Notice of Limitation on Claims Against Elwood to Braidwood Track Construction Project

Issuing agencies

Abstract

This notice announces final environmental action taken for the Elwood to Braidwood Track Construction Project. The purpose of this notice is to advise the public of the time limit to file any claims that may challenge these decisions and other Federal permits, licenses, and approvals for the Project.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 163 (Tuesday, August 25, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 163 (Tuesday, August 25, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 54915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17260]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2026-2179]


Notice of Limitation on Claims Against Elwood to Braidwood Track 
Construction Project

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces final environmental action taken for the 
Elwood to Braidwood Track Construction Project. The purpose of this 
notice is to advise the public of the time limit to file any claims 
that may challenge these decisions and other Federal permits, licenses, 
and approvals for the Project.

DATES: A claim seeking judicial review of Federal agency actions for 
the listed rail transportation project will be barred unless the claim 
is filed on or before August 24, 2028. 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 further information related to 
this notice, please contact Kathryn Johnson, Attorney Adviser, Office 
of the Chief Counsel by email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ec878d98849e9582c2868384829f8382ac888398c28b839a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="157e74617d676c7b3b7f7a7d7b667a7b55717a613b727a63">[email&#160;protected]</span></a> or by telephone: 
202-731-0658.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is given that FRA has taken final 
agency action by issuing certain approvals for the railroad project 
listed below. The actions on the project, as well as the laws under 
which such actions were taken, are described in the documentation 
issued in connection with the project to comply with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), available at <a href="https://railroads.dot.gov/rail-network-development/environment/environmental-reviews/elwood-braidwood-track-construction">https://railroads.dot.gov/rail-network-development/environment/environmental-reviews/elwood-braidwood-track-construction</a>.
    This notice applies to all Federal agency decisions on the listed 
project as of the issuance date of this notice and all laws under which 
such actions were taken, including but not limited to, NEPA (42 U.S.C. 
4321-4375); Section 4(f) requirements (23 U.S.C. 138, 49 U.S.C. 303); 
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. 1531-1544); the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 
1251), the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 403), the Coastal 
Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451), and relevant Executive 
Orders. 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 project that is the subject of this notice 
follows:
    Project name and location: Elwood to Braidwood Track Construction 
Project, Will County, Illinois.
    Project Summary: The Federal Railroad Administration (Lead Federal 
Agency) and Illinois Department of Transportation (Project Proponent/
Sponsor) propose to implement railroad improvements between Elwood, IL 
and Braidwood, IL in accordance with the Chicago to St. Louis High-
Speed Rail Program. The project includes construction of a second 
mainline track of approximately 9.5 miles adjacent to the existing 
Union Pacific Railroad mainline track, a parallel maintenance access 
facility, grade crossing improvements, new fencing, culvert, bridge, 
signal, and related work.
    In the 2010 Omnibus Appropriations Act, Congress provided IDOT 
funding to support preliminary engineering for the Elwood to Braidwood 
Track Construction Project, among other improvements on the Chicago to 
St. Louis corridor. At this time, no federal funding has been awarded 
for final design or construction of the Elwood to Braidwood Track 
Construction Project.
    In July 2025, FRA and IDOT released an Environmental Assessment 
(EA) for the Elwood to Braidwood Track Construction Project to evaluate 
potential impacts to the human and natural environment, in accordance 
with NEPA. FRA was the lead Federal agency for the NEPA process. FRA 
released the EA for public review and comment July 9, 2025 through 
August 15, 2025. IDOT hosted an open house/public hearing on August 7, 
2025. FRA considered all comments before issuing a FONSI.
    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 24201(a)(4) and 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1).

    Issued in Washington, DC.
Marlys Ann Osterhues,
Director, Environmental Program Management.
[FR Doc. 2026-17260 Filed 8-24-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


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