[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 91 (Thursday, May 13, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 26254]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-10110]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2021-0046]


Draft General Conformity Determination for the California High-
Speed Train System Bakersfield to Palmdale Section

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

ACTION: Notice; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: FRA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a draft 
General Conformity Determination for the Bakersfield to Palmdale 
Section of the California High-Speed Rail (HSR) System is available for 
public and agency review and comment.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 14, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Comments related to Docket No. FRA-2021-0046 may be 
submitted by going to http://www.regulations.gov and following the 
online instructions for submitting comments.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and 
docket number (FRA-2021-0046). All comments received will be posted 
without change to https://www.regulations.gov; this includes any 
personal information. Please see the Privacy Act Statement heading in 
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document for Privacy Act 
information related to any submitted comments or materials.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read the draft General 
Conformity Determination, background documents, or comments received, 
go to https://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions 
for accessing the docket.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andr[eacute]a Martin, Senior 
Environmental Protection Specialist, Office of Railroad Policy and 
Development (RPD), telephone: (202) 493-6201, email: 
Andrea.Martin@dot.gov; or Marlys Osterhues, Chief Environment and 
Project Engineering, RPD, telephone: (202) 493-0413, email: 
Marlys.Osterhues@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Privacy Act Statement: FRA will post comments it receives, without 
edit, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records 
notice, DOT/ALL-14 FDMS, accessible through www.dot.gov/privacy. To 
facilitate comment tracking and response, we encourage commenters to 
provide their name, or the name of their organization; however, 
inclusion of names is completely optional. Whether commenters identify 
themselves or not, all timely comments will be fully considered. If you 
wish to provide comments containing proprietary or confidential 
information, please contact the agency for alternate submission 
instructions.
    Background: The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) is 
advancing the environmental review of the Bakersfield to Palmdale 
Section (Project) of the California HSR System pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 
327, under which it has assumed FRA's environmental review 
responsibilities. However, under Section 327, FRA remains responsible 
for making General Conformity Determinations under the Clean Air Act. 
This draft General Conformity Determination documents FRA's evaluation 
of the Bakersfield to Palmdale Section, consistent with the relevant 
section of the Clean Air Act, and implementing regulations.
    FRA's analysis of the Project's potential emissions, completed in 
close collaboration with CHSRA, found that construction period 
emissions would exceed the General Conformity de minimis threshold for 
Nitrogen Dioxide (NOX) and volatile organic compounds (VOC), 
a precursor for ozone. However, operation of the Project would result 
in an overall reduction of regional emissions of all applicable air 
pollutants and would not cause a localized exceedance of an air quality 
standard. Conformance of the Project will be accomplished through 
offsets of the NOX and VOC emissions, consistent with 
applicable regulatory requirements.

Next Steps

    The draft General Conformity Determination for the California HSR 
System, Bakersfield to Palmdale Section is being issued for public 
review and comment for 30-days at Docket No. FRA-2021-0046. Comments 
related to Docket No. FRA-2021-0046 may be submitted by going to http://www.regulations.gov and following the online instructions for 
submitting comments. Although CHSRA is assisting FRA by disseminating 
notice of the availability of the draft General Conformity 
Determination through its usual outreach methods, CHSRA is not 
accepting comments on behalf of FRA. FRA cannot ensure consideration of 
any comment that is not submitted via http://www.regulations.gov. FRA 
will consider all relevant comments it receives before issuing a final 
General Conformity Determination.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
Jamie P. Rennert,
Director, Office of Infrastructure Investment.
[FR Doc. 2021-10110 Filed 5-12-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


