[Federal Register: October 31, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 212)]
[Notices]
[Page 64927-64928]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31oc08-54]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental
Impact Report for the Proposed South Coast Rail Project, Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, Department of the Army Permit Application Number NAE-
2007-00698
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as implemented by the Council on
Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, New England District (Corps) announces its
intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate a
proposed establishment of passenger rail service between Boston and New
Bedford/Fall River, MA. The Massachusetts Executive Office of
Transportation and Public Works (EOT) has submitted an application for
a Department of the Army permit to discharge fill material into waters
of the United States (U.S.), ranging in area from less than one acre to
approximately eight acres (depending on the alternative selected),
including wetlands, incidental to the establishment of the passenger
rail service. The EOT has stated that the purpose of their proposed
project is to more fully meet the existing and future demand for public
transportation between Fall River/New Bedford and Boston, MA, and to
enhance regional mobility, while supporting smart growth planning and
development strategies in the affected communities. The cities of
Taunton, Fall River, and New Bedford are the only cities within 50
miles of Boston that are not currently served by passenger rail.
The EIS will also be prepared with the intent to serve as a joint
Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) and NEPA document that
will comply with the procedural requirements of both state and federal
law and serve as a combined EIS/Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The
MEPA review will be conducted simultaneously with the NEPA process.
The EIS/EIR will evaluate a range of alternative transit routes to
determine the Least Environmentally Damaging Practicable Alternative
(``LEDPA''), in accordance with the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency Guidelines for Specification of Disposal Sites for Dredged or
Fill Material (40 CFR Part 230). Alternative routes presently
identified include four principal rail routes: (1) The ``Attleboro
Alternative'', (2) the ``Stoughton Alternative'', (3) the
``Middleborough Alternative'', and (4) the ``Attleboro-Middleborough
Hybrid Alternative''. A fifth alternative is a Rapid Bus Alternative
using modified highway infrastructure. A No Build/Transportation
Surface Management alternative will also be evaluated. Public scoping
may identify other alternatives for evaluation in the EIS/EIR.
DATES: Written comments must be received by: January 9, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Comments can be sent to Mr. Alan Anacheka-Nasemann, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division,
ATTN: CENAE-R-PEA, 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA, or by e-mail to:
SCREIS@usace.army.mil.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Alan Anacheka-Nasemann, (978) 318-
8214, e-mail: SCREIS@usace.army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Massachusetts EOT has submitted an
application under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act for a Department
of the Army permit to discharge fill material into waters of the U.S.
incidental to establishment of passenger rail service between Boston
and New Bedford and Fall River, MA, known as the ``South Coast Rail
Project.'' To date, the proposed South Coast Rail Project has been
undergoing review and analysis of alternatives in accordance with the
Corps' New England District's Highway Methodology. EOT completed a
preliminary analysis of alternatives in April 2008, which consisted of
investigating, analyzing and screening a number of alternatives. Five
alternative transit routes, with mode variations and slight route
variations, resulted from the screening process. The ``Attleboro
Alternative'' would expand service via the existing AMTRAK Northeast
Corridor, with added capacity, new track and existing freight lines
from Attleboro via Norton to Taunton. This route could potentially
affect two Commonwealth of Massachusetts Areas of Critical
Environmental Concern (ACECs) known as Fowl Meadow/
[[Page 64928]]
Ponkapoag Bog and the Three-Mile River Watershed, and would also
include construction of new track (``Attleboro bypass''), near or over
Chartley Pond in the vicinity of an existing National Grid electrical
line right-of-way. The ``Stoughton Alternative'' would extend the
existing Stoughton commuter rail line from its current terminus in
Stoughton along a presently abandoned right-of-way through Easton and
Raynham to Taunton. This would follow an existing railroad grade that
crosses Hockomock Swamp, a Massachusetts ACEC. The ``Middleborough
Alternative'' would extend the existing Old Colony commuter rail line
through Middleborough to Taunton. Continuation from Taunton to New
Bedford would be via an existing freight track via Lakeville and
Berkley. The ``Attleboro-Middleborough Hybrid Alternative'' would
extend existing Old Colony commuter rail line through Middleborough to
Taunton and add trains to the existing Amtrak Northeast Corridor via
Attleboro and along the Attleboro bypass. This alternative could
potentially affect Three-Mile River Watershed ACEC. The links between
Taunton and New Bedford/Fall River are common to all four rail
alternatives. The ``Rapid Bus'' alternative would involve construction
of new Rapid Bus dedicated lanes along existing Massachusetts Highways
24 and 128, and Interstate Highway 93. The No Build/Transportation
Surface Management alternative would involve enhancement to existing
bus services without infrastructure improvements.
Elements of all of the alternatives proposed at this time by EOT
would be located in waters of the U.S. Estimates of surface area
impacts range from less than one to approximately eight acres,
depending on the alignment. The proposed alternative routes could
affect natural resources, including Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Wildlife Management Areas and Areas of Critical Environmental Concern.
Although there are no Federally listed threatened or endangered species
known to be found in the proposed alternative route areas, the
Hockomock Swamp ACEC is known to contain at least sixteen species
listed as threatened, endangered or species of special concern by the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
All of the proposed alternative routes would affect historic and
cultural resources, including properties eligible for listing on the
National Register of Historic Places and historic districts that have
cultural importance in the affected communities. Consultation on the
extent of the impacts on these resources will be undertaken with the
State Historic Preservation Office under Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act.
The Corps is seeking participation and input of all interested
federal, state and local agencies, Native American groups, and other
concerned private organizations or individuals on the scope of the EIS/
EIR. Significant issues to be analyzed in depth in the EIS/EIR include:
Impacts to waters of the U.S., including vernal pools and other
wetlands; cultural resources, threatened and endangered species;
transportation; air quality, including greenhouse gas emissions; noise
and vibration; surface water and groundwater; hydrology and water
quality; and socioeconomic effects.
It is anticipated that the Draft EIS/Draft EIR will be made
available to the public in the late spring of 2009.
Two scoping meetings will be held. The meeting dates are: 1.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008, 6:30 p.m., University of Massachusetts (U-
Mass) Dartmouth, Woodland Commons Building, 285 Old Westport Road,
North Dartmouth, MA 02747-2300, Parking is available in lot 7.
2. Wednesday, December 3, 2008, 6:30 p.m., Taunton High School
Auditorium, 50 Williams Street, Taunton, MA 02780.
Pre-registration for each meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. on the
dates and locations listed above.
Dated: October 22, 2008.
Lieutenant Colonel Stephen E. Lefebvre,
Deputy District Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England.
[FR Doc. E8-25987 Filed 10-30-08; 8:45 am]
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