Notice2021-16143
Notice of Availability of a Final General Conformity Determination for the California High-Speed Rail System, Bakersfield to Palmdale Section
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
July 29, 2021
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Railroad Administration
Abstract
FRA is issuing this notice to advise the public that it is issuing a Final General Conformity Determination (FCD) for the Bakersfield to Palmdale Section of the California High-Speed Rail (HSR) System.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 143 (Thursday, July 29, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 143 (Thursday, July 29, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40897-40898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16143]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2021-0046]
Notice of Availability of a Final General Conformity
Determination for the California High-Speed Rail System, Bakersfield to
Palmdale Section
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: FRA is issuing this notice to advise the public that it is
issuing a Final General Conformity Determination (FCD) for the
Bakersfield to Palmdale Section of the California High-Speed Rail (HSR)
System.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andr[eacute]a Martin, Senior
Environmental Protection Specialist, Office of Railroad Policy and
Development (RPD), telephone: (202) 493-6201, email:
[[Page 40898]]
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3a7b545e485f5b14775b484e53547a5e554e145d554c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6e2f000a1c0b0f40230f1c1a07002e0a011a40090118">[email protected]</span></a>; or Marlys Osterhues, Chief Environment and
Project Engineering, RPD, telephone: (202) 493-0413, email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0944687b65707a27467a7d6c7b617c6c7a496d667d276e667f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8bc6eaf9e7f2f8a5c4f8ffeef9e3feeef8cbefe4ffa5ece4fd">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327 (Section 327), the
California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA or Authority) has assumed
FRA's environmental review responsibilities under the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). However, under
Section 327, FRA remains responsible for compliance with the Clean Air
Act General Conformity requirements. In compliance with NEPA and the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Authority published a
Final Environmental Impact Record/Final Environmental Impact Statement
(EIR/EIS) for the Bakersfield to Palmdale Section of the California
High-Speed Rail (HSR) System on June 25, 2021. The Final EIR/EIS is
available at <a href="https://hsr.ca.gov/programs/environmental-planning/project-section-environmental-documents-tier-2/bakersfield-to-palmdale-draft-environmental-impact-report-environmental-impact-">https://hsr.ca.gov/programs/environmental-planning/project-section-environmental-documents-tier-2/bakersfield-to-palmdale-draft-environmental-impact-report-environmental-impact-</a> statement/.
FRA prepared a Draft General Conformity Determination, pursuant to
40 CFR part 93, subpart B, which establishes the process for complying
with the General Conformity requirements of the Clean Air Act. FRA
published a notice in the Federal Register on May 13, 2021 advising the
public of the availability of the Draft Conformity Determination for a
30-day review and comment period. The Draft Conformity Determination
was published at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>, Docket No. FRA-2021-0046.
The comment period of the Draft Conformity Determination closed on June
14, 2021. FRA received one comment regarding Coccidioides immitis, or
more commonly known as the Valley Fever fungus, and a letter of support
from the San Joaquin Valley Air District. Both letters were responded
to in the Final EIR/EIS and in the Final General Conformity
Determination.
The Final General Conformity Determination was prepared in
coordination with the Authority, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), California Air Resources Board, San Joaquin Valley Unified Air
Pollution Control District, and Eastern Kern, and Antelope Valley Air
Quality Management Districts. The analysis found that construction
period emissions would exceed the General Conformity de minimis
threshold for Nitrogen Oxides (NO<INF>X</INF>) and volatile organic
compounds (VOC), a precursor for ozone. However, operation of the
Project would result in an overall reduction of regional emissions of
all applicable air pollutants and would not cause a localized
exceedance of an air quality standard. Since the Project will result in
the exceedance of the de minimis thresholds for the precursor criteria
pollutants listed above during the construction phase, Project
conformity with the applicable emission standards will be accomplished
through offsets of the NO<INF>X</INF> and VOC emissions, consistent
with applicable regulatory requirements.
The Final General Conformity Determination is available at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>, Docket No. FRA-2021-0046, and FRA's website at
<a href="https://railroads.dot.gov/environment/environmental-reviews/clean-air-act-california-general-conformity-determinations">https://railroads.dot.gov/environment/environmental-reviews/clean-air-act-california-general-conformity-determinations</a>.
Issued in Washington, DC.
Jamie P. Rennert,
Director, Office of Infrastructure Investment.
[FR Doc. 2021-16143 Filed 7-28-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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