[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 181 (Thursday, September 17, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58108-58110]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-20520]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Revised Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement for the Link Union Station Project, Los Angeles, CA
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), on behalf of the
California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority), as the federal lead
agency under National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Assignment is
issuing this notice to advise other Federal, state, local, and tribal
agencies and the public that the Authority intends to revise the scope
of the analysis of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the
Link Union Station Project (Link US Project) in the cities of Los
Angeles and Vernon, California, compliance with relevant state and
federal laws, in particular NEPA.
DATES: Written comments on the scope of the Link US Project EIS should
be provided to the Authority or Metro starting on September 18, 2020,
and must be received by the Authority or Metro on or before October 19,
2020, as noted below. In response to COVID-19, a virtual public scoping
meeting is scheduled to occur on October 8, 2020, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00
p.m., Pacific Time. Prior to the scoping meeting date and time noted
above, information regarding how to participate in the virtual meeting
will be provided at the following location: https://www.metro.net/projects/link-us/. Additionally, further information can be obtained by
calling 213-922-2524. Spanish, Chinese (Simplified), and Japanese
translation will be provided. You may call 213-922-2499 at least 72
hours in advance of the meeting to request ADA accommodations or other
translation services. The scoping presentation and all materials
presented during the virtual scoping meeting will be made available on
Metro's website referenced above.
ADDRESSES: Questions or written comments on the scope of the Link US
Project EIS should be sent to Mark A. McLoughlin, Director,
Environmental Services Branch, ATTN: Link US Project, California High-
Speed Rail Authority, 770 L Street, Suite 620, Sacramento, CA 95814 or
via email with the subject line ``Link US Project'' to
Mark.McLoughlin@hsr.ca.gov or to Vincent Chio, Metro, Director of
Program Management, Regional Rail, Los Angeles County Metropolitan
Transportation Authority, One Gateway Plaza (Mail Stop 99-17-2, Los
Angeles, CA 90012 or via email with the subject line ``Link US
Project'' to: linkunionstation@metro.net). Comments may also be
provided during the virtual public scoping meeting described above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For the Authority: Mark A. McLoughlin,
Director of Environmental Services, California High-Speed Rail
Authority, (telephone: 916-403-6934; email:
[email protected]). For the FRA: Stephanie B. Perez-Arrieta,
Regional Lead, Environmental Protection Specialist, Federal Railroad
Administration (telephone: 202-493-0388; email: s.perez-arrieta@dot.gov).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Los Angeles County Metropolitan
Transportation Authority (Metro) is a joint-lead agency under NEPA and
the local project sponsor for the Link US
[[Page 58109]]
Project. Since the publication of the notice of intent (NOI), the
Authority and Metro have identified the proposed off-site improvements
to BNSF's Malabar Yard in the City of Vernon as a necessary component
of the Link US Project. These improvements are located primarily on
46th Street and 49th Street, south of Vernon Avenue, in the
northwestern portion of the City of Vernon. This Revised NOI is being
issued to solicit additional public and agency input into the
development of the scope of the EIS for the Link US Project with
respect to the proposed off-site improvements. Public input received
during outreach activities conducted by the Authority, Metro, and its
representatives will be considered in the preparation of the EIS. FRA
and Metro previously conducted scoping for the Link US Project joint
EIS/environmental impact report (EIR) in the spring of 2016. FRA
published an NOI in the Federal Register on May 31, 2016 (81 FR 34429).
FRA and Metro held a scoping meeting on June 2, 2016, at Metro's
headquarters (One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, California 90012) to
receive agency and public input on the Link US Project. In addition to
formal scoping meetings, Metro has maintained ongoing outreach to
public agencies and consistently engaged the public throughout project
development to provide input since spring of 2016.
At the time of project scoping, FRA and Metro intended to prepare a
joint EIS/EIR pursuant to NEPA and the California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA). In 2018, Metro proceeded with the preparation of a stand-
alone EIR to comply with CEQA and released a Draft EIR for public
comment on January 17, 2019. Following consideration of the comments
received on the Draft EIR, Metro certified a Final EIR for the Link US
Project on June 27, 2019.
FRA and the State of California executed a MOU, pursuant to 23
U.S.C. 327, dated July 23, 2019 through which the State of California,
acting through the California State Transportation Agency and the
Authority, has assumed FRA's responsibilities under NEPA and other
federal environmental laws for projects necessary for the design,
construction, and operation of the California HSR System, and for other
railroad projects directly connected to stations on the California HSR
System, including the Link US Project. Accordingly, the Authority is
the lead federal agency for complying with NEPA and other federal
environmental laws for the Link US Project. Metro is the local project
sponsor for the Link US project.
As described in the 2016 NOI, the Link US Project is centered at
Los Angeles Union Station (LAUS). Implementation of common
infrastructure designed to accommodate both regional/intercity trains
and future HSR trains would result in the permanent loss of storage
track capacity at the BNSF West Bank Yard, south of US-101, in the
vicinity of First Street. Since FRA published the 2016 NOI, the
Authority and Metro have identified off-site improvements to the BNSF
Malabar Yard in the City of Vernon that are needed to restore and
offset the loss of storage track capacity at the BNSF West Bank Yard.
The Authority is issuing this Revised NOI to solicit additional public
and agency input into the development of the scope of the Link US
Project EIS with respect to the off-site improvements to the BNSF
Malabar Yard proposed in the City of Vernon.
The Link US Project EIS will be used by the Authority to address
the requirements of NEPA, as well as other applicable statutes,
regulations, and executive orders, including (but not limited to) the
Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA), Section 4(f) of the Department of
Transportation Act of 1966, the Endangered Species Act, and Executive
Order 12898 (Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in
Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations).
Implementation of the Link US Project is a Federal undertaking with
the potential to affect historic properties. As such, it is subject to
the requirements of Section 106 of the NHPA. In accordance with
regulations issued by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, 36
CFR part 800, the Authority intends to coordinate compliance with
Section 106 of the NHPA with the preparation of the Link US Project
EIS, beginning with the identification of consulting parties in a
manner consistent with the standards set out in 36 CFR 800.8. Public
comment is sought with respect to the evaluation of potential effects
on historic properties.
The EIS will describe site-specific environmental effects and will
identify measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate for potential adverse
environmental effects. The Authority will assess the site
characteristics, size, nature, and timing of proposed site-specific
improvements to determine whether the effects are potentially adverse
and whether impacts can be avoided or mitigated. Information and
documents regarding this environmental review process will be made
available through Metro's internet site: https://www.metro.net/projects/link-us/.
Purpose and Need
Consistent with the 2016 NOI, the purpose of the proposed action is
to increase the regional and intercity rail service capacity of LAUS
and to improve schedule reliability at LAUS through the implementation
of a run-through tracks configuration and elimination of the current
stub-end tracks configuration while preserving current levels of
freight rail operations, accommodating the planned HSR system in
Southern California, increasing the passenger/pedestrian capacity and
enhancing the safety of LAUS through the implementation of a new
passenger concourse, meeting the multi-modal transportation demands at
LAUS.
Consistent with the 2016 NOI, the need for the proposed action is
generated by the forecasted increase in regional population and
employment; implementation of federal, state, and regional
transportation plans that provide for increased operational frequency
for regional and intercity trains and introduction of the planned HSR
system in Southern California. Localized operational, safety, and
accessibility upgrades in and around LAUS will be required to meet
existing demand and future growth.
Alternatives
As described in the 2016 NOI, the Link US Project EIS will include
an evaluation of one or more Build Alternatives (Proposed Action), as
well as a No Action Alternative.
No Action Alternative
The No Action Alternative is defined to serve as the baseline for
assessment of the proposed action. The No Action Alternative represents
the region's transportation system (highway, air, and conventional
rail) as it currently exists, and as it would exist after completion of
programs or projects currently planned for funding and implementation
by 2040.
Proposed Action (Link US Project Build Alternatives)
The Proposed Action consists of two build alternatives that address
proposed infrastructure in the vicinity of LAUS, in conjunction with
off-site improvements into the BNSF Malabar Yard in the City of Vernon.
The build alternatives would result in enhanced operational capacity
from control point (CP) Chavez in the north (near North Main Street) to
CP Olympic in the south (near the Interstate 10/State Route 60/
[[Page 58110]]
U.S.-101 interchange), which serve as the northern and southern project
termini. Major components of the build alternatives are described
below.
Throat and Elevated Rail Yard--The build alternatives
would include subgrade, signal, and structural improvements in the
throat segment to increase the elevation of the tracks leading to the
rail yard in the concourse segment at LAUS. The throat would be
reconstructed with up to seven lead tracks north of LAUS. The build
alternatives would also include new passenger platforms with canopies
above the elevated rail yard.
Passenger Concourse--The build alternatives would include:
(1) An expanded passageway; or (2) an at-grade passenger concourse. The
expanded passageway or at-grade passenger concourse would be
constructed below the elevated rail yard.
Run-Through Tracks--The build alternatives would include
up to 10 new run-through tracks (including the possibility of a loop
track) south of LAUS to facilitate connections for regional/intercity
rail trains and future HSR trains to the main line tracks on the west
bank of the Los Angeles River.
BNSF Malabar Yard Off-Site Improvements--The build
alternatives also require off-site improvements to BNSF's Malabar Yard
in the City of Vernon, California, primarily on 46th Street and 49th
Street. The off-site improvements are proposed to restore and offset
the permanent loss of storage track capacity at the BNSF West Bank
Yard.
The proposed action would also require modifications to US-101 and
local streets (including potential street closures and geometric
modifications); railroad signal, positive train control, and
communications-related improvements; modifications to the Gold Line
light rail platform and tracks; modifications to the main line tracks
on the west bank of the Los Angeles River; modifications to Keller Yard
and the Amtrak lead track; permanent removal of storage tracks and
partial relocation of the BNSF West Bank Yard; new access roadways to
the railroad right-of-way; additional right-of-way; new utilities;
utility relocations, replacements, and abandonments; and new drainage
facilities/water quality improvements.
Probable Effects
The EIS will include an evaluation of all environmental, social,
and economic impacts of the construction and operation of the proposed
action in detail. Impact areas to be addressed in the EIS include:
Transportation; air quality and greenhouse gases; noise and vibration;
public utilities and energy; biological and wetland resources;
floodplains, hydrology and water quality; geology, soils, seismicity;
hazardous waste and materials; safety and security; socioeconomics and
communities; land use and planning; visual quality and aesthetics;
historic, cultural and paleontological resources; regional growth; and
environmental justice. Measures to avoid, minimize, and mitigate
adverse effects will be identified and evaluated.
Scoping and Comments
FRA and Metro have previously carried out scoping for the Link US
Project EIS. Since publication of the 2016 NOI, the Authority and Metro
have identified the BNSF Malabar Yard off-site improvements as a
necessary component of the Link US Project. FRA, on behalf of the
Authority, is issuing this Revised NOI to solicit additional public and
agency input into the development of the scope of the EIS for the Link
US Project with respect to the BNSF Malabar Yard off-site improvements
and to advise the public that outreach activities conducted by the
Authority and Metro and its representatives will be considered in the
preparation of the EIS. Comments and suggestions on the additional
project elements described in this Revised NOI are invited from all
interested agencies, Native American Tribes, and the public to ensure
the full range of issues related to the proposed action and all
reasonable build alternatives are addressed and all significant issues
are identified. In particular, the Authority and Metro are interested
in determining whether there are areas of environmental concern where
there might be a potential for adverse effects.
In response to this Revised NOI, public agencies with jurisdiction
are requested to advise the Authority and Metro 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 proposed
action. Public agencies are requested to advise the Authority and Metro
if they anticipate taking a major action in connection with the
proposed project and if they wish to cooperate in the preparation of
the EIS. To date, Caltrans, District 7 has expressed its intention to
participate as a cooperating agency in the preparation of the EIS. The
virtual public scoping meeting has been scheduled as an important
component of the scoping process for the Federal environmental review.
The virtual public scoping meeting described above in this Revised NOI
will also be advertised locally and included in additional public
notification.
The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required
by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being or
have been carried out by the State of California pursuant to 23 U.S.C.
327 and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) dated July 23, 2019, and
executed by the FRA and the State of California.
Issued in Washington, DC.
Jamie P. Rennert,
Director, Office of Infrastructure Investment.
[FR Doc. 2020-20520 Filed 9-16-20; 8:45 am]
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