36158 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 123 / Monday, June 28, 2004 / Notices

Amend- Original ap- Amended Original Amended ment ap- proved net approved estimated estimated Amendment No., city, state proved PFC rev- net PFC charge charge date enue revenue exp. date exp. date

01–03–C–02–LIT Little Rock, AR ...... 05/14/04 $15,986,750 $18,850,300 04/01/15 08/01/05

Issued in Washington, DC on June 18, between South Station and Boylston agencies through meetings and 2004. Station. An alignment for this phase, correspondence, and after hearing from JoAnn Horne, extending from South Station along the general public. Interested Manager, Financial Analysis and Passenger Essex Street, Avenue de Lafayette, and individuals, organizations, and agencies Facility Charge Branch. Avery/Tremont Streets to Boylston are invited to comment on the [FR Doc. 04–14522 Filed 6–25–04; 8:45 am] Station terminating in a loop alternatives to be evaluated and related BILLING CODE 4910–13–M underneath the Boston Common Central issues of concern. Written comments on Burying Ground, was reviewed and the alternatives and potential impacts to approved as part of the 1993 South be considered should be sent to Andrew DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Boston Piers/Fort Point Channel Transit Brennan at the MBTA. Project Final Environmental Impact II. Alternatives Federal Transit Administration Statement/Final Environmental Impact A preferred alternative for the core Preparation of Supplemental Report (FEIS/FEIR). The FTA issued its tunnel segment has been selected. This Environmental Impact Statement on Record of Decision (ROD) for the Full core tunnel segment connects to the the Silver Line Phase III, Boston, MA Build Alternative of the South Boston Piers Transitway Project (which was existing Silver Line Phase II tunnel in AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration intended to be built in two phases) on Atlantic Avenue, near South Station. (FTA), DOT. May 12, 1994. The initial phase of the The tunnel extends down Essex and ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Transitway project (now Phase II of the Boylston Street to a turnaround loop Supplemental Environmental Impact Silver Line) is currently under under the intersection of Charles and Statement (SEIS). construction between South Station and Boylston Streets. Two new underground the South Boston waterfront. This SEIS Silver Line stations at Chinatown and SUMMARY: The Federal Transit will evaluate the alignment Boylston Street will be provided. The Administration (FTA) and the modifications from South Station core tunnel segment is substantially Massachusetts Bay Transportation (where it will connect to the Phase II similar to the project that was reviewed Authority (MBTA) intend to prepare a tunnel) to Boylston Station and the in the prior 1993 FEIS/FEIR, for which Supplemental Environmental Impact alternative tunnel alignment and portal the FTA issued a ROD, and the Statement (SEIS) in accordance with the locations for the connection to Phase I Massachusetts Executive Office of National Environmental Policy Act of the Silver Line, which is currently Environmental Affairs (EOEA) issued a (NEPA) and a Supplemental providing service on Washington Street. Certificate of Adequacy. Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) in DATES: A Public Hearing will be held The preferred portal location and accordance with the Massachusetts Wednesday, July 14, 2004 at 7 p.m. at tunnel alignment connecting the core Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) for the Renaissance School at 250 Stuart tunnel segment to the portal have not Phase III of the Silver Line. The Silver Street, Boston, Massachusetts. Written been selected at this point. The public Line is comprised of two formerly Comments on the scope of the SEIS comment process will provide input separate MBTA bus rapid transit (BRT) should be sent to Mr. Andrew Brennan into the analysis of alternatives, projects: the South Boston Piers no later than Friday, July 30, 2004. See following which a preferred portal Transitway (now Silver Line Phase II), ADDRESSES below. location and tunnel alignment providing service from downtown alternative will be selected through the ADDRESSES: Written comments should Boston to the South Boston Waterfront SEIS process. The FTA and the MBTA be sent to Mr. Andrew Brennan, area and Logan International Airport, propose that the following alternatives Director of Environmental Affairs, and the Washington Street Replacement be considered in the SEIS: Transit Service (now Silver Line Phase Massachusetts Bay Transportation I), extending from Dudley Square to Authority, 10 Park Plaza, Room 6720, Alternative 1: No-Action downtown Boston. Phase III will Boston, MA 02116. Phone No. 617–222– This Alternative assumes existing connect Silver Line Phases I and II and 3126. conditions within the Silver Line Phase will run from South Station to FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: III corridor, and that Silver Line Phase Washington Street along Essex and Donna Laidley, Federal Transit I and Phase II would operate as Boylston Streets. Two new Silver Line Administration, Region 1, 55 Broadway, independent services. This alternative Stations are proposed: at Boylston Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA 02142, further assumes no transit investment in Station (connecting to the MBTA Green Phone No. 617–494–2484. Project the corridor, and therefore avoids any Line) and Chinatown Station Information can also be found on the impacts or benefits associated with the (connecting to the MBTA Orange Line). MBTA’s Web site at Build Alternatives. It serves as the Alternative alignments for the tunnel www.allaboutsilverline.com. NEPA baseline against which the extension to the portal connection to SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: transportation, environmental and Washington Street will be evaluated in community impacts of the other the SEIS. I. Public Comment alternatives are compared. The No Phase III of the Silver Line FTA and MBTA will establish the Action Alternative further consists of incorporates what had originally been scope of the SEIS for Silver Line Phase the transportation network contained in the second phase of the South Boston III after consulting with Federal, State, the Regional Transportation Plan for the Piers Transitway, a tunnel connection and local resource and regulatory year 2025.

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Alternative 2: Transportation System Other Alternatives 771) will be addressed to the maximum Management (TSM) The Silver Line Phase III project will extent practicable during the NEPA This alternative includes increased serve the Washington Street corridor as process. In addition, the MBTA seeks Frequency of Existing Service. Under far as Dudley Station, and will also 5309 New Starts funding for the project this option revenue service on Phases I provide parallel service to the Back Bay, and will therefore be subject all the and II would be increased to a level providing a connection from both areas requirements contained in the FTA New consistent with that proposed for Phase to the South Boston waterfront and Starts regulation (49 CFR part 611). III operation. Headways for both Phases Logan Airport. Throughout the Issued on: June 21, 2004. would be decreased and connections development of the project, individuals Richard H. Doyle, between Phases I and II would be made and stakeholders have raised the Regional Administrator. via transfer to and from the Red Line at concept of shifting the portal to a [FR Doc. 04–14637 Filed 6–25–04; 8:45 am] location closer to the Back Bay, making Downtown Crossing Station (to access BILLING CODE 4910–57–P the waterfront and Logan Airport) or this connection more direct. Under such South Station (to access destinations an alignment, the MBTA would still along Washington Street). For the connect to Phase I service in DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION purpose of the FTA’s Section 5309 New Washington Street, but via a portal in Starts evaluation process, this TSM the Columbus Avenue area, as opposed Research and Special Programs alternative serves as the baseline for to a portal on Washington Street. The Administration quantifying the transportation benefits FTA and MBTA are interested in of the build alternatives. receiving public comment on the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety; viability and feasibility of such an Notice of Application for Exemptions Alternatives 3 Through 5 alternative, and whether it would be AGENCY: appropriate for detailed impact analysis Research and Special Programs The MBTA has developed a set of Administration, DOT. portal location and portal route in the SEIS. ACTION: List of applications for alignment alternatives that respond both III. Public Involvement exemption. to the concerns of various stakeholders A comprehensive public involvement within the project area and to program has been developed. The SUMMARY: In accordance with the engineering and operational criteria. program includes: Outreach to local procedures governing the application Each of these alternatives has in officials and community and civic for, and the processing of, exemptions common the core tunnel segment from groups, a public hearing to identify from the Department of Transportation’s South Station to the turnaround loop at issues of concern among all interested Hazardous Material Regulations (49 CFR Charles Street that follows an alignment parties, and development of a project Part 107, Subpart B), notice is hereby on Essex and Boylston Streets. This core Web site www.allaboutsilverline.com. given that the Office of Hazardous tunnel segment configuration provides Materials Safety has received the the option of the following alternative IV. Probable Effects and Potential application described herein. Each alignments to a portal. Impacts for Analysis mode of transportation for which a Alternative 3: Tremont Street/NEMC The FTA and MBTA will evaluate particular exemption is requested is Portal environmental, social, and economic indicated by a number in the ‘‘Nature of impacts of alternatives analyzed in the Application’’ portion of the table below This Alternative consists of a tunnel SEIS. The likely impact areas to be as follows: 1—Motor vehicle, 2—Rail extending from the core tunnel segment addressed include: Noise and vibration; freight, 3—Cargo vessel, 4—Cargo on a Tremont Street alignment to a land use; visual/aesthetic values; aircraft only, 5—Passenger-carrying portal located between the New England cultural and historical resources; water aircraft. Medical Center (NEMC) garage and the quality, natural resources, air quality; Doubletree Hotel (the NEMC Portal)with DATES: Comments must be received by traffic and parking; hazardous materials; on or before July 28, 2004. a ramp providing access to Washington utilities; energy use and conservation; ADDRESS COMMENTS TO: Street. public safety and security; and Record Center, community impacts. The SEIS will Research and Special Programs Alternative 4: Charles Street/NEMC Administration, U.S. Department of Portal evaluate environmental justice issues as well as secondary, cumulative, and Transportation, Washington, DC 20590. This Alternative consists of a tunnel construction-related impacts. The need Comments should refer to the extending south from the core tunnel for right-of-way acquisitions and application number and be submitted in segment along a Charles Street relocations will also be evaluated. triplicate. If Confirmation of receipt of alignment, and turning east crossing Measures to avoid, minimize, and comments is desired, include a self- under Elliot Norton Park and Tremont mitigate adverse impacts will be addressed stamped postcard showing Street to the NEMC Portal and ramp to developed and evaluated. the exemption number. Washington Street. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: V. FTA Procedures Copies of the applications are available Alternative 5: Charles Street/Elliot In accordance with FTA policy, all for inspection in the Records Center, Norton Park Portal Federal laws, regulations, and executive Nassif Building, 400 7th Street, SW., This Alternative consists of a tunnel orders affecting project development, Washington, DC, or at http:// extending south from the core tunnel including but not limited to the dms.dot.gov. segment along a Charles Street regulations of the Council on This notice of receipt of applications alignment to a portal located within Environmental Quality and FTA’s for modification of exemption is Elliot Norton Park, with a ramp to regulations implementing NEPA (40 published in accordance with Part 107 Tremont Street. CFR parts 1500–1508, and 23 CFR part of the Federal hazardous materials

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