

[Federal Register: October 2, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 190)]
[Notices]               
[Page 56122]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02oc07-96]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

 
Draft Bay Area to Central Valley High-Speed Train Programmatic 
Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement

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

ACTION: Notice of extension of draft environmental impact statement 
comment period.

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SUMMARY: On July 2, 2007, FRA approved for release and agency and 
public review the Draft Program Environmental Impact Report/
Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) for the Bay Area to Central 
Valley portion of the California High Speed Rail Authority's 
(Authority) proposed High Speed Train Program for the State of 
California. FRA is the lead federal agency on the environmental review 
in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the 
Authority is the project sponsor and lead agency for the California 
Environmental Quality Act review. In releasing the Draft Program EIR/
EIS, FRA and the Authority established a 70-day public comment period 
that was scheduled to end on September 28, 2007. The public was 
notified of the 70-day comment period through a variety of avenues, 
including newspaper publications, information included on both 
agencies' Web sites, at public hearings held throughout the affected 
area, and through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's weekly 
Federal Register publication (72 FR 39808, July 20, 2007), which noted 
the availability of the Draft Program EIR/EIS, identified as EIS No. 
20070303.
    At its September 26, 2007 board meeting, the Authority considered a 
number of public requests to extend the comment period and decided to 
accept comments until noon on October 26, 2007. FRA agrees with the 
Authority that this extension will facilitate public participation and 
is extending the comment period for NEPA purposes to October 26, 2007 
as well.

DATES: The comment period on the Draft Bay Area to Central Valley HST 
Program EIR/EIS is extended until October 26, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted to the California High-Speed Rail 
Authority, EIR/EIS Comments, 925 L Street, Suite 1425, Sacramento, CA 
95814.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information regarding the 
programmatic environmental review, please contact: Mr. Dan Leavitt, 
Deputy Director of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, 925 L 
Street, Suite 1425, Sacramento, CA 95814 (telephone 916-324-1541); or 
Mr. David Valenstein, Environmental Program Manager, Office of 
Passenger Programs, Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont 
Avenue (Mail Stop 20), Washington, DC 20590 (telephone 202-493-6368).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: More information about the proposed HST 
system, the first-tier Program EIR/EIS addressing the HST system and 
the Draft Bay Area to Central Valley HST EIS are available at http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov
.


    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 26, 2007.
Mark E. Yachmetz,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Development.
[FR Doc. 07-4854 Filed 9-27-07; 1:10 pm]

BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
