[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 188 (Friday, September 27, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 79334]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-22199]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Notice of Final Federal Agency Actions on Proposed Railroad 
Project in California on Behalf of the California High-Speed Rail 
Authority

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), on behalf of the 
California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority), is issuing this 
notice to announce actions taken by the Authority that are final agency 
actions. The actions relate to the California High-Speed Rail (HSR) 
Palmdale to Burbank Project Section (Project). The Project will provide 
the public with electric-powered HSR service that provides predictable 
and consistent travel times between the Antelope Valley and the San 
Fernando Valley; provide connectivity to airports, mass transit 
systems, and the highway network in the Antelope Valley and the San 
Fernando Valley; and connect the Northern and Southern portions of the 
planned statewide HSR system. These actions grant permits, approvals, 
or authorizations for the Project.

DATES: By this notice, FRA, on behalf of the Authority, is advising the 
public of final agency actions subject to 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). A claim 
seeking judicial review of the Federal agency actions for the Project 
will be barred unless the claim is filed on or before September 28, 
2026. If the Federal law that authorizes judicial review of a claim 
provides a time period of less than two years for filing such claim, 
then the shorter time period applies.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For the Authority: Stefan Galvez-
Abadia, Director of Environmental Services, California High Speed Rail 
Authority, telephone: (916) 908-1184; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0457706162656a2a63656872617e446c77762a67652a636b72"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1f4c6b7a797e7131787e73697a655f776c6d317c7e31787069">[email protected]</span></a>. 
For FRA: Lana Lau, Supervisory Environmental Protection Specialist, 
Office of Railroad Development (RRD), telephone: (202) 923-5314, email: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e0ac818e81ceac8195a0848f94ce878f96"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="79351817185735180c391d160d571e160f">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Effective July 23, 2019, and as subsequently 
renewed on July 22, 2024, FRA assigned, and the State of California, 
acting through the Authority, assumed environmental responsibilities 
for the Project pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327. Notice is hereby given that 
the Authority has taken final agency actions subject to 23 U.S.C. 
139(l)(1) and 49 U.S.C. 24201(a)(4) by issuing approvals for the 
Project. The actions on the Project, as well as the laws under which 
such actions were taken, are described in the documentation issued for 
the Project to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
and related environmental laws.
    This notice applies to all decisions on the Project as of the 
issuance date of this notice and all Federal laws under which such 
actions were taken, including but not limited to, NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 
et seq.), section 4(f) requirements (23 U.S.C. 138, 49 U.S.C. 303), 
section 6(f) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16 
U.S.C. 4601-4 et seq.), section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108), the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401-
7671q), the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the 
Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703-712), the Clean Water Act (33 
U.S.C. 1251 et seq.). This notice does not, however, alter or extend a 
shorter limitation period that may exist for challenges of project 
decisions covered by this notice.
    The purpose of the California HSR System is to provide a reliable, 
high-speed, electric-powered train system that links the major 
metropolitan areas of California, delivering predictable and consistent 
travel times. A further objective is to provide an interface with 
commercial airports, mass transit, and the highway network, and to 
relieve capacity constraints of the existing transportation system as 
increases in intercity travel demand in California occur, in a manner 
sensitive to and protective of California's unique natural resources.
    For the Project, the Authority has selected the SR14A Alternative. 
The selected alternative consists of approximately 38 miles of 
electrified, high-speed train system that will be constructed from 
Spruce Court in the City of Palmdale and extending south to Winona 
Avenue in the City of Burbank. The Project will connect the approved 
Bakersfield to Palmdale and Burbank to Los Angeles Project Sections. 
The selected alternative and the laws under which the Authority's 
actions were taken are described in the Final Environmental Impact 
Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS), published on May 24, 
2024, and in the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Project, executed on 
August 30, 2024. The Final EIR/EIS, ROD, and other documents are 
available by contacting the Authority at the addresses provided above 
or via the web at http://www.hsr.ca.gov/.
    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 24201(a)(4) and 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1).

Marlys Ann Osterhues,
Director, Office of Environmental Program Management.
[FR Doc. 2024-22199 Filed 9-26-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


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