18294 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 63 / Friday, April 1, 2011 / Notices 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

Receipt of Noise Compatibility 

Program and Request for Review; 

Kissimmee Gateway Airport, 

Kissimmee, FL 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration, DOT. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA) announces that it 

is reviewing a proposed Noise 

Compatibility Program that was 

submitted for Kissimmee Gateway 

Airport under the provisions of 49 

U.S.C. 47504 et seq. (the Aviation Safety 

and Noise Abatement Act hereinafter 

referred to as ‘‘the Act’’) and 14 CFR Part 

150 by the City of Kissimmee. This 

program was submitted subsequent to a 

determination by FAA that the 

associated Noise Exposure Maps 

submitted under 14 CFR Part 150 for 

Kissimmee Gateway Airport were in 

compliance with applicable 

requirements effective 12/11/09, and 

was published in the Federal Register 

on 12/29/09. The proposed Noise 

Compatibility Program will be approved 

or disapproved on or before September 

27, 2011. 

DATES: Effective Date: The effective date 

of the start of FAA’s review of the 

associated Noise Compatibility Program 

is April 1, 2011. The public comment 

period ends May 30, 2011. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Allan Nagy, Federal Aviation 

Administration, Orlando Airports 

District Office, 5950 Hazeltine National 

Drive, Suite 400, Orlando, Florida 

32822, 407–812–6331. Comments on the 

proposed Noise Compatibility Program 

should also be submitted to the above 

office. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

notice announces that the FAA is 

reviewing a proposed Noise 

Compatibility Program for Kissimmee 

Gateway Airport which will be 

approved or disapproved on or before 

September 27, 2011. This notice also 

announces the availability of this 

program for public review and 

comment. 

An airport operator who has 

submitted Noise Exposure Maps that are 

found by FAA to be in compliance with 

the requirements of Title 14 Code of 

Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 150, may 

submit a Noise Compatibility Program 

for FAA approval which sets forth the 

measures the operator has taken or 

proposes to reduce existing noncompatible uses and prevent the 

introduction of additional noncompatible uses. 

The FAA has formally received the 

Noise Compatibility Program for 

Kissimmee Gateway Airport, effective 

on April 1, 2011. The airport operator 

has requested that the FAA review this 

material and that the noise mitigation 

measures, to be implemented jointly by 

the airport and surrounding 

communities, be approved as a Noise 

Compatibility Program under Section 

47504 of the Act. Preliminary review of 

the submitted material indicates that it 

conforms to the requirements for the 

submittal of Noise Compatibility 

Programs, but that further review will be 

necessary prior to approval or 

disapproval of the program. The formal 

review period, limited by law to a 

maximum of 180 days, will be 

completed on or before September 27, 

2011. 

The FAA’s detailed evaluation will be 

conducted under the provisions of 14 

CFR Part 150, § 150.33. The primary 

considerations in the evaluation process 

are whether the proposed measures may 

reduce the level of aviation safety or 

create an undue burden on interstate or 

foreign commerce, and whether they are 

reasonably consistent with obtaining the 

goal of reducing existing noncompatible land uses and preventing the 

introduction of additional noncompatible land uses. 

Interested persons are invited to 

comment on the proposed program with 

specific reference to these factors. All 

comments relating to these factors, other 

than those properly addressed to local 

land use authorities, will be considered 

by the FAA to the extent practicable. 

Copies of the Noise Exposure Maps, the 

FAA’s evaluation of the maps, and the 

proposed Noise Compatibility Program 

are available for examination at the 

following locations: Federal Aviation 

Administration, Orlando Airports 

District Office, 5950 Hazeltine National 

Drive, Suite 400, Orlando, Florida 

32822. 

Questions may be directed to the 

individual named above under the 

heading, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CONTACT. 

Issued in Orlando, Florida, on March 28, 

2011. 

Bart Vernace, 

Acting Manager, Orlando Airports District 

Office. 

[FR Doc. 2011–7813 Filed 3–31–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Railroad Administration 

[Docket No. FRA 2011–001–N–4] 

Proposed Agency Information 

Collection Activities; Comment 

Request 

AGENCY: Federal Railroad 

Administration (FRA), Department of 

Transportation. 

ACTION: Notice and request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 

its implementing regulations, the 

Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) 

hereby announces that it is seeking 

renewal of the following currently 

approved information collection 

activities. Before submitting these 

information collection requirements for 

clearance by the Office of Management 

and Budget (OMB), FRA is soliciting 

public comment on specific aspects of 

the activities identified below. 

DATES: Comments must be received no 

later than May 31, 2011. 

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments 

on any or all of the following proposed 

activities by mail to either: Mr. Robert 

Brogan, Office of Safety, Planning and 

Evaluation Division, RRS–21, Federal 

Railroad Administration, 1200 New 

Jersey Ave., SE., Mail Stop 25, 

Washington, DC 20590, or Ms. Kimberly 

Toone, Office of Information 

Technology, RAD–20, Federal Railroad 

Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., 

SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 

20590. Commenters requesting FRA to 

acknowledge receipt of their respective 

comments must include a self-addressed 

stamped postcard stating, ‘‘Comments 

on OMB control number ll .’’ 

Alternatively, comments may be 

transmitted via facsimile to (202) 493– 

6216 or (202) 493–6479, or via e-mail to 

Mr. Brogan at Robert.Brogan@dot.gov, or 

to Ms. Toone at 

Kimberly.Toone@dot.gov. Please refer to 

the assigned OMB control number in 

any correspondence submitted. FRA 

will summarize comments received in 

response to this notice in a subsequent 

notice and include them in its 

information collection submission to 

OMB for approval. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

Robert Brogan, Office of Planning and 

Evaluation Division, RRS–21, Federal 

Railroad Administration, 1200 New 

Jersey Ave., SE., Mail Stop 25, 

Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 

493–6292) or Ms. Kimberly Toone, 

Office of Information Technology, RAD– 

mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES

Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 63 / Friday, April 1, 2011 / Notices 18295 

20, Federal Railroad Administration, 

1120 Vermont Ave., NW., Mail Stop 35, 

Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 

493–6139). (These telephone numbers 

are not toll-free.) 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 

(PRA), Public Law 104–13, § 2, 109 Stat. 

163 (1995) (codified as revised at 44 

U.S.C. 3501–3520), and its 

implementing regulations, 5 CFR part 

1320, require Federal agencies to 

provide 60 days’ notice to the public for 

comment on information collection 

activities before seeking approval for 

reinstatement or renewal by OMB. 44 

U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), 

1320.10(e)(1), 1320.12(a). Specifically, 

FRA invites interested respondents to 

comment on the following summary of 

proposed information collection 

activities regarding (i) whether the 

information collection activities are 

necessary for FRA to properly execute 

its functions, including whether the 

activities will have practical utility; (ii) 

the accuracy of FRA’s estimates of the 

burden of the information collection 

activities, including the validity of the 

methodology and assumptions used to 

determine the estimates; (iii) ways for 

FRA to enhance the quality, utility, and 

clarity of the information being 

collected; and (iv) ways for FRA to 

minimize the burden of information 

collection activities on the public by 

automated, electronic, mechanical, or 

other technological collection 

techniques or other forms of information 

technology (e.g., permitting electronic 

submission of responses). See 44 U.S.C. 

3506(c)(2)(A)(I)–(iv); 5 CFR 

1320.8(d)(1)(i)–(iv). FRA believes that 

soliciting public comment will promote 

its efforts to reduce the administrative 

and paperwork burdens associated with 

the collection of information mandated 

by Federal regulations. In summary, 

FRA reasons that comments received 

will advance three objectives: (i) Reduce 

reporting burdens; (ii) ensure that it 

organizes information collection 

requirements in a ‘‘user friendly’’ format 

to improve the use of such information; 

and (iii) accurately assess the resources 

expended to retrieve and produce 

information requested. See 44 U.S.C. 

3501. 

Below are brief summaries of three 

currently approved information 

collection activities that FRA will 

submit for clearance by OMB as 

required under the PRA: 

OMB Control Number: 2130–0035. 

Type of Request: Extension of a 

currently approved collection. 

Affected Public: Businesses. 

Form Number(s): N/A. 

Abstract: The collection of 

information is due to the railroad 

operating rules set forth in 49 CFR part 

217 which require Class I and Class II 

railroads to file with FRA copies of their 

operating rules, timetables, and 

timetable special instructions, and 

subsequent amendments thereto. Class 

III railroads are required to retain copies 

of these documents at their systems 

headquarters. Also, 49 CFR 220.21(b) 

prescribes the collection of information 

which requires railroads to retain one 

copy of their current operating rules 

with respect to radio communications 

and one copy of each subsequent 

amendment thereto. These documents 

must be made available to FRA upon 

request. Through these rules, FRA 

learns the condition of operating rules 

and practices with respect to trains and 

instructions provided by the railroad to 

their employees in operating practices. 

Reporting Burden: 

CFR section Respondent universe Total annual responses Average time per 

response 

Total annual 

burden hours 

217.7—Copy—FRA—Operating rules, timetables, Class I & II RRs.1 new railroad .............. 1 submission ................ 1 hour ........................... 1 

—Amendments ............................................. 55 railroads .................. 165 amendments ......... 20 Minutes ................... 55 

—Copy of operating rules—Class III ............ 20 new railroads .......... 20 submissions ............ 55 Minutes ................... 18 

—Amendments ............................................. 632 railroads ................ 1,896 amendments ...... 15 Minutes ................... 474 

217.9—Railroad and Railroad Testing Officer 

Responsibilities.

687 railroads ................ 4,732 field trained officers/training sessions.8 hours ......................... 37,856 

—Records ..................................................... 687 railroads ................ 4,732 records ............... 2 minutes ..................... 158 

Copy—Prog. for Perf. of Operational Tests 20 new railroads .......... 20 Programs ................ 9.92 hours .................... 198

—Records of Operational Tests/Inspections 687 railroads ................ 9,180,000 records ........ 5 minutes ..................... 765,000 

—Amendments ............................................. 55 railroads .................. 165 amendments ......... 1.92 hours .................... 317 

—Quarterly Review of Accident/Incident 

Data/Prior Op. Tests/Insp.

687 railroads ................ 148 reviews .................. 1 hour ........................... 148 

—Designated Officers & Conduct of 6 Mo. 

Rev.

687 railroads ................ 37 designations + 74 

reviews.

5 seconds + 1 hour ...... 74 

—Designated Officers & Conduct of Six 

Month Review by Passenger/Commuter 

Railroads.

687 railroads ................ 20 designations + 34 

reviews.

5 seconds + 1 hour ...... 34 

—Records of Periodic Reviews .................... 687 railroads ................ 589 review records ...... 1 minute ....................... 10 

—Annual Summary on Operational Tests/ 

Insp.

687 railroads ................ 37 summary records .... 61 minutes ................... 38 

—FRA Disapproval of RR Program of Operational Tests/Insp. & Response by RR.687 railroads ................ 20 supporting documents.1 hour ........................... 20 

—Amended Prog. Docs. ............................... 687 railroads ................ 20 amended documents.30 minutes ................... 10 

271.11—Instruction of Program Employees ........ 687 railroads ................ 130,000 instr. employees.8 hours ......................... 1,040,000 

—New RR & Copy of Program of Op. Tests 20 new railroads .......... 20 Programs ................ 8 hours ......................... 160

—Amendments to Op. Rules Instr. Program 687 railroads ................ 220 amendments ......... 55 minutes ................... 202 

218.95—Instruction, Training, Examination— 

Records.

687 railroads ................ 98,000 records ............. 5 minutes ..................... 8,167 

—Response to FRA Disapproval of Program.687 railroads ................ 50 written/oral submissions.1 hour ........................... 50 

—Programs Needing Amendment ............... 687 railroads ................ 20 amended programs 30 minutes ................... 10 

218.97—Written Procedures on Good Faith 

Challenges by Employees Re: Actions.

687 railroads ................ 687 written procedures 2 hours ......................... 1,374 

—Employee Copy of Written Procedures .... 687 railroads ................ 130,000 copies ............. 6 minutes ..................... 13,000 

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18296 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 63 / Friday, April 1, 2011 / Notices 

CFR section Respondent universe Total annual responses Average time per 

response 

Total annual 

burden hours 

—Employee Copy of Amended Procedures 687 railroads ................ 130,000 copies ............. 3 minutes ..................... 6,500 

—Good Faith Challenges by RR Employees 98,000 RR Employees 15 challenges ............... 10 minutes ................... 3 

—RR Responses to Empl. Challenge .......... 687 railroads ................ 15 responses ............... 5 minutes ..................... 1 

—Immediate Review of Employee Challenge.687 railroads ................ 5 immediate reviews .... 15 minutes ................... 1 

—RR Officer Explanation of Federal Law 

Protection Against Retaliation.

687 railroads ................ 5 explanations .............. 1 minute ....................... .08 

—Documented Protest by RR Employee ..... 687 railroads ................ 10 written protests ....... 15 minutes ................... 3 

—Copies of Protests .................................... 687 railroads ................ 10 protest copies ......... 1 minute ....................... .17 

—Further Reviews ........................................ 687 railroads ................ 3 further reviews .......... 15 minutes ................... 1 

—Written Verification Decision to Employee 687 railroads ................ 10 verification decisions 10 minutes ................... 2 

—Copy of Written Procedures at RR Hdtrs 687 railroads ................ 760 copies of procedures.5 minutes ..................... 63 hours 

—Copy of Verification Decision at RR 

Headquarters & Division Headquarters.

687 railroads ................ 20 verification decision 

copies.

5 minutes ..................... 2 

218.99—Shoving or Pushing Movements: 

—Operating Rule Modifications .................... 687 railroads ................ 687 rule modifications .. 1 hour ........................... 687 

—Locomotive Engineer Job Briefing Before 

Movement.

100,000 RR Employees 60,000 job briefings ..... 1 minute ....................... 1,000 

—Point Protection Determinations & Signals/Instructions to Control Movements.100,000 RR Employees 87,600,000 determinations + 87,600,000 

signals/instructions.

1 minute + 1 minute ..... 2,920,000 

—Remote Control Movements-Verbal Confirmation.100,000 RR Employees 876,000 confirmations .. 1 minute ....................... 14,600 

—Remote Control Determinations That 

Zone Is Not Jointly Occupied/Track Clear.

100,000 RR Employees 876,000 determinations 1 minute ....................... 14,600 

—Dispatcher Authorized Train Movements 6,000 RR Dispatchers .. 30,000 auth. movements.1 minute ....................... 500 

—Written Procedures to Determine Track 

Occupancy.

687 railroads ................ 41 written procedures .. 30 minutes ................... 21 

—Track Location—Designation .................... 687 railroads ................ 41 track designations ... 30 minutes ................... 21 

218.101—Operating Rule Re: Leaving Rolling & 

On-Track MOW Equipment in the Clear.

687 railroads ................ 687 amended op. rules 30 minutes ................... 344 

218.103—Hand-Operated Switches—RR Operating Rule That Complies with 218.103.687 railroads ................ 687 modified operating 

rules.

1 hour ........................... 687 

—Specification of Minimum Job Briefing Requirements.687 railroads ................ 632 modified op. rules 30 minutes ................... 316 

—Employee Operating or Verifying Position 

of Hand-operated Switches: Job Briefings.

687 railroads ................ 1,125,000 job briefings 1 minute ....................... 18,750 

218.105—Additional Requirements for Hand Operated Main Track Switches—Job Briefing.687 railroads ................ 60,000 job briefings ..... 1 minute ....................... 1,000 

—Roadway Worker Report on Position of 

Switches to Roadway Worker in Charge 

(RWIC) or Designated Employee Conveying Information to RWIC.

687 railroads ................ 100,000 empl. reports + 

100,000 conveyances.

1 minute + 1 minute ..... 3,334 

—Dispatcher Acknowledgment of Switch 

Position and Employee Confirmation to 

Train Dispatcher.

687 railroads ................ 60,000 acknowledgment + 60,000 confirmations.30 seconds + 5 seconds.583 

218.109—Hand Operated Fixed Derails: Job 

Briefings.

687 railroads ................ 562,500 hours .............. 30 seconds ................... 4,688 

Total Estimated Responses: 

188,794,835. 

Total Estimated Annual Burden: 

4,855,081 hours. 

Status: Regular Review. 

Title: Roadway Worker Protection. 

OMB Control Number: 2130–0539. 

Abstract: This rule establishes 

regulations governing the protection of 

railroad employees working on or near 

railroad tracks. The regulation requires 

that each railroad devise and adopt a 

program of on-track safety to provide 

employees working along the railroad 

with protection from the hazards of 

being struck by a train or other on-track 

equipment. Elements of this on-track 

safety program include an on-track 

safety manual; a clear delineation of 

employers’ responsibilities, as well as 

employees’ rights and responsibilities 

thereto; well- defined procedures for 

communication and protection; and 

annual on-track safety training. The 

program adopted by each railroad is 

subject to review and approval by FRA. 

Form Number(s): FRA 6180.119. 

Affected Public: Businesses. 

Frequency of Submission: On 

occasion. 

Reporting Burden: 

CFR section Respondent universe Total annual responses Average time per 

response 

Total annual 

burden hours 

Form FRA F 6180.119 ......................................... 350 Safety Inspectors .. 150 report forms .......... 4 hours ......................... 600 

—RR Workplace Safety Violation Report 

Form.

214303/309—On-Track Safety Programs.

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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 63 / Friday, April 1, 2011 / Notices 18297 

CFR section Respondent universe Total annual responses Average time per 

response 

Total annual 

burden hours 

—Amendments to Program .......................... 60 railroads + 584 railroads.20 amended programs 

+ 584 amended prog..

20 hours; 4 hours ......... 2,736 

—Subsequent Years: New Programs .......... 5 railroads .................... 5 safety programs ........ 250 hours ..................... 1,250 

214.313—Roadway Worker Challenge to Directive.20 railroads .................. 80 challenges ............... 4 hours ......................... 320 

214.315/335—Supervision and Communication—Job Briefings.50,000 Roadway Workers.16,350,000 briefings .... 2 minutes ..................... 545,000 

214.321—Exclusive Track Occupancy: Written 

Authorities.

8,583 Employees/Roadway Workers.700,739 written authorities.1 minute ....................... 11,679 

214.325—Train Coordination: Roadway Worker 

Communication with Train Crew.

50,000 Roadway Workers.36,500 communications 15 seconds ................... 152 

214.327—Inaccessible Track: Establishment and 

Direction by Roadway Worker in Charge.

703 railroads ................ 50,000 occurrences ..... 10 minutes ................... 8,333 

214.337—On-Track Safety for Lone Workers ..... 703 railroads ................ 2,080,000 statements .. 30 seconds ................... 17,333 

—Written Statement of On-Track Safety by 

Lone Worker.

214.343/345347/349/351/353/355—Training ...... 50,000 Roadway Workers.50,000 trained employees.4.50 hours .................... 225,000 

—Training Records ....................................... 50,000 Roadway Workers.50,000 records ............. 2 minutes ..................... 1,667 

214.503—Good Faith Challenges—Notification .. 50,000 Roadway Workers.125 notifications ........... 10 minutes ................... 21 

—Resolution Procedures .............................. 644 railroads ................ 10 procedures .............. 2 hours ......................... 20 

214.505—List of New/Designated Existing OnTrack Roadway Maintenance Machines Conforming with Paragraph (a) of This Section.644 railroads ................ 9 lists ............................ 1 hour ........................... 9 

214.507—Built Light Weight Displayed on Each 

New Roadway Maintenance Machine (RMM).

644 railroads ................ 1,000 stickers/stencils .. 5 minutes ..................... 83 

214.511—Clearly Identifiable Horn Triggering 

Mechanism on Each New RMM.

644 railroads ................ 3,700 identified mechanisms.5 minutes ..................... 308 

214.513—Clearly Identifiable Horn Triggering 

Mechanism on Each Existing RMM.

703 railroads ................ 200 identified mechanisms.5 minutes ..................... 17 

214.515—Overhead Covers for Existing 

RMMs—Requests and RR Responses.

644 railroads ................ 500 employee requests 

+ 500 RR responses.

10 minutes + 20 minutes.250 

214.517—Display of Light Weight on Existing 

RMMs.

644 railroads ................ 500 stencils/displays .... 5 minutes ..................... 42 

214.518—Safe and Secure Position on OnTrack RMMs—Clearly Identified.644 railroads ................ 1,000 stencils/marks/ 

notices.

5 minutes ..................... 83 

214.523–Hi-Rail Vehicles—Inspections and 

Records.

644 railroads ................ 2,000 inspections/ 

records.

1 hour ........................... 2,000 

—Tagging and Reporting Non-compliant 

Conditions.

644 railroads ................ 500 tags + 500 reports 10 minutes + 15 minutes.208 

214.527—On-Track RMMs—Tagging and Reporting of Non-complying Conditions.644 railroads ................ 550 tags + 550 reports 5 minutes + 15 minutes 184 

214.533—Schedule of Repairs for Hi-Rail Vehicles and RMMs—Compliance Records.644 railroads ................ 250 records .................. 15 minutes ................... 63 

Total Estimated Responses: 

19,329,972. 

Total Estimated Annual Burden: 

817,358 hours. 

Status: Regular Review. 

OMB Control Number: 2130–0552. 

Title: Locomotive Cab Sanitation 

Standards. 

Type of Request: Extension of a 

currently approved collection. 

Affected Public: Businesses. 

Form Number(s): N/A. 

Abstract: The collection of 

information is used by FRA to promote 

rail safety and the health of railroad 

workers by ensuring that all locomotive 

crew members have access to toilet/ 

sanitary facilities—on as needed basis— 

which are functioning and hygienic. 

Also, the collection of information is 

used by FRA to ensure that railroads 

repair defective locomotive toilet/ 

sanitary facilities within 10 calendar 

days of the date on which these units 

becomes defective. 

Frequency of Submission: On 

occasion. 

Reporting Burden: 

CFR section Respondent universe Total annual responses Average time per 

response 

Total annual 

burden hours 

229.137(d)—Defective Locomotive Toilet Facility—Tagging.744 railroads ................ 11,700 tags/notices ...... 90 seconds ................... 293 

229.137(e) Defective But Sanitary Locomotive 

Toilet Facility—Tagging.

744 railroads ................ 7,956 tags/notices ........ 90 seconds ................... 199 

229.137(f) Switching or Transfer Service—Defective Locomotive Toilet Facility—Notation on 

Daily Inspection Report.

744 railroads ................ 93,600 notations .......... 30 seconds ................... 780 

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18298 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 63 / Friday, April 1, 2011 / Notices 

Total Estimated Responses: 113,256. 

Total Estimated Annual Burden: 

1,272 hours. 

Status: Regular Review. 

Pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 3507(a) and 5 

CFR 1320.5(b), 1320.8(b)(3)(vi), FRA 

informs all interested parties that it may 

not conduct or sponsor, and a 

respondent is not required to respond 

to, a collection of information unless it 

displays a currently valid OMB control 

number. 

Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501–3520. 

Issued in Washington, DC on March 25, 

2011. 

Kimberly Coronel, 

Director, Office of Financial Management, 

Federal Railroad Administration. 

[FR Doc. 2011–7463 Filed 3–31–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–06–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Railroad Administration 

Notice of Availability of a Final 

Environmental Impact Statement for 

the DesertXpress High-Speed 

Passenger Train Project 

AGENCY: Federal Railroad 

Administration (FRA), United States 

Department of Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: FRA is issuing this notice to 

advise the public that a Final 

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 

is being published for the DesertXpress 

High-Speed Passenger Train Project 

(DesertXpress project). FRA is the Lead 

Agency for the environmental review 

process and has prepared the Final EIS 

consistent with the provisions of 

Section 102(2)(c) of the National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 

1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the 

Counsel of Environmental Quality 

(CEQ) regulations implementing NEPA 

(40 CFR parts 1500 et seq.), and FRA’s 

Procedures for Considering 

Environmental Impacts (64 FR 28545, 

May 26, 1999). The Bureau of Land 

Management (BLM), Surface 

Transportation Board (STB), Federal 

Highway Administration (FHWA), and 

the National Park Service (NPS) 

coordinated with the FRA as 

Cooperating Agencies for the 

DesertXpress project environmental 

review process. 

DesertXpress Enterprises Inc., the 

DesertXpress project proponent or 

Applicant, proposes to construct and 

operate a fully grade-separated, 

dedicated double-track, passenger-only 

railroad along an approximately 200- 

mile corridor, from Victorville, 

California, to Las Vegas, Nevada. The 

Preferred Alternative rail alignment 

would generally be immediately 

adjacent to the Interstate 15 (I–15) 

freeway travel lanes within the existing 

Interstate 15 (I–15) right-of-way (ROW). 

The Preferred Alternative also includes 

passenger station and maintenance 

facility sites in Victorville and greater 

Las Vegas. 

DATES: Written comments on the Final 

EIS for the DesertXpress project will be 

accepted until April 18, 2011. Written 

comments on the Final EIS may be sent 

to: Ms. Wendy Messenger, Attn: 

DesertXpress EIS, Office of Railroad 

Policy and Development, Federal 

Railroad Administration, U.S. 

Department of Transportation, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue, SE., MS–20, 

Washington, DC 20590 or via e-mail at 

Wendy.Messenger@dot.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Wendy Messenger, Environmental 

Protection Specialist, Office of Railroad 

Policy and Development, Federal 

Railroad Administration, U.S. 

Department of Transportation, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue, SE., MS–20, 

Washington, DC 20590 or via e-mail at 

Wendy.Messenger@dot.gov (telephone 

202–493–6396). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

DesertXpress project would involve the 

construction and operation of an 

interstate high-speed passenger train 

system between Victorville, California 

and Las Vegas, Nevada, along an 

approximately 200-mile corridor. The 

purpose of the DesertXpress project is to 

provide reliable and safe passenger rail 

transportation between southern 

California and Las Vegas using proven 

high-speed rail technology that results 

in a convenient alternative to 

automobile or air travel that also adds 

transportation capacity to the I–15 

freeway corridor. The need for the 

DesertXpress project stems from several 

factors, including but not limited to 

high and increasing travel demand on I– 

15—the only major roadway linking 

southern California to Las Vegas having 

limited opportunities to increase 

capacity. Other factors include 

constraints on the expansion of air 

travel from southern California and an 

above-average automobile accident rate 

on the I–15 freeway. 

In March 2009, FRA, in coordination 

with the Cooperating Agencies, 

published a Draft EIS and circulated the 

document for a 56-day public and 

agency review and comment period. 

The Draft EIS analyzed a No Action 

Alternative and various Action 

Alternatives for the construction and 

operation of the DesertXpress highspeed passenger train. The Action 

Alternatives included multiple options 

for rail alignments, passenger stations, 

maintenance facilities, and locomotive 

technologies. The Draft EIS was 

structured to allow the Lead and 

Cooperating Agencies to compose a 

Preferred Alternative from the various 

options. FRA convened three public 

hearings on the Draft EIS, held in Las 

Vegas, Barstow, and Victorville on April 

28, April 29, and April 30, 2009, 

respectively. 

Following publication of the Draft 

EIS, the Applicant proposed several 

modifications and additions to the 

Action Alternatives presented in the 

Draft EIS, based upon substantive 

comments received during public and 

agency review and to reduce or avoid 

significant potential environmental 

impacts. The project modifications and 

additions included a new Victorville 

passenger station site, a new rail 

alignment through central Barstow 

within the I–15 freeway corridor, a new 

rail alignment through the Clark 

Mountains, new sites for maintenance 

facilities in unincorporated Clark 

County, and minor shifts in the rail 

alignment to avoid or reduce potential 

environmental impacts or improve 

operating characteristics. 

After evaluating the proposed project 

modifications and additions, FRA 

determined, pursuant to 40 CFR 1502.9, 

that it was necessary to prepare a 

Supplemental Draft EIS to analyze the 

potential environmental impacts of the 

project modifications and additions. 

The FRA and the Cooperating Agencies 

published the Supplemental Draft EIS in 

September 2010 and circulated the 

document for a 46-day public and 

agency review and comment period. 

FRA convened two public hearings on 

the Supplemental Draft EIS in the Las 

Vegas and Barstow areas on October 13 

and October 14, 2010, respectively. 

The FRA and the Cooperating 

Agencies considered the entire record 

and compared the potential 

environmental impacts of the action 

alternatives as well as the no action 

alternative to select the Preferred 

Alternative. The Preferred Alternative 

rail alignment would be almost entirely 

located within the existing I–15 

corridor, with tracks running alongside 

freeway travel lanes. The Preferred 

Alternative also identifies station and 

maintenance facility sites and selects 

Electrical Multiple Unit (EMU) as the 

preferred locomotive technology. 

In accordance with regulations 

implementing NEPA, the Final EIS 

evaluates the environmental effects 

associated with the Preferred 

Alternative compared to the other 

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