[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 110 (Thursday, June 8, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 30328]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-13999]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 2218]
New International Railroad Bridge, Laredo, Texas: Finding of No
Significant Impact
SUMMARY: The Department of State is issuing a finding of no significant
impact on the environment for the new international railroad bridge
project sponsored by the Union Pacific Railroad/Missouri Pacific
Railroad Company. A draft environmental assessment of the proposed
Laredo international railroad bridge project was prepared by HDR
Engineering, Inc. of Omaha, Nebraska for the Presidential Permit
applicant, Union Pacific Railroad/Missouri Pacific Railroad Company
(Union Pacific Railroad Company), under the guidance and supervision of
the Department of State. A Public Notice regarding the availability for
inspection of the Union Pacific Railroad Company's Permit application
and the draft environmental assessment was published in the Federal
Register on April 7, 1994, at 59 FR 16682. No comments were received
from the public.
Over 20 federal and state agencies reviewed the draft environmental
assessment. All comments received from these agencies were responded
to, either by expanding the analysis contained in the draft
environmental assessment or by proposing mitigation measures, as
appropriate. Additionally, the Permit applicant corresponded and met
with several agencies to discuss ways of meeting their concerns and,
where appropriate, to discuss mitigation measures. The outcome of this
dialogue was recorded in correspondence. Agencies participating in this
process were the Immigration and Naturalization Service, Customs
Service, Food and Drug Administration, Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, General Services Administration, International
Boundary and Water Commission--U.S. Section, Department of Defense,
Department of Transportation, Coast Guard, Federal Highway
Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, Interstate Commerce
Commission, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of the
Interior, Department of Commerce, Environmental Protection Agency,
Department of State, and the appropriate Texas State agencies--Parks
and Wildlife Department, Department of Transportation, Historical
Commission, Railroad Commission, South Texas Development Council and
Natural Resource Conservation Commission. The draft environmental
assessment, the comments submitted by the agencies, the response to
these comments, and all correspondence between the agencies and the
Permit applicant addressing the agencies' concerns, together,
constitute the final environmental assessment.
Based on the final environmental assessment and information
developed during the review of the Company's application and of the
draft environmental assessment, the Department has concluded that
issuance of the Permit will not have a significant impact on the
quality of the human environment within the United States. In
accordance with Council on Environmental Quality Regulations, 40 CFR
1501.4 and 1508.13, and with State Department Regulations, 22 CFR
161.8(c), an environmental impact statement will therefore not be
prepared.
A Finding of No Significant Impact was adopted on May 5, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Finding of No Significant Impact may be
obtained from Stephen R. Gibson, Coordinator, U.S.-Mexico Border
Affairs, Office of Mexican Affairs, Room 4258, Department of State,
Washington, DC 20520 (Telephone 202-647-8529).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of State is charged with
issuance of Presidential Permits for the construction of international
bridges under the International Bridge Act of 1972, 86 Stat. 731; 33
U.S.C. 535 et seq., and Executive Order 11423, 33 FR 11741 (1968), as
amended by Executive Order 12847 of May 17, 1993, 58 FR 29511 (1993).
Union Pacific Railroad Company, Texas, requested from the
Department of State a Permit to build a new railroad bridge between
Laredo, Texas, and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, a project which
will include the construction of rail lines in both countries to
connect the new bridge to existing mainline tracks. The proposed
railroad bridge will be located 6.5 miles northwest of the existing
international railroad bridge crossing at Laredo, at about mile 367.97
on the Rio Grande. The work involves the construction of approximately
1.7 miles of new track on the United States side; the construction of a
1,169-foot bridge spanning the Rio Grande and the border; and the
construction of 8.95 miles of new track in Mexico. It is expected that
the new rail bridge will:
Eliminate about 90 percent of Union Pacific rail traffic
from downtown Laredo;
Reduce inconvenience to the public due to blocked
crossings; and
Allow for anticipated future rail traffic growth generated
by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
Earthwork and grading for the project will be designed and
constructed to permit the operation of a double mainline track.
However, the second mainline will be constructed in the future as
demand increases. The proposed rail corridor will be between 200 and
400 feet wide, with the additional width required for construction of
the curved transition into the existing tracks.
The corridor will traverse undeveloped land and will not require
purchase or relocation of any homes or businesses.
Dated: June 2, 1995.
Stephen R. Gibson,
Coordinator, U.S.-Mexico Border Affairs, Office of Mexican Affairs.
[FR Doc. 95-13999 Filed 6-7-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-29-P