98-19915. Environmental Impact Statement: FRA Regulation of the Use of Locomotive Horns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings Nationwide (FRA Docket No. RSGC-7)

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 143 (Monday, July 27, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40151-40152]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19915]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: FRA Regulation of the Use of 
Locomotive Horns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings Nationwide (FRA Docket 
No. RSGC-7)

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

ACTION: Notice of Extension of Comment Period.

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SUMMARY: FRA is issuing this notice to advise the public that the 
comment period for identifying the scope of FRA's planned environmental 
impact statement (EIS) on a proposed regulation related to the use of 
locomotive horns at highway-rail grade crossings is extended to August 
7, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Valenstein, Environmental 
Specialist, Office of Railroad Development, Federal Railroad 
Administration (RDV 13), 400 Seventh Street, SW (Mail Stop 20), 
Washington, D.C. 20590, (telephone [phone]).

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

Background

    On May 26, 1998, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) 
published a notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact 
statement for the proposed regulation of the use of locomotive horns at 
rail-highway grade crossings, as required by Section 20153 to title 49 
United States Code, (63 Fed. Reg. 28549). Comments on the scope of the 
environmental document were requested by June 19, 1998. The FRA is 
extending the period in which comments will be accepted to August 7, 
1998.

Scoping and Comments

    Comments and suggestions are invited from all interested agencies 
and the public at large to insure the full range of issues related to 
the proposed action and all reasonable alternatives are addressed and 
all significant issues are identified. In particular, FRA is interested 
in determining whether there are any other reasonable alternatives 
consistent with the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 20153 and whether there are 
other areas of environmental concern where there might be the potential 
for significant impacts, either adverse or favorable, as a result of 
promulgating the proposed rule. Persons interested in providing 
comments on the scope of this environmental document should do so by 
August 7, 1998. Comments can be

[[Page 40152]]

sent in writing to Mr. David Valenstein at the address identified 
above. Comments can also be sent via the Internet at: 
[email protected]

The Remaining Environmental Review Process

    Comments received on the scope and methodology to be used in 
preparation of the EIS will be reviewed by FRA to develop the final 
scope of the environmental review. A draft EIS will be made available 
to the public for comment, presently scheduled for the late fall 1998. 
It is FRA's intention that the comment period for the draft EIS will 
occur during the comment period associated with the proposed rule so 
that interested agencies and the public can combine their comments and 
that the environmental issues can be fully considered as FRA develops 
the final rule. After reviewing comments on the draft EIS, FRA will 
prepare a final EIS that addresses these comments and incorporates any 
additional analyses and material deemed necessary. The final EIS will 
be made available for public review for not less than 30 days before 
FRA takes any final action on the proposed rule.

Internet

    This notice and all subsequent documents prepared as part of this 
environmental review will be available in the environmental pages of 
the FRA internet website, located at: http://www.fra.dot.gov

    Issued in Washington, D.C. on: July 21, 1998.
James T. McQueen,
Assistant Administrator for Railroad Development.
[FR Doc. 98-19915 Filed 7-24-98; 8:45 am]
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