[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 209 (Monday, October 30, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 55282]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-26843]
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INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION
[Finance Docket No. 32530]
Kansas City Southern Railway Company; Construction and Operation
Exemption; Geismar Industrial Area Near Gonzales and Sorrento, LA
The Commission's Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) notifies
all interested parties that SEA will prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) in this proceeding and conduct a public scoping
meeting, Thursday, November 30, 1995. The Kansas City Southern Railway
Company (KCS) filed a petition for exemption for authority to construct
and operate an 8.8 mile rail line from the KCS mainline near Sorrento
to the Geismar Industrial area in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. Because
of the potential for significant environmental impacts which may be
associated with the proposed construction and operation, SEA has
determined that preparation of an EIS is appropriate.
SEA will prepare a Draft EIS (DEIS) that will address the
environmental impacts associated with this proposed construction and
operation. SEA will serve the DEIS on all the parties to the proceeding
and will make it available to the public upon request. There will be a
45-day comment period from the date the DEIS is served to allow the
public opportunity to comment. After assessing all of the comments to
the DEIS, SEA will then issue a Final Environmental Impact Statement
(FEIS) that will include SEA's final recommendations to the Commission.
The Commission will consider the FEIS and the environmental record in
making its decision.
The purpose of the scoping process is to identify significant
environmental issues and determine the scope of issues SEA will address
in the DEIS. Issues typically addressed include alternatives to the
proposed action, including the no-build alternative, impacts on
transportation systems, land use, socio-economic impacts directly
related to changes in the physical environment, energy resources, air
quality, noise, public health and safety, biological resources, water
quality, historic resources, coastal zone management consistency
review, and mitigation to reduce or avoid impacts on the environment.
Anyone who cannot attend the scoping meeting may submit questions
and comments regarding environmental concerns in writing by December
30, 1995 (30 days after the date of the scoping meeting). Attendees may
also submit written comments at the scoping meeting or directly to the
Commission by December 30, 1995. SEA will hold a public scoping meeting
on the following date: Thursday, November 30, 1995, Gonzales Civic
Center, 219 South Irma Boulevard, Gonzales, LA.
SEA will begin the scoping meeting at 4:30 p.m. with a one hour
informal discussion period. At 5:30 p.m., SEA will open the formal
portion of the scoping meeting with a brief overview of the
environmental review process, and introduce the independent third party
contractors and the KCS representatives who will also make brief
presentations. At approximately 6:00 p.m., SEA will open the meeting
for questions and/or comments from the audience concerning the issues
to be addressed during the environmental review process. To allow all
interested persons the opportunity to comment on the proposal, speakers
will have up to five (5) minutes for their oral comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Dalton at (202) 927-6202 or
Elaine Kaiser at (202) 927-6248, Section of Environmental Analysis,
Room 3219, Office of Economic and Environmental Analysis, 12th and
Constitution Avenue, NW., Interstate Commerce Commission, Washington,
DC. TDD for hearing impaired: (202) 927-5721.
By the Commission, Elaine K. Kaiser, Chief, Section of
Environmental Analysis.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-26843 Filed 10-27-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7035-01-P
