81 FR 42392 - Environmental Impact Statement for the California High Speed Rail System San Francisco to San Jose Section, CA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 125 (June 29, 2016)

On May 9, 2016, FRA published a NOI announcing its intent to jointly prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) with the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) for the San Francisco to San Jose Section of the California High-Speed Rail (HSR) System, Blended System Project (Blended System Project or Project) and requesting public comments. Through this notice, FRA is extending the comment period and inviting the public and all interested parties to provide comments on the scope of the EIR/EIS, including the proposed purpose and need, the alternatives to consider, potential environmental impacts of concern, and methodologies for analysis of impacts.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 125 (Wednesday, June 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42392-42393]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-15409]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Environmental Impact Statement for the California High Speed Rail 
System San Francisco to San Jose Section, CA

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

ACTION: Extension of comment period for the Notice of Intent (NOI) to 
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY: On May 9, 2016, FRA published a NOI announcing its intent to 
jointly prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) with the California High-Speed Rail Authority 
(Authority) for the San Francisco to San Jose Section of the California 
High-Speed Rail (HSR) System, Blended System Project (Blended System 
Project or Project) and requesting public comments. Through this 
notice, FRA is extending the comment period and inviting the public and 
all interested parties to provide comments on the scope of the EIR/EIS, 
including the proposed purpose and need, the alternatives to consider, 
potential environmental impacts of concern, and methodologies for 
analysis of impacts.

DATES: FRA must receive written comments by July 20, 2016. FRA may 
consider comments received after that date if it is practicable.

[[Page 42393]]


ADDRESSES: You can send written comments on the scope to Mr. Mark 
McLoughlin, Director of Environmental Services, Attention: San 
Francisco to San Jose Section EIR/EIS, California High-Speed Rail 
Authority, 770 L Street, Suite 1160, Sacramento, CA 95814, or via email 
with subject line ``San Francisco to San Jose Section EIR/EIS'' to: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Stephanie Perez, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Office of Program Delivery, Federal Railroad 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE. (Mail Stop 20), Washington, 
DC 20590; Telephone: (202) 493-0388, email: [email protected], or 
Mr. Guy Preston, Regional Delivery Manager, California High Speed Rail 
Authority, 100 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose, CA 95113, Telephone: 
(408) 277-1091 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FRA and Authority are preparing an EIR/
EIS for the San Francisco to San Jose Project Section to comply with 
the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Authority has decided to extend 
the comment period to July 20, 2016 to comply with CEQA. Following 
discussions with the Authority, FRA has decided to extend the NEPA 
scoping comment period for consistency with the Authority's extension 
and to give the public additional time to provide comments. FRA 
encourages broad participation in the EIS process during scoping and 
review of the resulting environmental documents. FRA invites Native 
American Tribes, interested agencies, and the public at large to 
participate in the scoping process to ensure the EIR/EIS addresses the 
full range of issues related to the proposed action and reasonable 
alternatives, and that all significant issues are identified. FRA 
requests that any public agency having jurisdiction over an aspect of 
the Project identify the applicable permit and environmental review 
requirements of the agency and the scope and content of the 
environmental information germane to the agency's jurisdiction over the 
Project. Public agencies are requested to advise FRA if they anticipate 
taking a major action in connection with the proposed project and if 
they wish to participate as a cooperating agency for the San Francisco 
to San Jose Section EIR/EIS.
    FRA and the California High Speed Rail Authority held public 
scoping meetings in May 2016. Additional information about the project 
can be found at http://www.hsr.ca.gov/Programs/Statewide_Rail_Modernization/Project_Sections/sanfran_sanjose.html.

    Issued in Washington, DC on June 24, 2016.
Jamie Rennert,
Director, Office of Program Delivery.
[FR Doc. 2016-15409 Filed 6-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P