[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 51 (Thursday, March 15, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15450-15452]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-6304]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement for the Chicago, Illinois, 
to Omaha, Nebraska, Regional Passenger Rail System

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

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS).

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SUMMARY: FRA is issuing this notice to advise the public that FRA with 
the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) will jointly prepare a 
Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate potential 
passenger rail improvements for the Chicago, Illinois to Omaha, 
Nebraska regional passenger rail system in compliance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). The Tier 1 EIS will evaluate 
environmental and related impacts for reasonable corridor-level 
passenger rail route alternatives between Chicago, Illinois and Omaha, 
Nebraska. The route alternatives will support proposed conventional 
locomotive-hauled, passenger train service, operating on track used 
jointly with freight trains, at an initial maximum speed of seventy-
nine (79) to ninety (90) miles per hour (mph). The Tier 1 EIS will also 
examine passenger rail service levels.
    FRA is issuing this Notice to alert interested parties, including 
the public and resource agencies about the EIS, to provide information 
on the nature of the proposed action, including the purpose and need 
for the proposed action, and possible route alternatives to be 
considered in the preparation of the Tier 1 EIS. To ensure all 
significant issues are identified and considered, all interested 
parties are invited to comment on the proposed scope of environmental 
review. Comments on the scope of the EIS, including the proposed 
action's purpose and need, the route alternatives to be considered, the 
impacts to be evaluated, and the methodologies to be used in the 
evaluations will be accepted online and in writing up to thirty (30) 
days following the publication of this Notice.

DATES: Iowa DOT will host an online, self-directed public scoping 
meeting during the months of March and April, 2012. The online public 
scoping meeting will be available for thirty (30) days following the 
publication of this Notice. Detailed information on the public scoping 
meeting is also available on the following Web site: http://www.iowadot.gov/chicagotoomaha. Interested parties, including the 
public and resource agencies can provide written comments on the Tier 1 
EIS up to thirty (30) days following the publication of this Notice, by 
writing Ms. Tamara Nicholson, Director, Office of Rail Transportation, 
Iowa Department of Transportation, 800 Lincoln Way, Ames, Iowa 50010.
    If a member of the public wishes to participate in the scoping 
process and does not have access to a computer or the internet, they 
can request an informational scoping package and comment form by 
contacting Ms. Tamara Nicholson at the above address or by telephone 
(515) 239-1052 or (800) 488-7119.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Andrea Martin, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue Southeast, (Mail Stop 20), Washington, DC 20590, telephone (202) 
493-6201; or Ms. Tamara Nicholson, Director, Office of Rail 
Transportation, Iowa Department of Transportation, 800 Lincoln Way, 
Ames, Iowa 50010, telephone (515) 239-1052 or (800) 488-7119. 
Information and documents regarding the environmental review process 
will be made available for the duration of the Tier 1 EIS process on 
the following Web site: http://www.iowadot.gov/chicagotoomaha.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FRA, in cooperation with Iowa DOT, will 
prepare a Tier 1 EIS to evaluate passenger rail service improvements 
from Chicago, Illinois to Omaha, Nebraska. The agencies will use a 
tiered process, as provided for in 40 CFR 1508.28 and in accordance 
with FRA's Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts (64 FR 
28454) (Environmental Procedures), in the completion of the 
environmental review. Tiering is a staged environmental review process 
applied to environmental reviews for complex projects. The proposed 
Tier 1 EIS described in this Notice is a service level analysis that 
will examine a range of reasonable corridor route alternatives between 
Chicago, Illinois and Omaha, Nebraska and will consider improvements 
necessary to support additional passenger trains while accommodating 
the anticipated growth in freight rail traffic. The Tier 1 EIS will 
assess potential track improvements, a potential increase in the number 
of higher-speed passenger trains, potential corridor route alternatives 
between Chicago, Illinois and Omaha, Nebraska, and the associated 
transportation and environmental impacts. It is anticipated that the 
route alternative analysis will involve a screening process to identify 
reasonable and feasible alternatives for evaluation in the Tier 1 EIS. 
Potential route alternatives include the former Illinois Central route, 
the former Chicago and North Western route, the former Milwaukee Road 
route, the former Rock Island route, and the former Burlington route. 
The No-Action (or No-Build) Alternative will also be considered.
    The Tier 1 EIS will also appropriately address Section 106 of the 
National Historic Preservation Act (see 36 CFR part 800), Section 4(f) 
of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act of 1966 (49 U.S.C. 303) 
and other applicable Federal and state laws and regulations. The result 
will be a Tier 1 EIS NEPA document that addresses broad overall issues 
of concern for corridor decisions including, but not limited to:
    <bullet> Describing the purpose and need for the proposed action.
    <bullet> Describing the environment potentially affected by the 
proposed action.
    <bullet> Developing evaluation criteria to identify route 
alternatives that meet the purpose and need of the proposed action and 
those that do not.
    <bullet> Identifying the range of reasonable route alternatives 
that satisfy the purpose and need for the proposed action.

[[Page 15451]]

    <bullet> Developing the no-build alternative to serve as a baseline 
for comparison.
    <bullet> Describing and evaluating the potential environmental 
impacts and mitigation associated with the proposed route alternatives.
    <bullet> Identifying component projects for Tier 2 NEPA evaluation 
as described below.
    Follow-on Tier 2 assessment(s) will address component projects of 
the overall rail corridor improvement alternative selected in the Tier 
1 EIS, and will incorporate by reference the data and evaluations 
included in the Tier 1 EIS. The Tier 2 NEPA evaluations will 
concentrate on the site-specific issues and alternatives relevant to 
implementing component projects of the selected Tier 1 alternative; and 
identify the environmental consequences and measures necessary to 
mitigate environmental impacts at a site-specific level of detail.
    Study Area: The Chicago to Omaha corridor extends from Chicago 
Union Station, in downtown Chicago, Illinois on the east to a terminal 
in Omaha, Nebraska on the west. The study area consists of the five 
previously established passenger rail routes between Chicago and Omaha 
that pass through the states of Illinois and Iowa. Each route is 
approximately 500 miles long. In Illinois, the study area runs 
generally west from Chicago Union Station, which is the hub for the 
Midwest Regional Rail Initiative (MWRRI) to the Mississippi River and, 
depending on the route, is a distance of between 150 and 250 miles. In 
Iowa, the study area runs west from the Mississippi River across the 
entire state to the Missouri River, a distance of approximately 300 
miles. The study area terminates in Omaha, which is located at the 
Missouri River, the eastern border of the state of Nebraska. The 
location for the terminal in Omaha will be identified as part of the 
Tier 1 EIS.
    The five previously established passenger rail routes are numbered 
from north to south. For each route, the counties that are traversed in 
Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska are listed east to west, as follows:
    <bullet> Route 1, Illinois Central: Canadian National Railway via 
Rockford, Illinois, and Dubuque, Waterloo, and Fort Dodge, Iowa through 
Cook, DuPage, Kane, DeKalb, Boone, Winnebago, Stephenson, and Jo 
Daviess counties, Illinois; Dubuque, Delaware, Buchanan, Black Hawk, 
Butler, Franklin, Hardin, Hamilton, Webster, Calhoun, Sac, Crawford, 
Harrison, and Pottawattamie counties, Iowa; and Douglas County, 
Nebraska.
    <bullet> Route 2, Chicago and North Western: Union Pacific Railroad 
via Clinton, Cedar Rapids, and Ames, Iowa through Cook, DuPage, Kane, 
DeKalb, Ogle, Lee, and Whiteside counties, Illinois; Clinton, Cedar, 
Linn, Benton, Tama, Marshall, Story, Boone, Greene, Carroll, Crawford, 
Harrison, and Pottawattamie counties, Iowa; and Douglas County, 
Nebraska.
    <bullet> Route 3, Milwaukee Road: Canadian Pacific Railroad from 
Chicago to Sabula, Iowa, and Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) 
Railway from Bayard, Iowa, to Omaha, and abandoned except for several 
small stubs in between through Cook, DuPage, Kane, DeKalb, Ogle, and 
Carroll counties, Illinois; Jackson, Clinton, Jones, Linn, Benton, 
Tama, Marshall, Story, Boone, Dallas, Guthrie, Carroll, Crawford, 
Shelby, Harrison, and Pottawattamie counties, Iowa; and Douglas County, 
Nebraska.
    <bullet> Route 4, Rock Island: CSX Transportation from Chicago to 
Utica, Illinois, and Iowa Interstate Railroad via Moline, Illinois, and 
Iowa City and Des Moines, Iowa through Cook, Will, Grundy, La Salle, 
Bureau, Henry, and Rock Island counties, Illinois; Scott, Muscatine, 
Cedar, Johnson, Iowa, Poweshiek, Jasper, Polk, Dallas, Madison, 
Guthrie, Adair, Cass, Pottawattamie counties, Iowa; and Douglas County, 
Nebraska.
    <bullet> Route 5, Burlington: BNSF Railway via Galesburg, Illinois, 
and Burlington and Ottumwa, Iowa through Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, 
DeKalb, La Salle, Bureau, Henry, Knox, Warren, and Henderson counties, 
Illinois; Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Wapello, Monroe, Lucas, Clarke, 
Union, Adams, Montgomery, Mills, and Pottawattamie counties, Iowa; and 
Douglas County, Nebraska.
    Purpose and Need: The Chicago to Omaha Regional Passenger Rail 
System would provide a competitive passenger rail transportation option 
between Chicago and Omaha to help meet current and future demand for 
travel in the study area. The proposed action would create a 
competitive rail transportation alternative to automobile, bus, and air 
service and would meet the need for a rail travel option by:
    <bullet> Decreasing travel times
    <bullet> Increasing frequency of service
    <bullet> Improving service reliability
    <bullet> Providing safe and efficient service
    <bullet> Providing amenities to improve passenger ride quality and 
comfort
    <bullet> Promoting environmental benefits: reduced air pollutant 
emissions, improved land use options, and fewer adverse impacts to 
surrounding habitat and water resources
    The need for the proposed improvements in the study area stems from 
travel demand and increasing congestion, resulting from population 
growth and changing demographics along the corridor from Chicago, 
Illinois to Omaha, Nebraska as well as the lack of competitive and 
attractive travel alternatives to highway and air transportation.
    Midwest Regional Rail Inititive (MWRRI): The MWRRI is a 
cooperative, multi-agency effort that began in 1996 and involves nine 
Midwest states (Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, 
Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin) as well as the FRA. MWRRI elements 
include: Use of 3,000 miles of existing rail right of way to connect 
rural and urban areas; operation of a hub and spoke passenger rail 
system; introduction of modern, high-speed trains operating at speeds 
up to 110 mph; and multi-modal connections to improve system access. 
The goal of the MWRRI is to develop a passenger rail system that offers 
business and leisure travelers shorter travel times, additional train 
frequencies, and connections between urban centers and smaller 
communities. The proposed EIS will evaluate one aim of the MWRRI ``to 
meet current and future regional travel needs through significant 
improvements to the level and quality of passenger rail service'' 
(Transportation Economics & Management Systems, Inc., September 2004).
    Alternatives to be Considered: The Tier 1 EIS will evaluate 
preliminary alternatives including a No-Build Alternative and various 
Build Alternatives. The No-Build Alternative is defined to serve as the 
baseline for comparison of all alternatives. The No-Build Alternative 
represents the transportation system as it exists, and as it will exist 
after completion of programs or projects currently funded or being 
implemented. The No-Build Alternative will draw upon the State 
Transportation Improvement Program and existing freight and passenger 
rail plans.
    The Tier 1 EIS will assess environmental and related impacts for a 
range of reasonable Build Alternatives. The Build Alternatives are 
corridor-level route alternatives between Chicago, Illinois and Omaha, 
Nebraska for a conventional locomotive-hauled, passenger train service, 
operating on track used jointly with freight trains, at an initial 
maximum speed of seventy-nine (79) to ninety (90) miles per hour (mph), 
and infrastructure improvements to support the additional passenger 
trains. Several route alternatives were identified for the Tier 1 EIS 
based on

[[Page 15452]]

review of previous studies. In addition, the Tier 1 EIS will consider 
ideas or concepts that are suggested by resource agencies or the public 
during the scoping process. Potential route alternatives for the 
corridor were identified by the MWRRI and the Iowa DOT 10 Year 
Strategic Passenger-Rail Plan. The previously established primary 
passenger rail routes are the Illinois Central, Chicago & North 
Western, Milwaukee Road, Rock Island, and Burlington and are nominally 
oriented from north to south and east to west. The MWRRI considered 
these five routes as well as a combination of the Rock Island and 
Burlington routes to provide a different approach into Chicago, 
Illinois. Tier 2 component projects will also be identified during the 
Tier 1 EIS process. Tier 2 project component assessments will 
incorporate by reference the data and evaluations included in the Tier 
1 EIS.
    Possible Effects: The FRA and Iowa DOT will evaluate direct, 
indirect and cumulative changes to the social, economic, and physical 
environment, including land use and socioeconomic conditions, ecology, 
water resources, historic and archaeological resources, visual 
character and aesthetics, contaminated and hazardous materials, 
transportation, air quality, noise and vibration. Potential for 
disproportionate and adverse impacts to environmental justice 
communities will be examined for all alternatives, and accommodations 
made for limited English proficiency and Title VI requirements. The 
evaluation will take into account both beneficial and adverse affects 
and identify measures to avoid, minimize, and mitigate adverse 
community and environmental impacts. The analysis will be undertaken 
consistent with NEPA, CEQ regulations, Section 106 of the National 
Historic Preservation Act, the Endangered Species Act, Clean Air Act, 
Clean Water Act, FRA's Environmental Procedures, Iowa DOT guidance, and 
Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966, along 
with other applicable Federal and state regulations.
    Scoping Process: The FRA and Iowa DOT are inviting comments and 
suggestions regarding the scope of the Tier 1 EIS from all interested 
parties, to ensure that all issues are addressed related to this 
proposal and any significant impacts are identified. Comments or 
questions concerning the proposed action and the Tier 1 EIS should be 
directed to the Iowa DOT at the address above. Letters describing the 
proposed action and soliciting comments will be sent to the appropriate 
Federal, State and local agencies, Native American tribes and to 
private organizations who might have previously expressed or who are 
known to have an interest in this proposal. Federal agencies with 
jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to potential 
environmental issues will be requested to act as a Cooperating Agency 
in accordance with 40 CFR 1501.6.
    Iowa DOT will lead the outreach activities, beginning with the 
online scoping meeting described above in DATES. Public involvement 
initiatives, including public meetings, newsletters, and outreach will 
be held throughout the course of this study. Opportunities for public 
participation will be announced through mailings, notices, 
advertisements, press releases and a project Web site: http://www.iowadot.gov/chicagotoomaha.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 12, 2012.
Paul Nissenbaum,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Policy and Development, Federal 
Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-6304 Filed 3-14-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P