STB issues draft EIS for R. J. Corman Pennsylvania line

Written by jrood

The Surface Transportation Board said its Section of Environmental Analysis has issued the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the R. J. Corman Railroad Company/Pennsylvania Lines Inc. (RJCP) proposed construction, operation, and reactivation of a 20-mile railroad line between Wallaceton and Gorton, in Clearfield and Centre Counties, Pennsylvania.

The Draft EIS analyzes environmental
impacts that might occur if RJCP were to construct and operate the line, sets
forth various alternatives to RJCP’s proposal, and recommends mitigation measures
that include RJCP’s proposed, voluntary mitigation and SEA-developed mitigation.  Two cooperating agencies, the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers-Baltimore District and the Federal Highway Administration-Pennsylvania
Division assisted SEA in the preparation of the Draft EIS.

SEA and the cooperating
agencies invite written comment from the public on all aspects of the Draft EIS
and are providing a 60-day public comment period.  Comments on the Draft EIS must be postmarked by September
28, 2010.

After the close of the
public comment period on the Draft EIS, SEA and the cooperating agencies will
prepare a Final EIS in response to comments received on the Draft EIS.  The Board will then issue a final
decision based on the entire public record, including the record on the transportation
merits of the proposal, the Draft EIS, the Final EIS and all public and agency comments
received.  The Board will decide
whether to approve the proposal, deny it, or approve it with mitigating
conditions, including environmental conditions.  The cooperating agencies also may issue separate decisions
related to the proposal.

The Draft EIS is available
for viewing and downloading via the Board’s Website, at http://www.stb.dot.gov,
under "E-LIBRARY" on the home page, then under "Decisions &
Notices," beneath the date "07/23/10."  The Draft EIS also is available under "ENVIRONMENTAL
MATTERS" on the home page, then under
"Key Cases."

Tags: