[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 165 (Tuesday, August 25, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52409-52410]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-18603]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Notice of Final Agency Actions on Proposed Railroad Project in 
California, on Behalf of the California High-Speed Rail Authority

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

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FRA, on behalf of the California High-Speed Rail Authority 
(Authority), is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by the 
Authority that are final. By this notice, the FRA is advising the 
public of the time limit to file a claim seeking judicial review of the 
actions. The actions relate to a proposed railroad project, the 
California High-Speed Rail Project Fresno to Bakersfield Section: 
Locally Generated Alternative in Kern County, California. The Fresno to 
Bakersfield Locally Generated Alternative (F-B LGA) provides an 
alternative alignment for a 23.13-mile segment of the Fresno to 
Bakersfield Section between the City of Shafter and the City of 
Bakersfield. The F-B LGA station will be located at the intersection of 
State Route (SR) 204 and F Street in Bakersfield. A maintenance of 
infrastructure facility will be located along the F-B LGA in northern 
Shafter between Poplar Avenue and Fresno Avenue. These actions grant 
approvals for project implementation pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

DATES: A claim seeking judicial review of the agency actions on the 
railroad project will be barred unless the claim is filed August 25, 
2022. If Federal law authorizes judicial review of a claim that 
provides a time period of less than two-years for filing such claim, 
then that shorter time period applies.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    For the Authority: Dan McKell, NEPA Assignment Manager, 
Environmental Services, California High-Speed Rail Authority, 
(telephone: 916-324-1541; email: dan.mckell@hsr.ca.gov).
    For FRA: Stephanie Perez-Arrieta, Lead Environmental Protection 
Specialist, Federal Railroad Administration, (telephone: 202-493-0388; 
email: s.perez-arrieta@dot.gov).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Effective July 23, 2019, FRA assigned, and 
the State of California acting through the Authority assumed, 
environmental responsibilities for this project pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 
327. Notice is hereby given that the Authority has taken final agency 
actions subject to 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1) by issuing approvals for the 
following railroad project in California: California High-Speed Rail 
Project Fresno to Bakersfield Section: Locally Generated Alternative.
    The purpose of the California HSR System is to provide a reliable 
high-speed electric-powered train system that links the major 
metropolitan areas of California, delivering predictable and consistent 
travel times. A further objective is to provide an interface with 
commercial airports, mass transit, and the highway network and to 
relieve capacity constraints of the existing transportation system as 
increases in intercity travel demand in California occur, in a manner 
sensitive to and protective of California's unique natural resources. 
For the portion of the Fresno to Bakersfield Section from just north of 
Poplar Avenue to and including the F Street Station (specifically to 
the intersection of 34th Street and L Street in Bakersfield), the 
Authority approves the F-B LGA and the F Street Station. As part of the 
California HSR System, the F-B LGA will provide the public with 
electric-powered HSR service that provides predictable and consistent 
travel times between major urban centers and connectivity to airports, 
mass transit, and the highway network in the south San Joaquin Valley, 
and that connects the northern and southern portions of the system. The 
F-B LGA supports the purpose and need of the Project. The Authority has 
selected this alternative and corresponding station because: (1) It 
best satisfies the Purpose, Need, and Objectives for the proposed 
action; and (2) it minimizes impacts on the natural and human 
environment by utilizing an existing transportation corridor where 
practicable and incorporating mitigation measures. Accordingly, from 
just north of Poplar Avenue to and including the F Street Station 
(specifically to the intersection of 34th Street and L Street in 
Bakersfield), the F-B LGA and the F Street Station have been selected 
and approved for project implementation. This conclusion does not 
change FRA's conclusions and decision in the 2014 ROD north of Poplar 
Avenue.
    The actions by the Authority, and the laws under which such actions 
were taken, are described in the Combined Supplemental Record of 
Decision (ROD) and Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement 
(Final Supplemental EIS) on the Locally Generated Alternative of the 
Fresno to Bakersfield Project Section (F-B) of the California High-
Speed Rail Project, approved on October 31, 2019. The Combined 
Supplemental ROD and Final Supplemental EIS and other documents are 
available online in PDF format at the Authority website: www.hsr.ca.gov 
and on CD-ROM by calling (916) 324-1541.
    The notice applies to all Federal agency decisions as of the 
issuance date of this notice and all laws under which such actions were 
taken, including but not limited to:
    1. Council on Environmental Quality regulations;
    2. NEPA;
    3. Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act);
    4. Department of Transportation Act of 1966, Section 4(f);
    5. Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Act of 1965, Section 
6(f);

[[Page 52410]]

    6. Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990;
    7. Clean Water Act of 1977 and 1987;
    8. Endangered Species Act of 1973;
    9. Migratory Bird Treaty Act;
    10. National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended;
    11. Executive Order 11990, Protection of Wetlands;
    12. Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management;
    13. Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental 
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations; and
    14. Executive Order 13112, Invasive Species.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
Jamie P. Rennert,
Director, Office of Program Delivery.
[FR Doc. 2020-18603 Filed 8-24-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


