[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 225 (Friday, November 26, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67582-67583]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-25805]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2021-0100]


Draft General Conformity Determination for the California High-
Speed Rail System San Jose to Merced 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 San Jose to Merced 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 December 27, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Comments related to Docket No. FRA-2021-0100 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-2021-0100). 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.

[[Page 67583]]


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

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 San Jose to Merced 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 Project, 
consistent with the relevant section of the Clean Air Act and its 
implementing regulations.
    FRA conducted the analysis of the Project's potential emissions 
consistent with all regulatory criteria and procedures and following 
the Authority's coordination with the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), San Joaquin 
Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD), Monterey Bay Air 
Resources District (MBARD) and the California Air Resources Board. The 
draft General Conformity Determination concludes that the Project, as 
designed, conforms to the approved SIP, based on a commitment from the 
CHSRA that construction-phase NOX emissions will be offset 
consistent with the applicable federal regulations in the SFBAAB and 
SJVAB.

Next Steps

    The draft General Conformity Determination for the Project is being 
issued for public review and comment for 30-days at Docket No. FRA-
2021-0100. Comments related to Docket No. FRA-2021-0100 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. 2021-25805 Filed 11-24-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


