Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for the Austin Light Rail Project in Austin, Texas, 3706-3708 [2024-00963]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 13 / Friday, January 19, 2024 / Notices
Agency to terminate the exemption. If
comments are received to the public
docket, FMCSA will publish a second
Federal Register notice affirming or
revoking the renewal. The exemption
from the requirements of 49 CFR
395.3(a)(1) (the 10-hour off-duty rule)
and (a)(2) (the ‘‘14-hour rule’’) is
otherwise effective beginning April 17,
2024, through April 16, 2029, 11:59 p.m.
local time, unless previously revoked.
B. Applicability of Exemption
During the exemption period,
WestRock’s shipping department
employees and occasional substitute
CDL holders who transport paper mill
products between the shipping and
receiving locations along the designated
route on Compress Street in
Chattanooga, TN, may work up to 16
consecutive hours in a duty period and
return to work with a minimum of at
least 8 hours off duty when necessary.
C. Terms and Conditions
The exemption is restricted to
shipping department employees and
occasional substitute CDL holders
employed by WestRock who are
exclusively assigned to a specific route.
This specific route is entirely on
Compress Street, between WestRock’s
shipping and receiving departments,
measuring approximately 275 feet in
one direction.
D. Preemption
In accordance with 49 U.S.C.
31315(d), as implemented by 49 CFR
381.600, during the period this
exemption is in effect, no State shall
enforce any law or regulation that
conflicts with or is inconsistent with
this exemption with respect to a firm or
person operating under the exemption.
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E. Notification to FMCSA
WestRock must notify FMCSA within
5 business days of any accident (as
defined in 49 CFR 390.5), involving any
of the motor carrier’s CMVs operating
under the terms of this exemption. The
notification must include the following
information:
(a) Name of the exemption:
‘‘WestRock’’;
(b) Date of the accident;
(c) City or town, and State, in which
the accident occurred, or which is
closest to the accident scene;
(d) Driver’s name and license number;
(e) Vehicle number and State license
number;
(f) Number of individuals suffering
physical injury;
(g) Number of fatalities;
(h) The police-reported cause of the
accident;
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(i) Whether the driver was cited for
violation of any traffic laws, motor
carrier safety regulations; and
(j) The driver’s total driving time and
total on-duty time prior to the accident.
Reports filed under this provision
shall be emailed to MCPSD@DOT.GOV.
Federal Transit Administration
(FTA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
mile light rail transit (LRT) branched
line, including 15 stations, from points
north, south, and east of downtown
Austin, as well as an operations and
maintenance facility (OMF),
maintenance of way (MOW) shops, and
associated LRT equipment storage
functions. FTA has determined that the
Project is sufficiently developed to
allow for meaningful public comment
and requires an EIS.
DATES: Comments related to the NEPA
review of the Project must be received
on or before March 4, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the scope of
the EIS should be sent to: Austin Transit
Partnership, 203 Colorado St., Austin,
TX 78701 or via email at input@
atptx.org.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
FTA: Mr. Terence Plaskon, Federal
Transit Administration, Region VI, 819
Taylor Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102, at
(817) 978–0573 or terence.plaskon@
dot.gov. For ATP: Mr. Deron Lozano,
Austin Transit Partnership, 203
Colorado Street, Austin, TX 78701, at
(512) 923–3257 or deron.lozano@
atptx.org.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Agencies will prepare the EIS in
accordance with NEPA and its
implementing regulations. The EIS will
evaluate two alternatives: a No Build
Alternative and a Build Alternative.
After circulation of the draft EIS (DEIS)
and consideration of comments
received, FTA intends to issue a
combined final EIS (FEIS)/Record of
Decision (ROD) document pursuant to
23 U.S.C. 139(n)(2), unless statutory
criteria preclude issuance of a combined
document (i.e., the FEIS makes
substantial changes to the proposed
action that are relevant to
environmental or safety concerns or
there is a significant new circumstance
or information relevant to
environmental concerns that affect the
proposed action or its impacts). FTA is
currently evaluating the Project’s
eligibility for discretionary Federal
funding under FTA’s Capital Investment
Grants program.
The Federal Transit
Administration (FTA), as lead Federal
agency, and the Austin Transit
Partnership (ATP), as local project
sponsor and joint lead agency
(collectively, the Agencies), issue this
notice to advise the public that they
intend to prepare an environmental
impact statement (EIS) for Phase 1 of the
Austin Light Rail Project (the Project) in
Austin, Texas (City) pursuant to the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA). The Project is a proposed 9.8-
I. Purpose and Need for the Proposed
Action
The Project is part of the Project
Connect Long-Term Vision Plan (Project
Connect). Project Connect includes
high-capacity transit (HCT) corridors
and is an integral part of the Austin
Strategic Mobility Plan that was
approved by the Austin City Council in
2019. In 2020, the Capital Area
Metropolitan Planning Organization
adopted its 2045 Regional
Transportation Plan which included
F. Termination
FMCSA does not believe the drivers
covered by this exemption will
experience any deterioration of their
safety record. The exemption will be
rescinded if: (1) WestRock and drivers
operating under the exemption fail to
comply with the terms and conditions
of the exemption; (2) the exemption has
resulted in a lower level of safety than
was maintained before it was granted; or
(3) continuation of the exemption would
not be consistent with the goals and
objects of 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and
31315(b).
VI. Request for Comments
FMCSA requests public comment
from all interested persons regarding
WestRock’s application for a renewal of
the exemption. The Agency will
evaluate any adverse evidence
submitted and, if it determines safety is
being compromised or if continuation of
the exemption would not be consistent
with the goals and objectives of 49
U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315(b), FMCSA
may take immediate steps to revoke or
modify the exemption.
Robin Hutcheson,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2024–00939 Filed 1–18–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Preparation of an Environmental
Impact Statement for the Austin Light
Rail Project in Austin, Texas
AGENCY:
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 13 / Friday, January 19, 2024 / Notices
HCT corridors as priority transit capital
investments. On November 3, 2020, City
of Austin voters approved a ballot
measure (Proposition A) to increase the
City’s property tax rate to provide a
dedicated local funding source for
Project Connect, including LRT. ATP,
an independent local government
corporation, is responsible for the
financing, design, and construction of
the Project. Respective obligations and
roles related to operation and
maintenance of the Project, including
future funding obligations of ATP, will
be detailed in a binding implementation
agreement between ATP, the City, and
the Capital Metropolitan Transportation
Authority (CapMetro), the local
transportation authority.
In 2020, FTA and CapMetro
completed two Planning and
Environmental Linkages (PEL) studies
following Federal guidance that
documented the alternatives analysis,
the purpose and needs, and public
outreach which led to the selection of a
locally preferred alternative for an LRT
system. The PEL process resulted in
broad public support of the purpose and
needs and the alternatives analysis.
However, as the initial environmental
review process unfolded and design
work for LRT advanced, the estimated
project construction costs increased.
The primary cost drivers were
increasing real estate costs, inflation,
supply chain cost escalations, and
desired scope refinements. Due to this
material change in circumstances, it
became clear the LRT alignment and
design warranted adjustment to ensure
ATP could deliver a project that was
fiscally feasible and responsive to the
needs of the public. In July 2022, taking
the original PEL studies and cost
escalation factors into account, ATP
commenced community-driven
planning efforts to develop a viable and
affordable alternative LRT
implementation plan that addresses the
purpose and need of providing quality
and reliable HCT to the Austin
metropolitan area. On June 6, 2023, the
City, ATP, and CapMetro unanimously
approved the advancement of the
Project into the next phase of
implementation.
The purpose of the Project is to meet
growing corridor travel demand with a
reliable, safe, cost-effective, time
competitive, sustainable, and equitable
LRT system. The lack of transportation
options and limited roadway capacity to
accommodate growth in central Texas
may hinder the continued vitality and
economic health of the City and
surrounding areas in the future.
Inadequate transit access coupled with
rising travel demand have resulted in
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18:42 Jan 18, 2024
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longer travel times, decreased mobility,
and additional travel costs for residents
and businesses. The Project is needed
to:
• increase transportation network
capacity to meet existing travel demand;
• sustainably support the Austin
area’s population and employment
growth;
• improve transit access between
affordable housing and jobs; and
• support growth of and connectivity
to regional activity centers designated in
local land use plans.
II. Description of Proposed Action and
Alternatives
The EIS will evaluate two
alternatives: a No Build Alternative and
a Build Alternative. The No Build, or No
Action, Alternative includes existing
and committed improvements to the
regional transportation network, not
including the Project, that are expected
to be operational by 2045. The No Build
Alternative is included as a benchmark
against which the impacts of the Build
Alternative can be compared. The Build
Alternative is a 9.8-mile LRT branched
line (see the project website at https://
www.atptx.org/about/light-rail/).
Beginning at the intersection of
Guadalupe Street and 38th Street, the
in-street, LRT-dedicated, double-tracked
alignment would extend south past the
University of Texas and the Texas State
Capitol. At the intersection of
Guadalupe and 3rd Streets, the
alignment would extend east on 3rd
Street, cross Congress Avenue, and
connect to Trinity Street. The alignment
would continue south on Trinity Street
and cross Lady Bird Lake on a new LRTdedicated bridge. On the south shore of
Lady Bird Lake, the alignment would
connect to and split on East Riverside
Drive, where it would split into two
branches. The western branch of the
split would cross East Bouldin Creek
and extend south on South Congress
Avenue with a terminus at the
intersection of South Congress Avenue
and Oltorf Street. The eastern branch of
the split would continue southeast
along East Riverside Drive with a
terminus just west of SH–71 at the
Yellow Jacket station.
An OMF would be located in the
vicinity of the US–183/SH–71
interchange near Airport Commerce
Drive in a light-industrial use area. The
proposed site would include space for
administration, operations and
maintenance staff, an LRT control
center, and light rail vehicle (LRV)
maintenance. The OMF would also
serve as an LRV storage yard with the
capacity to support both LRV operations
and fleet storage. The OMF would
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3707
include MOW shops and associated LRT
equipment storage functions.
III. Summary of Expected Impacts
The Agencies will evaluate the No
Build and Build Alternatives for
potential direct, indirect, and
cumulative impacts (including benefits)
to the natural, built, and social
environments. Resources to be
evaluated and potential impact areas
include, but are not limited to,
transportation, land use,
socioeconomics and economic
development, parklands and
recreational facilities, neighborhoods
and community facilities,
environmental justice, noise and
vibration, hazardous materials,
ecosystems, water resources, residential
and commercial displacements and
relocations, historic and archaeological
resources, visual quality, vegetation, air
quality (including greenhouse gas
emissions), and energy. The potential
effects of the construction and operation
of the Project on these resources will be
evaluated for the short-term
construction period and long-term
operation of each alternative. Measures
to avoid, minimize, or mitigate potential
adverse impacts will be evaluated and
proposed.
IV. Anticipated Permits and Other
Authorizations
The Agencies anticipate that required
permits and other authorizations may
include:
• U.S. Department of Transportation
section 4(f) determination;
• U.S. Department of Interior
approval under section 6(f) of the Land
and Water Conservation Act;
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
approval under section 404 of the Clean
Water Act and/or section 10 of the River
and Harbors Act.
• Memorandum of Agreement with
the State Historic Preservation Officer
under section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act; and
V. Schedule for Decision-Making
Process
Below is a tentative schedule of major
milestones for the EIS:
• Scoping Period: January 19, 2024 to
March 4, 2024.
• DEIS Release, Public Hearing, and
DEIS Public Comment Period: Fall 2024.
• FEIS/ROD: Fall 2025.
As noted in the tentative schedule,
the Agencies intend to complete the EIS
for the Project within two years,
measured from the date of the
publication of this notice to the date the
ROD is signed. The Agencies will accept
public comments on the scope of the
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 13 / Friday, January 19, 2024 / Notices
EIS at https://www.atptx.org/ until
March 4, 2024. The Environmental
Protection Agency will publish a notice
of availability of the DEIS in the Federal
Register and via local media outlets.
ATP expects the DEIS will be available
for a minimum of 45 days for the public
comment period by Fall 2024. The DEIS
will be distributed electronically and
made available for public and agency
review and comment prior to a public
hearing. The Agencies will consider
substantive comments timely submitted
during the public comment period and
then anticipate preparing a combined
FEIS/ROD by Fall 2025. The FEIS/ROD
will identify the NEPA preferred
alternative and any necessary mitigation
commitments. The Agencies expect that
all Federal environmental authorization
decisions for the construction of the
Project will be completed within a
reasonable period following issuance of
the FEIS/ROD.
Notices of public meetings, including
hearings, have been, and will continue
to be, given through a variety of media
providing the time and place of the
meeting along with other relevant
information. Meeting date, time, and
location information can be found on
the Project website, Meetings and
Events page, at https://www.atptx.org/.
Public meeting locations will comply
with the Americans with Disabilities
Act. Persons needing special
accommodations should contact Ms.
Sophie Petkus at sophie.petkus@
atptx.org or (512) 917–2492.
VI. Request for Identification of
Potential Alternatives, Information, and
Analysis
The Agencies invite all State, Tribal,
local governments, and the public to
comment on potential alternatives,
information, impacts, and analyses to be
considered in the EIS, as well as any
other relevant information, studies, or
analyses with respect to the proposed
agency action.
Gail Lyssy,
Regional Administrator, FTA Region VI.
[FR Doc. 2024–00963 Filed 1–18–24; 8:45 am]
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BILLING CODE 4910–57–P
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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Office of the Comptroller of the
Currency
FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE
CORPORATION
Proposed Agency Information
Collection Activities; Comment
Request
Office of the Comptroller of the
Currency (OCC), Treasury; Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve
System (Board); and Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
ACTION: Joint notice and request for
comment.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
requirements of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the OCC,
the Board, and the FDIC (collectively,
the ‘‘agencies’’) may not conduct or
sponsor, and the respondent is not
required to respond to, an information
collection unless it displays a currently
valid Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) control number. The Federal
Financial Institutions Examination
Council (FFIEC), of which the agencies
are members, has approved the
agencies’ publication for public
comment of a proposal to revise and
extend for three years, the Foreign
Branch Report of Condition (FFIEC 030)
and the Abbreviated Foreign Branch
Report of Condition (FFIEC 030S),
which are currently approved
collections of information. The agencies
are requesting comment on proposed
revisions to the FFIEC 030 report that
would incorporate new line items from
the FR 2502q, Quarterly Report of
Assets and Liabilities of Large Foreign
Offices of U.S. Banks (OMB Control No.
7100–0079). The revisions are proposed
to take effect as of the June 30, 2024,
report date. There are no proposed
revisions to the FFIEC 030S at this time.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on
or before March 19, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties are
invited to submit written comments to
any or all of the agencies. All comments,
which should refer to the ‘‘FFIEC 030 or
FFIEC 030S,’’ will be shared among the
agencies.
OCC: You may submit comments,
which should refer to ‘‘FFIEC 030 or
FFIEC 030S,’’ by any of the following
methods:
• Email: prainfo@occ.treas.gov.
• Mail: Chief Counsel’s Office,
Attention: Comment Processing, Office
of the Comptroller of the Currency,
SUMMARY:
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Attention: 1557–0099, 400 7th Street
SW, Suite 3E–218, Washington, DC
20219.
• Hand Delivery/Courier: 400 7th
Street SW, Suite 3E–218, Washington,
DC 20219.
• Fax: (571) 293–4835.
Instructions: You must include
‘‘OCC’’ as the agency name and ‘‘1557–
0099’’ in your comment. In general, the
OCC will publish comments on
www.reginfo.gov without change,
including any business or personal
information provided, such as name and
address information, email addresses, or
phone numbers. Comments received,
including attachments and other
supporting materials, are part of the
public record and subject to public
disclosure. Do not include any
information in your comment or
supporting materials that you consider
confidential or inappropriate for public
disclosure.
Following the close of this notice’s
60-day comment period, the OCC will
publish a second notice with a 30-day
comment period. You may review
comments and other related materials
that pertain to this information
collection beginning on the date of
publication of the second notice for this
collection by the method set forth in the
next bullet.
• Viewing Comments Electronically:
Go to www.reginfo.gov. Hover over the
‘‘Information Collection Review’’ tab
and click on ‘‘Information Collection
Review’’ from the drop-down menu.
From the ‘‘Currently under Review’’
drop-down menu, select ‘‘Department of
Treasury’’ and then click ‘‘submit.’’ This
information collection can be located by
searching OMB control number ‘‘1557–
0099’’ or ‘‘FFIEC 030 or FFIEC 030S.’’
Upon finding the appropriate
information collection, click on the
related ‘‘ICR Reference Number.’’ On the
next screen, select ‘‘View Supporting
Statement and Other Documents’’ and
then click on the link to any comment
listed at the bottom of the screen.
• For assistance in navigating
www.reginfo.gov, please contact the
Regulatory Information Service Center
at (202) 482–7340.
Board: You may submit comments,
which should refer to ‘‘FFIEC 030 or
FFIEC 030S,’’ by any of the following
methods:
• Agency Website: https://
www.federalreserve.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments at:
https://www.federalreserve.gov/
generalinfo/foia/ProposedRegs.cfm.
• Email: regs.comments@
federalreserve.gov. Include ‘‘FFIEC 030
or FFIEC 030S’’ in the subject line of the
message.
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 13 (Friday, January 19, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3706-3708]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00963]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for the Austin
Light Rail Project in Austin, Texas
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), as lead Federal
agency, and the Austin Transit Partnership (ATP), as local project
sponsor and joint lead agency (collectively, the Agencies), issue this
notice to advise the public that they intend to prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS) for Phase 1 of the Austin Light
Rail Project (the Project) in Austin, Texas (City) pursuant to the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Project is a proposed
9.8-mile light rail transit (LRT) branched line, including 15 stations,
from points north, south, and east of downtown Austin, as well as an
operations and maintenance facility (OMF), maintenance of way (MOW)
shops, and associated LRT equipment storage functions. FTA has
determined that the Project is sufficiently developed to allow for
meaningful public comment and requires an EIS.
DATES: Comments related to the NEPA review of the Project must be
received on or before March 4, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the scope of the EIS should be sent to: Austin
Transit Partnership, 203 Colorado St., Austin, TX 78701 or via email at
[email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For FTA: Mr. Terence Plaskon, Federal
Transit Administration, Region VI, 819 Taylor Street, Fort Worth, TX
76102, at (817) 978-0573 or [email protected]. For ATP: Mr. Deron
Lozano, Austin Transit Partnership, 203 Colorado Street, Austin, TX
78701, at (512) 923-3257 or [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Agencies will prepare the EIS in
accordance with NEPA and its implementing regulations. The EIS will
evaluate two alternatives: a No Build Alternative and a Build
Alternative. After circulation of the draft EIS (DEIS) and
consideration of comments received, FTA intends to issue a combined
final EIS (FEIS)/Record of Decision (ROD) document pursuant to 23
U.S.C. 139(n)(2), unless statutory criteria preclude issuance of a
combined document (i.e., the FEIS makes substantial changes to the
proposed action that are relevant to environmental or safety concerns
or there is a significant new circumstance or information relevant to
environmental concerns that affect the proposed action or its impacts).
FTA is currently evaluating the Project's eligibility for discretionary
Federal funding under FTA's Capital Investment Grants program.
I. Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action
The Project is part of the Project Connect Long-Term Vision Plan
(Project Connect). Project Connect includes high-capacity transit (HCT)
corridors and is an integral part of the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan
that was approved by the Austin City Council in 2019. In 2020, the
Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization adopted its 2045
Regional Transportation Plan which included
[[Page 3707]]
HCT corridors as priority transit capital investments. On November 3,
2020, City of Austin voters approved a ballot measure (Proposition A)
to increase the City's property tax rate to provide a dedicated local
funding source for Project Connect, including LRT. ATP, an independent
local government corporation, is responsible for the financing, design,
and construction of the Project. Respective obligations and roles
related to operation and maintenance of the Project, including future
funding obligations of ATP, will be detailed in a binding
implementation agreement between ATP, the City, and the Capital
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (CapMetro), the local
transportation authority.
In 2020, FTA and CapMetro completed two Planning and Environmental
Linkages (PEL) studies following Federal guidance that documented the
alternatives analysis, the purpose and needs, and public outreach which
led to the selection of a locally preferred alternative for an LRT
system. The PEL process resulted in broad public support of the purpose
and needs and the alternatives analysis. However, as the initial
environmental review process unfolded and design work for LRT advanced,
the estimated project construction costs increased. The primary cost
drivers were increasing real estate costs, inflation, supply chain cost
escalations, and desired scope refinements. Due to this material change
in circumstances, it became clear the LRT alignment and design
warranted adjustment to ensure ATP could deliver a project that was
fiscally feasible and responsive to the needs of the public. In July
2022, taking the original PEL studies and cost escalation factors into
account, ATP commenced community-driven planning efforts to develop a
viable and affordable alternative LRT implementation plan that
addresses the purpose and need of providing quality and reliable HCT to
the Austin metropolitan area. On June 6, 2023, the City, ATP, and
CapMetro unanimously approved the advancement of the Project into the
next phase of implementation.
The purpose of the Project is to meet growing corridor travel
demand with a reliable, safe, cost-effective, time competitive,
sustainable, and equitable LRT system. The lack of transportation
options and limited roadway capacity to accommodate growth in central
Texas may hinder the continued vitality and economic health of the City
and surrounding areas in the future. Inadequate transit access coupled
with rising travel demand have resulted in longer travel times,
decreased mobility, and additional travel costs for residents and
businesses. The Project is needed to:
increase transportation network capacity to meet existing
travel demand;
sustainably support the Austin area's population and
employment growth;
improve transit access between affordable housing and
jobs; and
support growth of and connectivity to regional activity
centers designated in local land use plans.
II. Description of Proposed Action and Alternatives
The EIS will evaluate two alternatives: a No Build Alternative and
a Build Alternative. The No Build, or No Action, Alternative includes
existing and committed improvements to the regional transportation
network, not including the Project, that are expected to be operational
by 2045. The No Build Alternative is included as a benchmark against
which the impacts of the Build Alternative can be compared. The Build
Alternative is a 9.8-mile LRT branched line (see the project website at
https://www.atptx.org/about/light-rail/). Beginning at the intersection
of Guadalupe Street and 38th Street, the in-street, LRT-dedicated,
double-tracked alignment would extend south past the University of
Texas and the Texas State Capitol. At the intersection of Guadalupe and
3rd Streets, the alignment would extend east on 3rd Street, cross
Congress Avenue, and connect to Trinity Street. The alignment would
continue south on Trinity Street and cross Lady Bird Lake on a new LRT-
dedicated bridge. On the south shore of Lady Bird Lake, the alignment
would connect to and split on East Riverside Drive, where it would
split into two branches. The western branch of the split would cross
East Bouldin Creek and extend south on South Congress Avenue with a
terminus at the intersection of South Congress Avenue and Oltorf
Street. The eastern branch of the split would continue southeast along
East Riverside Drive with a terminus just west of SH-71 at the Yellow
Jacket station.
An OMF would be located in the vicinity of the US-183/SH-71
interchange near Airport Commerce Drive in a light-industrial use area.
The proposed site would include space for administration, operations
and maintenance staff, an LRT control center, and light rail vehicle
(LRV) maintenance. The OMF would also serve as an LRV storage yard with
the capacity to support both LRV operations and fleet storage. The OMF
would include MOW shops and associated LRT equipment storage functions.
III. Summary of Expected Impacts
The Agencies will evaluate the No Build and Build Alternatives for
potential direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts (including benefits)
to the natural, built, and social environments. Resources to be
evaluated and potential impact areas include, but are not limited to,
transportation, land use, socioeconomics and economic development,
parklands and recreational facilities, neighborhoods and community
facilities, environmental justice, noise and vibration, hazardous
materials, ecosystems, water resources, residential and commercial
displacements and relocations, historic and archaeological resources,
visual quality, vegetation, air quality (including greenhouse gas
emissions), and energy. The potential effects of the construction and
operation of the Project on these resources will be evaluated for the
short-term construction period and long-term operation of each
alternative. Measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate potential adverse
impacts will be evaluated and proposed.
IV. Anticipated Permits and Other Authorizations
The Agencies anticipate that required permits and other
authorizations may include:
U.S. Department of Transportation section 4(f)
determination;
U.S. Department of Interior approval under section 6(f) of
the Land and Water Conservation Act;
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approval under section 404 of
the Clean Water Act and/or section 10 of the River and Harbors Act.
Memorandum of Agreement with the State Historic
Preservation Officer under section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act; and
V. Schedule for Decision-Making Process
Below is a tentative schedule of major milestones for the EIS:
Scoping Period: January 19, 2024 to March 4, 2024.
DEIS Release, Public Hearing, and DEIS Public Comment
Period: Fall 2024.
FEIS/ROD: Fall 2025.
As noted in the tentative schedule, the Agencies intend to complete
the EIS for the Project within two years, measured from the date of the
publication of this notice to the date the ROD is signed. The Agencies
will accept public comments on the scope of the
[[Page 3708]]
EIS at https://www.atptx.org/ until March 4, 2024. The Environmental
Protection Agency will publish a notice of availability of the DEIS in
the Federal Register and via local media outlets. ATP expects the DEIS
will be available for a minimum of 45 days for the public comment
period by Fall 2024. The DEIS will be distributed electronically and
made available for public and agency review and comment prior to a
public hearing. The Agencies will consider substantive comments timely
submitted during the public comment period and then anticipate
preparing a combined FEIS/ROD by Fall 2025. The FEIS/ROD will identify
the NEPA preferred alternative and any necessary mitigation
commitments. The Agencies expect that all Federal environmental
authorization decisions for the construction of the Project will be
completed within a reasonable period following issuance of the FEIS/
ROD.
Notices of public meetings, including hearings, have been, and will
continue to be, given through a variety of media providing the time and
place of the meeting along with other relevant information. Meeting
date, time, and location information can be found on the Project
website, Meetings and Events page, at https://www.atptx.org/. Public
meeting locations will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Persons needing special accommodations should contact Ms. Sophie Petkus
at [email protected] or (512) 917-2492.
VI. Request for Identification of Potential Alternatives, Information,
and Analysis
The Agencies invite all State, Tribal, local governments, and the
public to comment on potential alternatives, information, impacts, and
analyses to be considered in the EIS, as well as any other relevant
information, studies, or analyses with respect to the proposed agency
action.
Gail Lyssy,
Regional Administrator, FTA Region VI.
[FR Doc. 2024-00963 Filed 1-18-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P
