Notice of Final Agency Actions on Proposed Railroad Project in California, on Behalf of the California High Speed Rail Authority

AGENCY:

Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

SUMMARY:

FRA, on behalf of the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority), is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by the Authority that are final. By this notice, FRA is advising the public of the time limit to file a claim seeking judicial review of the actions related to a proposed railroad project, the California High-Speed Rail (HSR) Authority's Bakersfield to Palmdale Project Section (Project). These actions grant approvals for project implementation pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other laws, regulations, and executive orders.

DATES:

A claim seeking judicial review of the agency actions on the Project will be barred unless the claim is filed on or before September 15, 2023. If the Federal law that authorizes judicial review of a claim provides a time period of less than 2 years for filing such claim, then that shorter time period applies.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For the Authority: Scott Rothenberg, NEPA Assignment Manager, Environmental Services, California High-Speed Rail Authority, telephone: (916) 403-6936; email: Scott.Rothenberg@hsr.ca.gov.

For FRA: Marlys Osterhues, Division Chief, Environment and Project Engineering, RPD, telephone: (202) 493-0413; email: Marlys.Osterhues@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Effective July 23, 2019, FRA assigned, and the State of California acting through the Authority assumed, environmental responsibilities for the California HSR System pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327. Notice is given that the Authority has taken final agency actions subject to 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1) and 49 U.S.C. 24201(a)(4) by issuing approvals for the Project.

The purpose of the California HSR System is to provide a reliable, high-speed, electric-powered train system that links the major metropolitan areas of California, delivering predictable and consistent travel times. A further objective is to provide an interface with commercial airports, mass transit, and the highway network, and to relieve capacity constraints of the existing transportation system as increases in intercity travel demand in California occur, in a manner sensitive to and protective of California's unique natural resources. The Authority has selected Alternative 2 with the Refined César E. Chávez National Monument Design Option, Avenue M Maintenance Site and Maintenance-of-Way Facility, and the Palmdale Station identified in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) for the Project because the Selected Alternative (1) best satisfies the Purpose, Need, and Objectives for the Project and (2) minimizes impacts on the natural and human environment by utilizing an existing transportation corridor where practicable and incorporating mitigation measures. The actions by the Authority, and the laws under which such actions were taken, are described in the Record of Decision (ROD) and Final EIS on the Project, approved on September 3, 2021. The ROD, Final EIS, and other documents are available online in PDF at the Authority's website ( www.hsr.ca.gov ) and on CD-ROM by calling (916) 324-1541.

The notice applies to the ROD, Final EIS, and all other Federal agency decisions with respect to the Project as of the issuance date of this notice and all laws under which such actions were taken, including but not limited to:

1. NEPA;

2. Council on Environmental Quality regulations (1978);

3. Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act);

4. Department of Transportation Act of 1966, Section 4(f);

5. Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Act of 1965, Section 6(f);

6. Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990;

7. Clean Water Act of 1977 and 1987;

8. Endangered Species Act of 1973;

9. Migratory Bird Treaty Act;

10. National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended;

11. Executive Order 11990, Protection of Wetlands;

12. Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management;

13. Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations;

14. Executive Order 13112, Invasive Species.