Notice2024-06960
Draft General Conformity Determination for the California High-Speed Rail System Palmdale to Burbank Section
Primary source
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Published
April 2, 2024
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Railroad Administration
Abstract
FRA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a draft General Conformity Determination for the Palmdale to Burbank Section of the California High-Speed Rail (HSR) System is available for public and agency review and comment.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 64 (Tuesday, April 2, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 2, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22766-22767]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-06960]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2024-0045]
Draft General Conformity Determination for the California High-
Speed Rail System Palmdale to Burbank Section
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice; request for comment.
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SUMMARY: FRA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a draft
General Conformity Determination for the Palmdale to Burbank Section of
the California High-Speed Rail (HSR) System is available for public and
agency review and comment.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 2, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Comments related to Docket No. FRA-2024-0045 may be
submitted by going to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and following the
online instructions for submitting comments.
Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and
docket number (FRA-2024-0045). All comments received will be posted
without change to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>; this includes any
personal information. Please see the Privacy Act Statement heading in
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document for Privacy Act
information related to any submitted comments or materials.
Docket: For access to the docket to read the draft General
Conformity Determination, background documents, or comments received,
go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and follow the online instructions
for accessing the docket.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lana Lau, Supervisory Environmental
Protection Specialist, Office of Environmental Program Management, RRD,
telephone: (202) 923-5314, email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fbb79a959ad5b79a8ebb9f948fd59c948d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0b476a656a25476a7e4b6f647f256c647d">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Privacy Act Statement: FRA will post comments it receives, without
edit, to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>, as described in the system of records
notice, DOT/ALL-14 FDMS, accessible through <a href="http://www.dot.gov/privacy">www.dot.gov/privacy</a>. To
facilitate comment tracking and response, we encourage commenters to
provide their name, or the name of their organization; however,
inclusion of names is completely optional. Whether commenters identify
themselves or not, all timely comments will be fully considered. If you
wish to provide comments containing proprietary or confidential
information, please contact the agency for alternate submission
instructions.
Background: The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) is
advancing the environmental review of the Palmdale to Burbank (Project)
of the California HSR System pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327, under which it
has assumed FRA's environmental review responsibilities. However, under
section 327, FRA remains responsible for making General Conformity
Determinations under the Clean Air Act. This draft General Conformity
Determination documents FRA's evaluation of the Project, consistent
with the relevant sections of the Clean Air Act and its implementing
regulations.
FRA conducted the analysis of the Project's potential emissions
consistent with all regulatory criteria and procedures and after
coordination with CHSRA. FRA's analysis and CHSRA's coordination with
relevant entities supports a proposed finding that Project-generated,
construction-phase emissions for Nitrogen Dioxide (NO<INF>X</INF>) and
Carbon Monoxide (CO) will be in excess of the General Conformity de
minimis threshold in certain calendar years. However, CHSRA proposes to
offset its construction-phase NO<INF>X</INF> exceedances to achieve
conformance, consistent with applicable regulatory
[[Page 22767]]
requirements in the Statewide Implementation Plan (SIP) for the South
Coast Air Basin. In addition, the Project's emissions can be
accommodated in the SIP, based on localized CO modeling showing that
construction-phase CO emissions will not result in an exceedance of the
NAAQS. Operation of the Project is expected to result in an overall
reduction of regional emissions of all applicable air pollutants and
would not cause a localized exceedance of the applicable regulatory
requirements. FRA concludes that the Project, as designed, will conform
to the SIP, based on a commitment from the CHSRA that construction-
phase NO<INF>X</INF> emissions will be offset consistent with the
applicable federal regulations in the South Coast Air Basin, and based
on localized CO modeling, which demonstrates that construction-phase CO
emissions will not cause or contribute to a violation of the NAAQS.
Next Steps: The draft General Conformity Determination for the
Project is being issued for public review and comment for 30 days at
Docket No. FRA-2024-0045. Comments related to Docket No. FRA-2024-0045
may be submitted by going to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and following
the online instructions for submitting comments. Although CHSRA is
assisting FRA by disseminating notice of the availability of the draft
General Conformity Determination through its usual outreach methods,
CHSRA is not accepting comments on behalf of FRA. FRA cannot ensure
consideration of any comment that is not submitted via <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. FRA will consider all relevant comments it
receives before issuing a Final General Conformity Determination.
Issued in Washington, DC.
Marlys Ann Osterhues,
Director, Office of Environmental Program Management.
[FR Doc. 2024-06960 Filed 4-1-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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