[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 77 (Friday, April 19, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17349-17350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-9227]
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[[Page 17350]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Surface Transportation Board
[Finance Docket No. 30186 (Sub No. 2)]
Tongue River Railroad Company--Construction and Operation of an
Additional Rail Line From Ashland to Decker, in Rosebud and Big Horn
Counties, Montana
The Tongue River Railroad Company (TRRC) applied to the Interstate
Commerce Commission (ICC), now the Surface Transportation Board
(Board),\1\ for authority to construct and operate a 41-mile rail line
from a point south of Ashland, MT to a point near Decker, MT. The ICC's
Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) began the environmental
analysis of this proposal, considering the potential environmental
impacts associated with TRRC's preferred route, the Four Mile Creek
Alternative, and a ``no build'' alternative. SEA completed a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (served July 17, 1992) and a
Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (served March 17,
1994).
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\1\ The ICC Termination Act of 1995, Pub. L. No. 104-88, 109
Stat. 803 (the Act), enacted December 29, 1995, and effective
January 1, 1996 abolished the Interstate Commerce Commission and
transferred certain rail proceedings to the Surface Transportation
Board (Board) if they involve functions retained by the Act. This
proceeding concerns a function, authorization of rail construction
under 49 U.S.C. 10901, that has been transferred to the Board.
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The Board's SEA has now completed the environmental review process,
and its conclusions are discussed in the Final Environmental Impact
Statement (FEIS). SEA concludes that the Four Mile Creek Alternative
would be environmentally preferable to the TRRC preferred route if the
Board grants TRRC's proposal, because it would avoid the
environmentally sensitive Tongue River Canyon. With the recommended
mitigation, construction and operation of that route should meet
applicant's project goals of providing more efficient service to coal
shippers in this area, without having an unduly severe impact on the
environment. The ``no build'' alternative, while environmentally
benign, would not meet those objectives.
Copies of the FEIS have been served on representative individuals
and agencies. Also, two copies are available for review at the Rosebud
County Library, Forsyth, MT. For additional information about the FEIS,
please contact: Elaine K. Kaiser, Chief, Section of Environmental
Analysis, or Dana White at (202) 927-6213.
Copies of the FEIS are available to all persons for a fee through
DC News and Data Inc. at (202) 289-4357, (assistance for the hearing
impaired is available through TDD services (202) 927-5721) or by pickup
from Room 2229, 1201 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20423.
Because of limited resources, we are no longer able to make additional
copies available at no cost.
Date made available to the public: April 11, 1996.
By the Surface Transportation Board, Elaine K. Kaiser, Chief,
Section of Environmental Analysis, Office of Economic and
Environmental Analysis.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-9227 Filed 4-18-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-U
