Environmental Impact Statement: Washoe County, Nevada

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 121 (Thursday, June 24, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 33947]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-16128]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Washoe County, Nevada

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is issuing this 
Notice to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) will be prepared for the proposed Reno Transportation Rail Access 
Corridor (ReTRAC) project in Washoe County, Nevada.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Daryl James, P.E., Chief, Environmental Services Division, Nevada 
Department of Transportation, 1263 South Stewart Street, Carson City, 
NV 89712, Telephone: 775-888-7013
John T. Price, Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, 
Nevada Division, 705 North Plaza St., Suite 220, Carson City, NV 89701, 
Telephone: 775-687-1204

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA in cooperation with the Nevada 
Department of Transportation and the City of Reno will prepare an EIS 
on the proposal to improve the Reno Transportation Rail Access Corridor 
in Washoe County, Nevada. The proposed improvement would involve the 
reconstruction of the Union Pacific rail tracks between West Second and 
Sutro Streets for a distance of approximately 2.1 miles. The proposed 
project, would eliminate 11 at-grade street crossings and would include 
an access road adjacent to the tracks. There will be no turnouts or 
connections to other tracks within the project area except for the Reno 
Branch Connection Tracks. Prior to severing the Union Pacific's 
existing mailine tracks, a shoo-fly temporary track shall be 
constructed adjacent to the existing mainline tracks. The ReTRAC 
Project will mitigate the increased rail traffic predicted to 
significantly impact ground transportation, pedestrian safety and 
service delivery systems. The EIS will consider the effects of the 
proposed project, the No Action Alternative option, and other 
alternatives to the proposed project.
    Letters describing the proposed project and soliciting comments 
will be sent to appropriate federal, state, and local agencies, and to 
private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are 
known to have interest in this proposal. Four public scoping meeting 
sessions will be held at the times and place noted below:

Scoping Meeting Sessions

    Dates: Tuesday and Wednesday, July 13 and 14, 1999.
    Times: 2:00 pm-4:30 pm and 6:30 pm-9:00 pm (on both days).
    Place: Reno/Sparks Convention Center, North Meeting Room B-1, 4590 
South Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada.
    In addition to the scoping meeting sessions, a public meeting will 
be held when the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) is 
completed. The DEIS will be available for public and agency review and 
comment prior to the public meeting. Public notice will be given of the 
time and place of the meetings.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments 
and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or 
questions concerning this proposed project and the EIS should be 
directed to the FHWA at the address provided above.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations 
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental 
consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this 
program)

    Issued on: June 14, 1999.
John T. Price,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Carson City, 
Nevada.
[FR Doc. 99-16128 Filed 6-23-99; 8:45 am]
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