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Environmental Impact Statement; Knox County, City of Vincennes, Indiana and Lawrence County, IL

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

 [Federal Register: March 15, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 50)]
[Notices]
[Page 12249-12250]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15mr07-121]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration

Environmental Impact Statement; Knox County, City of Vincennes,
Indiana and Lawrence County, IL

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is issuing this
notice to advise the public that FHWA will prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for the relocation of railroad lines in Knox
County, Indiana and Lawrence County, Illinois. The proposed rail
relocation study will involve the relocation of the two CSX Transportation
(CSXT) railroad mainline tracks, the north-south mainline and the
east-west mainline that traverses through the City of Vincennes and
portions of Knox County, Indiana and Lawrence County Illinois.

DATES: Comments on the scope of the EIS for the proposed project should
be forwarded no later than April 16, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Address all comments concerning this notice to Brock Hoegh,
Project Planner, HNTB Indiana, Inc., 111 Monument Circle, Suite 1200,
Indianapolis, IN 46204, Telephone: (317) 636-4682, E-mail: 
bhoegh@hntb.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Heil, Environmental Specialist,
Federal Highway Administration, Telephone: (317) 226-7480; or Frank
Litherland, INDOT Project Manager, Telephone 812-882-8364.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Indiana
Department of Transportation (INDOT) and the Illinois Department of
Transportation (IDOT), will prepare an EIS to evaluate alternative
alignments for the relocation of the two CSXT railroad mainline tracks,
the north-south mainline and the east-west mainline that traverses
through the City of Vincennes and portions of Knox County, Indiana and
Lawrence County, Illinois. The north-south mainline is CSXT's main
route from Chicago to points south and southeast. The east-west
mainline is one of CSXT's routes to St. Louis. The east-west mainline
extends from Cincinnati to St. Louis. The two mainlines cross just
north of downtown. The majority of the train traffic travels on the
north-south CSXT mainline and consists of approximately 50 trains per
day. The east-west mainline has approximately 15 trains

[[Page 12250]]

per day. The relocation of the north-south mainline will require the
construction of a new corridor approximately 10 to 13 miles in length
depending on the alignment alternative. The east-west corridor may be
approximately 8 to 9 miles in length. The relocation of the railroad
corridors would eliminate at least 47 grade crossings. The relocated
rail corridors would be entirely grade separated.
    The numerous grade crossings with high vehicle traffic volumes
within the city limits require the CSXT trains to reduce speed as they
pass through Vincennes. Two CSXT mainlines cross in the middle of the
city, and trains that switch between mainlines move slowly, creating
traffic backups, emergency vehicle delays, and delays in rail
operations. Frequently, train movements literally cut the city in half.
In addition, the large volumes of trains and vehicular traffic crossing
the railroad corridor increase the probability of collisions at the
crossings.
    Cooperating Agencies: The Federal Railroad Administration has
agreed to serve as a cooperating agency. No others have been yet
identified for this project.
    Environmental Issues: Possible environmental impacts include
displacement of commercial and residential properties, increased noise
in some areas, decreased noise in other areas, effects to historical
properties or archaeological sites, viewshed impacts, impacts to water
resources, wetlands, farmed wetlands, prime farmland, sensitive
biological species and habitat, land use compatibility impacts, and
impacts to agricultural lands.
    Alternatives: The EIS will consider alternatives that include: (1)
Taking no action; (2) rail relocation and reconstruction of railroad
line(s) and grade separations on new location.
    Scoping and Comment: FHWA encourages broad participation in the EIS
process and review of the resulting environmental documents. A scoping
meeting will be conducted in the City of Vincennes area at a date and
place, which will be widely publicized well in advance of the meeting.
Comments, questions, and suggestions related to the project and
potential environmental concerns are invited from all interested
agencies and the public at large to ensure that the full range of
issues related to the proposed action and all reasonable alternatives
are considered and all significant issues are identified. These
comments, questions, and suggestions should be forwarded to the address
listed above. The public is invited to participate in the scoping
process as well. Notices of availability for the Draft EIS, Final EIS,
and Record of Decision will be provided through direct mail, the
Federal Register and other media. Notification also will be sent to
Federal, State, local agencies, persons, and organizations that submit
comments or questions. Precise schedules and locations for public
meetings will be announced in the local news media. Interested individuals
and organizations may request to be included on the mailing list for the
distribution of meeting announcements and associated information.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 20.205, Highway
Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing Executive
Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on Federal
programs and activities apply to the program).

    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 23 CFR 771.123; 49 CFR 1.48.

    Issued on: March 9, 2007.
Robert F. Tally, P.E.,
Division Administrator, Indianapolis, Indiana.
[FR Doc. E7-4725 Filed 3-14-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P

 
 

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