program
established by statue.
DATES: This recertification is effective
for the period from September 1, 2019
through August 31, 2020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
LCDR Jonathan Dale, Seventeenth Coast
Guard District (dpi), by phone at (907)
463–2812, email at jonathan.dale@
uscg.mil.
SUMMARY:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background and Purpose
As part of the Oil Pollution Act of
1990, Congress passed the Oil Terminal
and Oil Tanker Environmental
Oversight and Monitoring Act of 1990
(the Act), 33 U.S.C. 2732, to foster a
long-term partnership among industry,
government, and local communities in
overseeing compliance with
environmental concerns in the
operation of crude oil terminals and oil
tankers.
The President has delegated his
authority under 33 U.S.C 2732(o)
respecting certification of advisory
councils, or groups, subject to the Act to
the Secretary of the Department of
Homeland Security. Section 8(g) of
Executive Order 12777, (56 FR 54757,
October 22, 1991), as amended by
section 34 of Executive Order 13286 (68
FR 10619, March 5, 2003). The Secretary
redelegated that authority to the
Commandant of the USCG. Department
of Homeland Security Delegation No.
0170.1, paragraph 80 of section II. The
Commandant redelegated that authority
PO 00000
Frm 00044
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
46749
to the Chief, Office of Marine Safety,
Security and Environmental Protection
(G–M) on March 19, 1992 (letter #5402).
The Assistant Commandant for
Marine Safety and Environmental
Protection (G–M), redelegated
recertification authority for advisory
councils, or groups, to the Commander,
Seventeenth Coast Guard District on
February 26, 1999 (letter #16450).
On July 7, 1993, the USCG published
a policy statement, ‘‘Alternative
Voluntary Advisory Groups, Prince
William Sound and Cook Inlet’’ (58 FR
36504), to clarify the factors considered
in making the determination as to
whether advisory councils, or groups,
should be certified in accordance with
the Act.
On September 16, 2002, the USCG
published a policy statement, 67 FR
58440, which changed the
recertification procedures such that
applicants are required to provide the
USCG with comprehensive information
every three years (triennially). For each
of the two years between the triennial
application procedures, applicants
submit a letter requesting recertification
that includes a description of any
substantive changes to the information
provided at the previous triennial
recertification. Further, public comment
is only solicited during the triennial
comprehensive review.
Recertification
By letter dated Jul 31 2019, the
Commander, Seventeenth Coast Guard
District, certified that the CIRCAC
qualifies as an alternative voluntary
advisory group under 33 U.S.C. 2732(o).
This recertification terminates on
August 31, 2020.
Dated: July 31, 2019.
Matthew T. Bell Jr.,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander,
Seventeenth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2019–19151 Filed 9–4–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110–04–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Modification and Clarification of the
National Customs Automation
Program Test Regarding Periodic
Monthly Statements
U.S. Customs and Border
Protection, Department of Homeland
Security.
ACTION: General notice.
AGENCY:
This document announces
changes to the U.S. Customs and Border
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\05SEN1.SGM
05SEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 172 (Thursday, September 5, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46747-46749]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-19120]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket No. USCG-2018-1085]
RIN 1625-AA09
Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Assessment and
Finding of No Significant Impact 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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The United States Coast Guard (USCG) announces the
availability of a Final Environmental Assessment (FEA) and Finding of
No Significant Impact (FONSI) in accordance with National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the
National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), as amended (16 U.S.C. 470 et
seq.) 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 require a Coast Guard Bridge
Permit. This notice provides information on where to view the FEA and
FONSI. There is no comment period associated with this notice.
ADDRESSES: We have uploaded the FEA and FONSI to our online docket at
https://www.regulations.gov. Additionally, the East Bonner County
Library at 1407 Cedar Street, Sandpoint, Idaho, 83864 will maintain
printed copies of the FEA and FONSI for public review. The documents
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 Sundays and Federal holidays. The Thirteenth Coast
Guard District Bridge Office at 915 2nd Avenue, Seattle, WA 98174-1067
will also maintain printed copies of the FEA and FONSI for public
review. The documents will be available for inspection at this location
between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this
notice please contact Mr. Steven Fischer, District Bridge Manager,
Thirteenth
[[Page 46748]]
Coast Guard District, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 206-220-7282.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Authority
The FEA and FONSI have been prepared in accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.);
Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing
NEPA (40 CFR 1500-1508) and associated CEQ guidelines: Department of
Homeland Security Directive 5100.1, National Environmental Policy Act
Implementing Procedures and Policy for Considering Environmental
Impacts.
II. Viewing the FEA and FONSI
To view the FEA and FONSI, please visit https://www.regulations.gov,
enter ``USCG-2018-1085'' in the search field, press ``Enter,'' and then
select the ``Open Docket Folder'' option. The FEA and FONSI are also
available for public review at the East Bonner County Library at 1407
Cedar Street, Sandpoint, Idaho, 83864, between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday
through Thursday and 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, except
Sundays and Federal holidays. The Thirteenth Coast Guard District
Bridge Office at 915 2nd Avenue, Seattle, WA 98174-1067 will also
maintain printed copies of the FEA and FONSI for public review. The
documents will be available for inspection at this location between 8
a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
III. Privacy Act
Anyone can search the electronic form of comments received into any
of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or
signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association,
business, labor union, etc.). You may review a Privacy Act system of
records notice regarding our public dockets in the January 17, 2008
issue of the Federal Register (73 FR 3316).
IV. Background and Purpose
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 efficient rail movement,
resulting in congestion on the BNSF main line, rail yards and sidings
as trains await clearance to cross the existing single-track bridges.
Moreover, trains awaiting an opportunity to cross the bridges 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. This Project is intended to relieve this
congestion and enable more efficient movement of trains through the
Lake Pend Oreille region. The capacity of the rail line through
Sandpoint and across Lake Pend Oreille is approximately 79 trains per
day while the current average rail traffic volume on that line segment
is approximately 60 trains per day. Adding a second main line track
along this segment would not increase capacity of the rail line because
there are other constraints outside of the Lake Pend Oreille area.
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 for 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 these
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.
As lead federal agency for this Project, the Coast Guard is
responsible for the review of its potential effects on the human
environment, including historic properties and tribal impacts, pursuant
to NEPA and the NHPA. The Coast Guard is therefore required by law to
ensure potential environmental effects are carefully evaluated in each
bridge permitting decision.
On July 13, 2018, as part of this evaluation process, the
Coast Guard solicited comments from State and Federal agencies with
expertise in, and authority over, particular resources that may be
impacted by the project. Additionally, the Coast Guard sought input
from all tribes that may be affected or otherwise have expertise or
equities in the Project. Following tribal and expert agency outreach,
the Coast Guard revised its evaluation, and then sought comments from
the general public. Agencies that have 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).
On February 6, 2019, the USCG issued a notice in the Federal
Register announcing the availability of a Draft Environmental
Assessment for public review and comment (FR USCG-2018-1085). The Coast
Guard then held Public Meetings in Ponderay, Idaho on March 13, 2019.
During the comment period, the USCG received 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 comments in opposition to the
Project 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) concern regarding 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.
With regard to derailments, the Federal Railroad Administration
accident statistics and additional detail regarding BNSF's plan to
prevent derailments has been added to Section 3.14 (Hazardous Materials
and Wastes)
[[Page 46749]]
to better characterize derailment risk. Additional details regarding
spill response planning for different types of spills under various
weather conditions have been added to Section 3.14. In addition, the
Lake Pend Oreille Geographic Response Plan, which is to be implemented
in the event of a rail accident, is included in Appendix N of the Final
EA.
With regard to fugitive coal dust emissions and the effects upon
air and water quality, Section 3.1 of the Final EA explains that the
current use of load profiling and dust suppressants has been shown to
achieve at least an 85 percent reduction in fugitive coal dust and
allow only trace amounts to be lost during transit, which are well
below levels that could be harmful to human or ecological health.
Section 3.1 also references several NEPA documents from the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers and the Surface Transportation Board supporting this
determination.
With regard to concern for increased rail traffic through the Lake
Pend Oreille rail corridor, the maximum capacity of the rail line
through Sandpoint and across Lake Pend Oreille is approximately 79
trains per day while the current average rail traffic volume on that
line segment is approximately 60 trains per day. This Project does not
add any origin or destination facilities; therefore, it would not
induce increases or decreases in rail traffic, but rather is designed
to increase efficiency of rail current rail transportation. The market
conditions influencing rail train traffic growth in the study area
exist with or without construction of a second main line track and
associated bridges. Adding a second main line track along this segment
would not increase overall capacity of the rail line because there are
other constraints on the main lines leading into the Sandpoint and Lake
Pend Oreille area.
Based on the information examined through the study of this
Project, the USCG has determined that an Environmental Assessment is
the appropriate level of environmental documentation. The USCG has
determined that there are no significant impacts associated with the
Project and has issued a Finding of No Significant Impact.
This notice is being provided for information purposes only, and as
such, there is no public comment period associated with this notice.
This notice is issued under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a).
Dated: August 29, 2019.
Brian L. Dunn,
Chief, Office of Bridge Programs, U.S. Coast Guard.
[FR Doc. 2019-19120 Filed 9-4-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
