80_FR_31558 80 FR 31453 - Environmental Impact Statement for Port Bienville Railroad Project

80 FR 31453 - Environmental Impact Statement for Port Bienville Railroad Project

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 105 (June 2, 2015)

Page Range31453-31454
FR Document2015-13317

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is issuing this NOI to advise the public that the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) to evaluate the impacts of construction and operation of the Port Bienville Railroad Project (Project). The EIS will evaluate route alternatives for freight rail service from the Port Bienville Short Line Railroad in Hancock County, Mississippi to Nicholson in Pearl River County, Mississippi.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 105 (Tuesday, June 2, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 2, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31453-31454]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-13317]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Environmental Impact Statement for Port Bienville Railroad 
Project

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY: The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is issuing this NOI 
to advise the public that the Mississippi Department of Transportation 
(MDOT) and Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission intend to prepare 
an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) to evaluate the impacts of 
construction and operation of the Port Bienville Railroad Project 
(Project). The EIS will evaluate route alternatives for freight rail 
service from the Port Bienville Short Line Railroad in Hancock County, 
Mississippi to Nicholson in Pearl River County, Mississippi.

DATES: FRA invites the public, governmental agencies, and all other 
interested parties to comment on the scope of the EIS. All such 
comments should be provided in writing, within thirty (30) days of the 
publication of this notice, at the address listed below. Comments may 
also be provided orally or in writing at the scoping meetings. Once 
scheduled, scoping meeting dates, times and locations, in addition to 
information about the EIS for the Port Bienville Railroad Project can 
be found online https://www.fra.dot.gov/Page/P0214.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS may be mailed or 
emailed within thirty (30) days of the publication of this notice to 
Melissa Hatcher, Environmental Protection Specialist, Office of Program 
Delivery, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
MS-20, Washington, DC 20590 or [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melissa Hatcher, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Office of Program Delivery, Federal Railroad 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., MS-20, Washington, DC 
20590, [email protected], or Kim Thurman, MDOT, Environmental 
Division, P.O. Box 1850, Jackson, MS 39215-1850, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EIS will be prepared in accordance with 
the NEPA and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations for 
implementing NEPA and FRA's Procedures for Considering Environmental 
Impacts (64 FR 28545, May 26, 1999) (Environmental Procedures). The EIS 
will also address section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act 
(16 U.S.C. 470(f)), section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation 
Act of 1966 (49 U.S.C. 303), E.O. 12898 and USDOT Order 5610.2(a) on 
Environmental Justice, and other applicable Federal and state laws and 
regulations. The EIS will:
     Present the Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action.
     Identify the reasonable alternatives that satisfy the 
Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action.
     Establish the no-build or no-action alternative to serve 
as a baseline for comparison.
     Describe the environment likely to be affected by the 
Proposed Action.
     Describe the potential environmental impacts associated 
with the reasonable alternatives and propose mitigation measures to 
reduce significant impacts.
    FRA, in cooperation with MDOT, will prepare an EIS for the Project 
proposed by MDOT and Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission. The 
Proposed Action will connect the Port Bienville Short Line Railroad, 
located at the Port Bienville Industrial Park, Hancock County, with the 
Norfolk Southern Railroad, located in the vicinity of Nicholson in 
Pearl River County, to provide the Port with access to dual Class 1 
rail service. The Project is composed of approximately 24 miles of new 
railroad line. Dual Class I rail access is proposed to enable Hancock 
and Pearl River Counties and Stennis Space Center to attract new 
industries to this region that require this level of rail services, and 
encourage job creation and investment opportunities to help this area 
recover from recent hurricane disasters that have significantly 
affected local economies.
    The Project's new corridor may involve alteration and fill of 
``Waters of the United States,'' as that term is used in the Clean 
Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.), and thus, the EIS process will 
involve the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is expected to serve as 
a cooperating agency. The Project's corridor is expected to cross 
through the acoustical (noise) buffer zone of NASA's Stennis Space 
Center.

Project Background

    In 2008, the Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission received a 
$2.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic 
Development Administration to improve the railway at the Port Bienville 
Industrial Park. In 2013, a Feasibility Report was completed to 
determine the feasibility of constructing and operating a new rail line 
to connect the Port Bienville Short Line Railroad with the Norfolk 
Southern mainline in Nichols. The study included the development of 
reasonable alternative corridors; identification of the economic 
benefits and opportunities associated with the Project; and the 
recommendation as to the feasibility of the Project. Given the business 
case for dual Class I rail services, the demands of the existing and 
emerging business clusters in Hancock and Pearl River Counties, the 
future benefits to Stennis Space Center, the existing industrial land 
inventory, and the workforce and transportation assets supporting this 
region, the construction of this new rail line was determined feasible.
    The Project would provide existing businesses access to dual Class 
I rail service, improving transit time and reliability, and enabling 
Hancock and Pearl River Counties and the Stennis Space Center to 
attract new industries to the region. By improving the efficiency of 
goods movement in the area by rail, the Project would also improve 
regional air quality and reduce truck traffic on area roads and 
highways.

[[Page 31454]]

Scoping and Public Involvement

    In accordance with NEPA, the FRA and MDOT invite comments and 
suggestions regarding the scope of the EIS from all interested parties 
to ensure that all issues are addressed, all reasonable alternatives 
are considered, and any significant issues are identified. In 
particular, FRA is interested in identifying areas of environmental 
concern where there might be a potential for significant impacts. 
Public agencies with jurisdiction are requested to advise FRA and MDOT 
of the applicable permit and environmental review requirements of each 
agency, and the scope and content of the environmental information that 
is germane to the agency's statutory responsibilities in connection 
with the Project. Federal agencies with jurisdiction by law or special 
expertise with respect to potential environmental issues will be 
requested to act as a Cooperating Agency in accordance with 40 CFR 
1501.16.
    In coordination with FRA, MDOT will lead the outreach activities 
beginning with scoping meetings (dates to be determined). Public 
involvement initiatives including public meetings, access to a Web 
site, and outreach will continue throughout the EIS process. 
Opportunities for public participation will be announced through 
mailings, notices, advertisements, press releases, and a FRA-hosted EIS 
Web page, accessible at https://www.fra.dot.gov/Page/P0214. One or more 
public hearings will be held after the Draft EIS is released and made 
available for public and agency review. Public notice will be given for 
the time and place of public hearings.
    Comments or questions concerning the Proposed Action and the scope 
of the EIS are invited from all interested parties and should be 
directed to the FRA at the address provided above.

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.


    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 26, 2015.
Corey W. Hill,
Director, Office of Program Delivery.
[FR Doc. 2015-13317 Filed 6-1-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 105 / Tuesday, June 2, 2015 / Notices 31453 FMCSA has determined that the notice, at the address listed below. Bienville Industrial Park, Hancock process for obtaining a German-issued Comments may also be provided orally County, with the Norfolk Southern CDL is comparable to, or as effective as or in writing at the scoping meetings. Railroad, located in the vicinity of the Federal requirements of 49 CFR part Once scheduled, scoping meeting dates, Nicholson in Pearl River County, to 383, and adequately assesses a driver’s times and locations, in addition to provide the Port with access to dual ability to operate CMVs in the United information about the EIS for the Port Class 1 rail service. The Project is States. Bienville Railroad Project can be found composed of approximately 24 miles of online https://www.fra.dot.gov/Page/ new railroad line. Dual Class I rail Request for Comments P0214. access is proposed to enable Hancock In accordance with 49 U.S.C. and Pearl River Counties and Stennis ADDRESSES: Written comments on the 31315(b)(4) and 31136(e), FMCSA Space Center to attract new industries to scope of the EIS may be mailed or requests public comment on Daimler’s this region that require this level of rail emailed within thirty (30) days of the application for an exemption from the services, and encourage job creation and publication of this notice to Melissa CDL requirements of 49 CFR 383.23. investment opportunities to help this Hatcher, Environmental Protection The Agency will consider all comments area recover from recent hurricane received by close of business on July 2, Specialist, Office of Program Delivery, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 disasters that have significantly affected 2015. Comments will be available for local economies. examination in the docket at the New Jersey Avenue SE., MS–20, Washington, DC 20590 or The Project’s new corridor may location listed under the ADDRESSES involve alteration and fill of ‘‘Waters of section of this notice. The Agency will melissa.hatcher@dot.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: the United States,’’ as that term is used consider to the extent practicable Melissa Hatcher, Environmental in the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 comments received in the public docket Protection Specialist, Office of Program et seq.), and thus, the EIS process will after the closing date of the comment Delivery, Federal Railroad involve the U.S. Army Corps of period. Administration, 1200 New Jersey Engineers, which is expected to serve as Issued on: May 22, 2015. a cooperating agency. The Project’s Avenue SE., MS–20, Washington, DC Larry W. Minor, 20590, melissa.hatcher@dot.gov, or Kim corridor is expected to cross through the Associate Administrator for Policy. Thurman, MDOT, Environmental acoustical (noise) buffer zone of NASA’s [FR Doc. 2015–13324 Filed 6–1–15; 8:45 am] Division, P.O. Box 1850, Jackson, MS Stennis Space Center. BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P 39215–1850, environmentalcomments@ Project Background mdot.ms.gov. In 2008, the Hancock County Port and DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EIS Harbor Commission received a $2.7 will be prepared in accordance with the million grant from the U.S. Department Federal Railroad Administration NEPA and the Council on of Commerce’s Economic Development Environmental Quality (CEQ) Administration to improve the railway Environmental Impact Statement for regulations for implementing NEPA and at the Port Bienville Industrial Park. In Port Bienville Railroad Project FRA’s Procedures for Considering 2013, a Feasibility Report was Environmental Impacts (64 FR 28545, completed to determine the feasibility of AGENCY: Federal Railroad May 26, 1999) (Environmental constructing and operating a new rail Administration (FRA), Department of Procedures). The EIS will also address line to connect the Port Bienville Short Transportation (DOT). section 106 of the National Historic Line Railroad with the Norfolk Southern ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470(f)), mainline in Nichols. The study an Environmental Impact Statement section 4(f) of the Department of (EIS). included the development of reasonable Transportation Act of 1966 (49 U.S.C. alternative corridors; identification of SUMMARY: The Federal Railroad 303), E.O. 12898 and USDOT Order the economic benefits and opportunities Administration (FRA) is issuing this 5610.2(a) on Environmental Justice, and associated with the Project; and the NOI to advise the public that the other applicable Federal and state laws recommendation as to the feasibility of Mississippi Department of and regulations. The EIS will: the Project. Given the business case for Transportation (MDOT) and Hancock • Present the Purpose and Need for dual Class I rail services, the demands County Port and Harbor Commission the Proposed Action. • Identify the reasonable alternatives of the existing and emerging business intend to prepare an Environmental clusters in Hancock and Pearl River Impact Statement (EIS) pursuant to the that satisfy the Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action. Counties, the future benefits to Stennis National Environmental Policy Act of Space Center, the existing industrial 1969 (NEPA) to evaluate the impacts of • Establish the no-build or no-action alternative to serve as a baseline for land inventory, and the workforce and construction and operation of the Port transportation assets supporting this Bienville Railroad Project (Project). The comparison. • Describe the environment likely to region, the construction of this new rail EIS will evaluate route alternatives for line was determined feasible. be affected by the Proposed Action. freight rail service from the Port • Describe the potential The Project would provide existing Bienville Short Line Railroad in environmental impacts associated with businesses access to dual Class I rail Hancock County, Mississippi to the reasonable alternatives and propose service, improving transit time and asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Nicholson in Pearl River County, mitigation measures to reduce reliability, and enabling Hancock and Mississippi. significant impacts. Pearl River Counties and the Stennis DATES: FRA invites the public, FRA, in cooperation with MDOT, will Space Center to attract new industries to governmental agencies, and all other prepare an EIS for the Project proposed the region. By improving the efficiency interested parties to comment on the by MDOT and Hancock County Port and of goods movement in the area by rail, scope of the EIS. All such comments Harbor Commission. The Proposed the Project would also improve regional should be provided in writing, within Action will connect the Port Bienville air quality and reduce truck traffic on thirty (30) days of the publication of this Short Line Railroad, located at the Port area roads and highways. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:26 Jun 01, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00105 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\02JNN1.SGM 02JNN1

31454 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 105 / Tuesday, June 2, 2015 / Notices Scoping and Public Involvement ACTION: Notice of eighth meeting of This meeting will be open to the In accordance with NEPA, the FRA advisory committee. public and comments by members of the and MDOT invite comments and public are invited. Attendance will SUMMARY: This notice announces the necessarily be limited by the size of the suggestions regarding the scope of the eighth meeting of the Advisory meeting room (maximum 100 EIS from all interested parties to ensure Committee for Aviation Consumer attendees). We ask that any member of that all issues are addressed, all Protection. the general public who plans to attend reasonable alternatives are considered, and any significant issues are identified. DATES: The eighth meeting of the the eighth meeting notify the In particular, FRA is interested in advisory committee is scheduled for registration contact noted above no later identifying areas of environmental June 23, 2015, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 than June 16, 2015. Additionally, DOT concern where there might be a p.m., Eastern Time. will stream the event live on the potential for significant impacts. Public Internet and provide a link to the ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in agencies with jurisdiction are requested recorded Web cast for future viewing at the Media Center (located on the lobby to advise FRA and MDOT of the www.dot.gov/airconsumer/ACACP. level of the West Building) at the U.S. applicable permit and environmental To the extent time is available, we Department of Transportation (DOT) review requirements of each agency, plan to provide an opportunity for oral headquarters, 1200 New Jersey Avenue and the scope and content of the comments by interested individuals SE., Washington, DC. Attendance is environmental information that is and/or representatives of organizations open to the public up to the room’s germane to the agency’s statutory representing airlines, travel agents, capacity of 100 attendees. Since space is responsibilities in connection with the airport operators, state and local limited and access to the DOT Project. Federal agencies with governments, and consumer and other headquarters building is controlled for jurisdiction by law or special expertise public interest groups. Any oral security purposes, any member of the with respect to potential environmental comments presented must be limited to general public who plans to attend this issues will be requested to act as a the objectives of the committee and not meeting must notify the registration Cooperating Agency in accordance with exceed five (5) minutes per person. Not contact identified below no later than 40 CFR 1501.16. later than June 16, 2015, commenters June 16, 2015. In coordination with FRA, MDOT will should notify the registration contact lead the outreach activities beginning FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To person indicated above via email that with scoping meetings (dates to be register to attend the meeting, please they wish to present and provide that determined). Public involvement contact Amy Przybyla, Research person a written summary of their initiatives including public meetings, Analyst, CENTRA Technology, Inc., presentation to help the committee access to a Web site, and outreach will przybylaa@centratechnology.com; 703– members prepare for the meeting. continue throughout the EIS process. 894–6962. For other information please Efforts will be made to accommodate Opportunities for public participation contact Kathleen Blank Riether, Senior each individual/organization that will be announced through mailings, Attorney, Office of Aviation wishes to comment. However, given notices, advertisements, press releases, Enforcement and Proceedings, time constraints, there is no guarantee and a FRA-hosted EIS Web page, kathleen.blankriether@dot.gov; U.S. that all the individuals/organizations accessible at https://www.fra.dot.gov/ Department of Transportation, 1200 that make such a request will be able to Page/P0214. One or more public New Jersey Ave. SE., Washington, DC, address the committee at the June 23rd hearings will be held after the Draft EIS 20590; 202–366–9342 (phone), 202– meeting. In order to provide for a is released and made available for 366–5944 (fax). balanced presentation of views and to public and agency review. Public notice SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: facilitate the orderly conduct of the will be given for the time and place of On May 24, 2012, the Secretary, as meeting, including time for questions public hearings. mandated by section 411 of the FAA from committee members, the Comments or questions concerning Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 Chairperson may impose rules or the Proposed Action and the scope of (Pub. L. 112–95, 126 Stat. 11 (2012)), procedures, including the order of the EIS are invited from all interested established the Advisory Committee for individuals/organizations that will be parties and should be directed to the Aviation Consumer Protection. The making presentations, as she deems FRA at the address provided above. committee’s charter, drafted in necessary. Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. accordance with the Federal Advisory Members of the public may present Committee Act, as amended, 5 U.S.C. written comments at any time. The Issued in Washington, DC, on May 26, App. 2, sets forth policies for the docket number referenced above (DOT– 2015. operation of the advisory committee and OST–2012–0087, available at https:// Corey W. Hill, is available on the Department’s Web www.regulations.gov) has been Director, Office of Program Delivery. established for committee documents site at http://www.facadatabase.gov/ [FR Doc. 2015–13317 Filed 6–1–15; 8:45 am] committee/ including any written comments that BILLING CODE 4910–06–P charters.aspx?cid=2448&aid=47. may be filed. The eighth meeting of the committee Persons with a disability who plan to is scheduled for Tuesday, June 23, 2015, attend the meeting and require special DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION accommodations, such as an interpreter from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Office of the Secretary in the Media Center at the DOT for the hearing impaired, should notify headquarters, 1200 New Jersey Avenue the registration contact noted above no [Docket No. DOT–OST–2012–0087] SE., Washington, DC 20590. The issues later than June 16, 2015. that will be discussed at the meeting are Notice of this meeting is being Advisory Committee for Aviation airline policies on change and provided in accordance with the Federal Consumer Protection cancellation fees, the disclosure of hotel Advisory Committee Act and the AGENCY:Office of the Secretary (OST), resort fees, and airline policies and General Services Administration Department of Transportation (DOT). procedures for the transport of baggage. regulations covering management of VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:26 Jun 01, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00106 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\02JNN1.SGM 02JNN1


Document Created: 2015-12-15 15:12:40
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 15:12:40
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
DatesFRA invites the public, governmental agencies, and all other interested parties to comment on the scope of the EIS. All such comments should be provided in writing, within thirty (30) days of the
ContactMelissa Hatcher, Environmental Protection Specialist, Office of Program Delivery, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., MS-20, Washington, DC 20590, [email protected], or Kim Thurman, MDOT, Environmental Division, P.O. Box 1850, Jackson, MS 39215-1850, [email protected]
FR Citation80 FR 31453 
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