Environmental Impact Statement, Portageville Bridge Project (Wyoming and Livingston Counties, New York)

Jonathan McDade
Federal Highway Administration
October 31, 2013

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 211 (Thursday, October 31, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65420-65421]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-25865]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement, Portageville Bridge Project 
(Wyoming and Livingston Counties, New York)

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), United States Department 
of Transportation (USDOT).

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: FHWA, as lead agency, is issuing this notice to advise the 
public that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared 
for the proposed project to provide a modern rail crossing at the 
location of the existing Portageville Bridge (also known as the 
``Portage High Bridge'') over the Genesee River in Wyoming and 
Livingston Counties, New York.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Raymond Hessinger, New York State 
Department of Transportation, 50 Wolf Road, Albany, New York 12232, 
Telephone: (518) 457-8075; or Jonathan McDade, New York Division 
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Leo W. O'Brien Federal 
Building, 7th Floor, Room 719, Clinton Avenue and North Pearl Street, 
Albany, New York 12207, Telephone: (518) 431-4127.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the New York 
State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and Norfolk Southern 
Railway Company, will prepare an EIS in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) on a proposal to construct a modern 
rail crossing of the Genesee River between Wyoming and Livingston 
Counties in New York.
    The purpose of the Project is to address the existing deficiencies 
at Norfolk Southern's Portageville Bridge (also known as the ``Portage 
High Bridge'') by providing a modern rail crossing of the Genesee River 
that is capable of carrying current industry standard freight rail 
loads, to the greatest degree possible meeting FRA Class 4 speeds, 
while reducing ongoing maintenance efforts and costs. The Project is 
needed in order for Norfolk Southern to continue safe, reliable and 
efficient rail operations on the Southern Tier route. These operations 
are critical to the economic viability and growth of the Southern Tier 
and other affected areas of New York.
    Alternatives under consideration include: The no-build alternative; 
rehabilitation or reconstruction of the existing bridge; and 
construction of a new bridge at approximately the same location or at 
another location. The NEPA documentation will consider this list of 
alternatives and evaluations conducted to date, including information 
documented in a previously-published Draft EIS prepared pursuant to the 
New York State Environmental Review Act (SEQRA). The NEPA documentation 
will also consider reasonable and feasible alternatives identified 
during scoping. The EIS will identify a preferred alternative that 
meets the Project purpose and need of the project and is considered 
feasible based on engineering, cost, and social, economic, and 
environmental considerations.
    Information describing the project, alternatives under 
consideration, and opportunities for agency and public involvement in 
the process will be sent to the appropriate Cooperating and 
Participating Agencies and to private organizations and citizens that 
have expressed an interest in this action. This information will also 
be available on the Project Web site (www.dot.ny.gov/portagevillebridge). The public and agencies will be offered an 
opportunity to comment on the Purpose and Need, range of alternatives, 
level of detail, methodologies, etc. This will be accomplished through 
public and agency outreach which will consist of: A formal public 
scoping meeting to be held in Mount Morris, New York in November 2013; 
a public hearing on the

[[Page 65421]]

Draft EIS; meetings with the applicable Cooperating and Participating 
Agencies; and meeting with Section 106 Consulting Parties including 
federally recognized Indian tribes. The Draft EIS will also be 
available for public and agency review and comment. FHWA and NYSDOT 
will provide public notification of the time and location of the 
meetings and hearings.
    The meetings will be accessible to persons with disabilities. If 
special services, such as an interpreter or sign language services, are 
needed, please contact Raymond Hessinger, New York State Department of 
Transportation.
    To ensure that a full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed and all significant issues are identified, 
comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. 
Comments or questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS 
should be directed to the FHWA or NYSDOT at the addresses provided 
above.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing 
Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on 
Federal programs and activities apply to this program.)

    Issued on October 25, 2013.
Jonathan McDade,
New York Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 2013-25865 Filed 10-30-13; 8:45 am]
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