[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 161 (Monday, August 22, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 51474]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-17956]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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), U.S. Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: 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, FRA is advising the public of 
the time limit to file a claim seeking judicial review of the actions. 
The actions relate to the Stockton Diamond Grade Separation Project 
(Project). These actions grant approvals for project implementation 
pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other 
laws, regulations, and executive orders.

DATES: A claim seeking judicial review of the agency actions on the 
Project will be barred unless the claim is filed on or before August 
21, 2024. If Federal law later authorizes a time period of less than 2 
years for filing such claim, then that shorter time period applies.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    For the Authority: Scott Rothenberg, NEPA Assignment Manager, 
Environmental Services, California High-Speed Rail Authority, 
telephone: (916) 403-6936; email: [email protected].
    For San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) (Project Sponsor): 
Dan Leavitt, Manager of Regional Initiatives, SJRRC, telephone: (209) 
944-6266; email: [email protected].
    For FRA: Lana Lau, Supervisory Environmental Protection Specialist, 
FRA, telephone: (202) 923-5314; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Effective July 23, 2019, FRA assigned, and 
the State of California acting through the Authority assumed, 
environmental responsibilities for the California High-Speed Rail (HSR) 
System pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327.\1\ Notice is hereby given that the 
Authority has taken final agency actions subject to 23 U.S.C. 
139(l)(1); 49 U.S.C. 24201(a)(4) by issuing approvals for the Project. 
The Project Sponsor, SJRRC proposes to grade separate (via a flyover) a 
major rail intersection just south of downtown Stockton known as the 
Stockton Diamond. This intersection accommodates freight and passenger 
rail lines and is purportedly the busiest, most congested railway 
junction in California. Once completed, the grade separation is 
expected to relieve train backups, delays, vehicle/rail/bicycle and 
pedestrian conflicts, air quality impacts and increased costs, among 
other impacts. The SJRRC and the Authority have selected the Build 
Alternative (Alternative 2) identified in the Final Environmental 
Assessment (Final EA) for the Project because the Selected Alternative 
best satisfies the Purpose and Need for the Project. The actions by the 
Authority, and the laws under which such actions were taken, are 
described in the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Final EA 
for the Project, approved on July 28, 2022. The FONSI, Final EA, and 
other documents are available online in PDF at SJRRC's website 
(stocktondiamond.com/resources) or by calling (209) 235-0133 or 
emailing [email protected]. A printed copy of these documents is 
available at the Authority's office in Sacramento. The notice applies 
to the FONSI, Final EA, and all other Federal agency decisions with 
respect to the Project as of the issuance date of this notice and all 
laws under which such actions were taken, including but not limited to:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Consistent with the Memorandum of Understanding between the 
Authority and FRA, which assigns FRA's NEPA responsibilities to the 
Authority, the Authority has assumed NEPA responsibilities for the 
ACEforward Project within the Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) 
System. The ACEforward Project is a phased passenger rail 
improvement program to reduce travel time and improve service 
reliability and passenger facilities along the existing Stockton to 
San Jose rail corridor. Long-term SJRRC goals for the ACE System 
include a suite of projects, such as the Stockton Diamond Grade 
Separation Project, that can connect an improved ACE service within 
the future California High-Speed Rail System Phase 2 extension to 
Sacramento.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    1. NEPA;
    2. Council on Environmental Quality regulations;
    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);
    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 Infrastructure Investment.
[FR Doc. 2022-17956 Filed 8-19-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


