[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 67 (Wednesday, April 8, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 17254]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9121]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, 
Martin, Okeechobee, Saint Lucie, Indian River, Brevard, Oceola, Orange, 
Polk, and Hillsborough Counties in Florida

AGENCIES: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Railroad 
Administration (FRA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA and FRA are issuing this notice to advise the public 
that an environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared for a 
proposed Florida High Speed Rail project between Miami, Orlando, and 
Tampa, Florida.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Hadley, Environmental 
Coordinator, Federal Highway Administration, 227 North Bronough Street, 
Tallahassee, Florida 32301, (850) 942-9594 and/or Mark Yachmetz, RDV-
13, Chief of Passenger Programs, Federal Railroad Administration, 400 
Seventh Street, S.W., MS-20, Washington D.C. 20590, (202) 632-3855.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA and FRA in cooperation with the 
Florida Department of Transportation, will prepare an EIS for a 
proposal to construct a high speed rail project between Miami, Orlando, 
and Tampa, Florida. The project would be approximately 320 miles long. 
The proposed project includes acquisition of right of way, construction 
of guide way structures and track, stations, park and ride lots, 
storage and maintenance facilities, and other ancillary facilities. The 
facilities would be built to allow trains to operate at speeds up to 
200 miles per hour. The high speed rail would provide service to 
business and tourist travelers.
    Alternatives under consideration include: (1) the ``no build 
alternative; and, (2) build alternatives in a variety of corridors. The 
corridor alternatives traverse areas where various social, economical, 
and environmental resources and issues are believed to exist. The 
resources and issues include but are not limited to: wetlands, cultural 
resources, water quality issues including sole source aquifers, safety, 
residential and business relocations, wildlife and habitat, farmland, 
and land use planning, parklands, economic, and floodplains.
    Notices describing the proposed action and soliciting comments have 
been and will be sent to appropriate Federal, State and local agencies 
and to private organizations and citizens who have expressed an 
interest in this proposal. Interagency and public meetings and public 
hearings will be held in several locations in the project area. 
Information on the time and place of the public meetings and hearings 
will be provided in the appropriate local news media. There are 
tentative plans to hold a scoping meeting in or near Orlando, Florida 
on May 12, 1998.
    Comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties to 
insure the full range of issues related to the proposed action and 
alternatives are addressed and all significant issues are identified. 
Comments and questions concerning the proposed action should be 
directed to the address provided above.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations 
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental 
consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this 
program)

    Issued: March 31, 1998.
J.R. Skinner,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 98-9121 Filed 4-7-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M