The Surface Transportation Board announced today that its Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) has issued the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the R. J. Corman Railroad Company/Pennsylvania Lines Inc. (RJCP) proposed construction, operation, and reactivation of a 20-mile railroad line between Wallaceton and Gorton, in Clearfield and Centre Counties, Pennsylvania.
The Draft EIS analyzes environmental impacts that might occur if RJCP were to construct and operate the line, sets forth various alternatives to RJCP's proposal, and recommends mitigation measures that include RJCP's proposed, voluntary mitigation and SEA-developed mitigation. Two cooperating agencies, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers—Baltimore District and the Federal Highway Administration—Pennsylvania Division assisted SEA in the preparation of the Draft EIS.
SEA and the cooperating agencies invite written comment from the public on all aspects of the Draft EIS and are providing a 60-day public comment period. Comments on the Draft EIS must be postmarked by September 28, 2010. Instructions on how to submit comments, and the date, time, and location of a forthcoming public meeting are attached in a separate Fact Sheet.
After the close of the public comment period on the Draft EIS, SEA and the cooperating agencies will prepare a Final EIS in response to comments received on the Draft EIS. The Board will then issue a final decision based on the entire public record, including the record on the transportation merits of the proposal, the Draft EIS, the Final EIS, and all public and agency comments received. The Board will decide whether to approve the proposal, deny it, or approve it with mitigating conditions, including environmental conditions. The cooperating agencies also may issue separate decisions related to the proposal.
The Draft EIS was issued today in the proceeding titled R. J. Corman Railroad Company/Pennsylvania Lines Inc.—Construction and Operation Exemption—In Clearfield County, PA, Docket No. FD 35116. The Draft EIS is available for viewing and downloading via the Board's Website, at http://www.stb.dot.gov, under "E-LIBRARY" on the home page, then under "Decisions & Notices," beneath the date "07/23/10." The Draft EIS also is available under "ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS" on the home page, then under "Key Cases."
A Fact Sheet is attached.
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FACT SHEET
R. J. Corman Railroad Company/Pennsylvania Lines Inc.—Construction and Operation Exemption—In Clearfield County, PA, Docket No. FD 35116
The Surface Transportation Board's Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) is implementing a public and agency outreach effort to ensure that the public, governmental agencies, and communities have the opportunity to actively participate and comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and the Board's environmental review process in Docket No. FD 35116. Comments on the Draft EIS must be received or postmarked by September 28, 2010.
On September 14, 2010, SEA and the cooperating agencies will host a public meeting in the proposed project area to receive public comments on the Draft EIS. At the beginning of the meeting, SEA will give a brief overview of the environmental review process, invite interested parties to make oral comments in an orderly fashion, and provide a court reporter to record the comments. Written comments can also be submitted during the meeting. Specific meeting location, date, and time information is as follows:
Philipsburg-Osceola Area Senior High School
502 Philips Street
Philipsburg, PA 16866
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
6-9 P.M.
Written comments: Comment forms will be provided at the public meeting and will be accepted there, or the forms can be submitted later by mail. Comment forms or written letters must be mailed to:
Danielle Gosselin
Section of Environmental Analysis
Environmental Filing FD 35116
Surface Transportation Board
395 E Street S.W.
Washington, DC 20423-0001
Recorded comments: A court reporter will be at the public meetings to transcribe the oral comments.
Electronic comments: Comments may be filed electronically via the Board's Web site, at www.stb.dot.gov, by clicking "E-FILING" on the home page. When the "Welcome" page appears, click the "Environmental Comments" link at the center-right of the page (a Login Account is not required). Please refer to "Docket No. FD 35116" when filing.
Library distribution: SEA also has distributed the Draft EIS to the libraries listed below and requested that the entire Draft EIS be made publicly available in the libraries' reference section.
Clearfield County Public Library
601 Beech Street
Curwensville, PA 16833
Osceola Mills Public Library
600 Lingle Street
Osceola Mills, PA 16666
Shaw Public Library
100 South Front Street
Clearfield, PA 16830
Centre County Public Library
200 North Allegheny Street
Bellefonte, PA 16823
Holt Memorial Library
9 West Pine Street
Philipsburg, PA 16866
Deadline: All electronic and written comments must be received or postmarked September 28, 2010.
All comments received—written, e-filed, or transcribed—will carry equal weight in helping SEA complete the EIS process and aid the Board in its decisionmaking on this matter.
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