Notice2023-15251
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Operations and Maintenance Facility South Project, King County, Washington
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Published
July 19, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Transit Administration
Abstract
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), as lead Federal agency, and the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (Sound Transit), as local project sponsor and joint lead agency, intend to prepare an EIS pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to evaluate the benefits and impacts of the proposed Operations and Maintenance Facility (OMF) South project in King County, Washington.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 137 (Wednesday, July 19, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 19, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46371-46373]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15251]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Operations and Maintenance Facility South Project, King County,
Washington
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement
(EIS).
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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), as lead Federal
agency, and the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (Sound
Transit), as local project sponsor and joint lead agency, intend to
prepare an EIS pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
to evaluate the benefits and impacts of the proposed Operations and
Maintenance Facility (OMF) South project in King County, Washington.
DATES: Comments should be submitted by August 18, 2023. FTA will
consider comments received after that date to the extent practicable.
FTA will consider all comments received during this NEPA scoping period
and those previously submitted during the Washington State
Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) scoping process. Commenters who
previously provided SEPA scoping comments do not need to resubmit those
same comments for consideration under NEPA, but may elect to do so.
ADDRESSES: Comments related to the NEPA review of this project must be
sent to: OMF South Project, (c/o Erin Green, South Corridor
Environmental Manager) Sound Transit, 401 S Jackson Street, Seattle, WA
98104-2826, or by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ace3e1eaffc3d9d8c4ffcfc3dcc5c2cbecdfc3d9c2c8d8decdc2dfc5d882c3decb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fdb2b0bbae92888995ae9e928d94939abd8e92889399898f9c938e9489d3928f9a">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For FTA: Justin Zweifel, FTA
Environmental Protection Specialist, (206) 220-7538 or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9fd5eaecebf6f1b1c5e8faf6f9faf3dffbf0ebb1f8f0e9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b9f3cccacdd0d797e3cedcd0dfdcd5f9ddd6cd97ded6cf">[email protected]</span></a>. For Sound Transit: Erin Green, Sound Transit
Environmental Manager, South Corridor, (206) 398-5464 or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cf8abda6a1e188bdaaaaa18fbca0baa1abbbbdaea1bca6bbe1a0bda8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0d487f6463234a7f6868634d7e62786369797f6c637e647923627f6a">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background. In 2016, voters approved funding for Sound Transit 3
(ST3), Sound Transit's regional system plan that includes 62 new miles
of light rail that would contribute to a 116-mile regional system in
King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties. The OMF South project would
provide a facility in the South Corridor of the system to receive,
test, commission, store, maintain, and
[[Page 46372]]
deploy vehicles for the system-wide light rail expansion. The project
would support the addition of light rail vehicles (LRVs) as part of the
ST3 system expansion by providing needed maintenance and storage
capacity.
FTA has determined that the project will be evaluated as a major
project as defined in 23 U.S.C. 139(a)(7). FTA and Sound Transit (the
Agencies) will prepare the EIS in accordance with NEPA, FTA
environmental regulations, and SEPA. Sound Transit has evaluated
alternatives and environmental impacts and has proposed mitigation
measures in a 2021 SEPA Draft EIS. In anticipation of federalizing the
project, Sound Transit considered the relevant Federal statutes that
are required for NEPA compliance, and the SEPA Draft EIS included
environmental analysis in accordance with Federal statutes,
regulations, and executive orders. Sound Transit also conducted an
extensive public engagement process under SEPA, including early scoping
in 2018, an extended scoping period in 2019, and an extended Draft EIS
public comment period in 2021.
Pursuant to 23 CFR 771.111 (Early coordination, public involvement,
and project development), the information and results produced by or in
support of the transportation planning process may be incorporated into
environmental review documents in accordance with 23 U.S.C. 139(f), 40
CFR 1500-1508, or 23 CFR 450, as applicable. Pursuant to these
provisions, Federal agencies are required to reduce duplication to the
maximum extent practicable between the evaluation of alternatives under
NEPA and the environmental review process carried out under state law.
Additionally, Federal agencies may, to the maximum extent practicable,
adopt or incorporate by reference studies, analyses, and decisions
resulting from metropolitan or statewide transportation planning under
49 U.S.C. 5303 and 5304, respectively. Consistent with these
provisions, as well as the provisions in 23 U.S.C. 139(f) and 23 CFR
450.318, FTA will incorporate or use, as appropriate, planning products
or the results from transportation planning studies, including the
purpose and need for the action, the range of reasonable alternatives,
environmental analyses, and proposed mitigation actions resulting from
metropolitan or statewide transportation planning. The Agencies will
coordinate to issue a joint NEPA Draft EIS and SEPA Supplemental Draft
EIS. After receiving and considering public comments, the Agencies will
complete a joint NEPA and SEPA Final EIS.
This Notice initiates formal scoping for the EIS under NEPA,
provides information on the nature of the proposed transit project,
invites participation in the EIS process, provides information about
the purpose and need for the proposed project, includes general
information on the range of alternatives being considered for
evaluation in the EIS, and identifies potential environmental effects
to be considered. FTA has determined that the project is sufficiently
developed to allow for meaningful public comment and requires an EIS.
The scoping period is available for the public to provide comments on
the alternatives, information, and analyses relevant to the proposed
action. Information about the proposed project is available on the
project website at <a href="https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/operations-maintenance-facility-south">https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/operations-maintenance-facility-south</a>, or by contacting the project
line at (206) 398-5453.
The Proposed Project. Sound Transit is proposing to construct a
light rail operations and maintenance facility in the South Corridor of
its Link light rail system to support the expansion of light rail
transit. The OMF South project is part of the ST3 Plan of regional
transit system investments, funding for which voters approved in the
region in 2016. The ST3 Plan is available on Sound Transit's website
at: <a href="http://www.soundtransit3.org/document-library">http://www.soundtransit3.org/document-library</a>.
Purpose of and Need for the Project. The Purpose and Need statement
establishes the basis for developing and evaluating a range of
reasonable alternatives for environmental review and assists with the
identification of a Preferred Alternative. The OMF South project
supports Sound Transit's Link light rail system expansion and the
related increase in its light rail vehicle fleet and daily operations.
The project includes measures to preserve and promote a healthy and
sustainable environment by minimizing adverse impacts to people and the
natural and built environments.
The purpose of the project is to:
<bullet> Provide a facility with the capacity to store, maintain,
and deploy vehicles associated with system-wide light rail expansion.
<bullet> Support efficient and reliable light rail service that
minimizes system operating costs.
<bullet> Support and connect efficiently to the regional system and
be technically and financially feasible to build, operate, and
maintain, consistent with Sound Transit's ST3 Plan and its Regional
Transit Long-Range Plan.
The project is needed because:
<bullet> The current regional system lacks a facility with
sufficient capacity and suitable location to support the efficient and
reliable long-term operations for system-wide light rail expansion,
including the next phase of expansion in King and Pierce counties.
<bullet> New light rail maintenance and storage capacity needs to
be available with sufficient time to accept delivery of and commission
new vehicles to meet fleet expansion needs and to store existing
vehicles while the new vehicles are tested and prepared.
Proposed Alternatives. Alternatives being evaluated include a No-
Build alternative and three build alternatives to develop an OMF in the
South Corridor of Sound Transit's Link light rail system. The no-build
alternative serves as a baseline against which to assess the impacts of
the build alternatives and includes the existing transportation system
plus the transportation improvements included in the Puget Sound
Regional Council's Transportation Improvement Program. The build
alternatives were developed through a local planning process including
a Regional Transit Long-Range Plan, a regional system plan of transit
investments (ST3), a SEPA early scoping and alternatives development
process, a SEPA scoping process, and a SEPA Draft EIS. Through that
process, Sound Transit narrowed the build alternatives from 24 to 3,
and, following the public comment period for the SEPA Draft EIS, the
Sound Transit Board identified the South 336th Street Alternative as
the preferred alternative. The three build alternatives and the no-
build alternative will continue to be evaluated under NEPA and SEPA.
Results of the local planning process and other background technical
reports are available at Sound Transit's office located at 401 S
Jackson Street, Seattle, WA 98104-2826, on the project website: <a href="https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/operations-maintenance-facility-south">https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/operations-maintenance-facility-south</a>, or by contacting the project line at (206) 398-5453.
The build alternatives include an OMF building, maintenance of way
building, Link system-wide storage building, storage tracks, parking,
training tracks, and yard areas. Each alternative also includes lead
track to allow for light rail vehicles to access the mainline tracks.
<bullet> South 336th Street Alternative: The Preferred Alternative
under the SEPA is an approximately 65-acre site in the city of Federal
Way mainly between S 336th Street and S 341st Place and between I-5 and
SR 99. It includes approximately 1.4 miles of mainline tracks
connecting it to the Federal Way Link Extension
[[Page 46373]]
terminus. These tracks would serve as future mainline for the Tacoma
Dome Link Extension (TDLE) project that would extend light rail south
to Tacoma. The Preferred Alternative also includes a test track to
prepare new vehicles for service that would run parallel and on the
east side of the mainline tracks.
<bullet> South 344th Street Alternative: The South 344th Street
Alternative is an approximately 65-acre site in the city of Federal Way
between S 336th Street and S 344th Street and between I-5 and 18th
Place S. It includes approximately 1.8 miles of mainline track
connecting it to Federal Way Link Extension terminus. These tracks
would serve as future mainline for the TDLE project that would extend
light rail south to Tacoma. The South 344th Street Alternative also
includes a test track to prepare new vehicles for service that would
run parallel and on the east side of the mainline tracks.
<bullet> Midway Landfill Alternative: The Midway Landfill
Alternative is an approximately 68-acre site in the city of Kent
between S 246th Street and S 252nd Street and between I-5 and SR 99.
Due to its location along the Federal Way Link Extension line, the
Midway Landfill does not include mainline tracks or a test track.
Summary of Expected Impacts. Areas of investigation are documented
in the OMF South SEPA Draft EIS and include transportation, land use
and consistency with applicable plans, land acquisition and
displacements, socioeconomic impacts, park and recreation resources,
historic and cultural resources, environmental justice, visual and
aesthetic qualities, air quality, noise and vibration, hazardous
materials, energy use, water resources, floodplains, and ecosystems,
including threatened and endangered species. The SEPA Draft EIS also
evaluated the impacts of short-term construction, long-term operations,
and indirect and cumulative conditions and proposed measures to avoid,
minimize, or mitigate significant adverse impacts. These environmental
impacts, considerations, and mitigation proposals (including avoidance
and minimization) will be carried forward in NEPA.
Anticipated Permits and Other Authorizations. In accordance with
FTA policy and regulations, the Agencies will comply with all Federal
environmental laws, regulations, and executive orders applicable to the
proposed project during the environmental review process. In
anticipation of federalizing the project, the SEPA Draft EIS contains
an appendix that addresses Federal requirements usually integrated with
FTA NEPA reviews, such as the National Historic Preservation Act and
Section 4(f) requirements.
The Agencies anticipate the following Federal approvals, permits,
decisions, consultations, and reviews by other agencies necessary to
implement the project:
<bullet> Environmental Protection Agency approval under Section 401
of the Clean Water Act.
<bullet> Federal Highway Administration approval of air space lease
and use of interstate right-of-way.
<bullet> U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit under Section 404 of
the Clean Water Act.
<bullet> Bonneville Power Administration NEPA decision for
reconfiguration of towers and power lines.
<bullet> Federal Highway Administration NEPA decision for air space
lease and use of right-of-way.
<bullet> U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration consultation under Section 7 of the
Endangered Species Act.
<bullet> Washington State Historic Preservation Officer
consultation under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation
Act.
<bullet> Environmental Protection Agency NEPA review under the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act.
The Agencies will prepare a Coordination Plan for agency, Tribe,
and public involvement that reflects the coordination to date and
defines next steps for the remainder of the environmental review.
Interested parties will be able to review the Coordination Plan at the
project website: <a href="https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/operations-maintenance-facility-south">https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/operations-maintenance-facility-south</a>. It will identify the project's
coordination approach and structure, detail the major milestones for
agency and public involvement, and include a list of interested Tribes
and agencies.
Schedule for Decision-Making Process and Description of the Scoping
Process. The Agencies intend to complete the EIS for the project within
two years, measured from the date of the issuance of this notice to the
date a record of decision (ROD) is signed. As described above under
Dates, FTA will accept comments on the NEPA review of the EIS through
August 18, 2023. The Environmental Protection Agency will announce the
availability of a NEPA Draft EIS in the Federal Register and via other
outlets, such as the project website (<a href="https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/operations-maintenance-facility-south">https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/operations-maintenance-facility-south</a>). The Agencies
anticipate the NEPA Draft EIS will be available for a 45-day public
comment period by Fall 2023. The Agencies will consider substantive
comments timely submitted during the public comment period and then
anticipate publishing a Final EIS by Spring 2024. The Sound Transit
Board will consider the Final EIS and comments received, and then
select the project to be built. The Agencies anticipate that all
Federal environmental authorization decisions for the construction of
the project will be completed within a reasonable period following
issuance of the ROD.
Under 23 U.S.C. 139, FTA is required to combine the Final EIS and
ROD if practicable. The Agencies have determined that a combined FEIS/
ROD is not practicable for this project because SEPA requires a waiting
period between the FEIS and decisions about the project per Washington
Administrative Code 197-11-460(5).
Request for Identification of Potential Alternatives, Information,
and Analyses. The Agencies invite all State, Tribal, local governments,
and the public to comment on potential alternatives, information, and
analyses to be considered in the EIS.
Susan Fletcher,
Acting Regional Administrator, FTA Region X.
[FR Doc. 2023-15251 Filed 7-18-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P
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