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Notice2024-066882024-03-29

Green Eagle Railroad-Construction and Operation Exemption-Line of Railroad in Maverick County, Texas

Surface Transportation Board

Abstract

On December 14, 2023, Green Eagle Railroad, LLC (GER), a subsidiary of Puerto Verde Holdings (PVH), filed a petition with the Surface Transportation Board (Board) for authority to construct and operate approximately 1.3 miles of new common carrier rail line (the Line) in Maverick County, Texas. The Line would extend from the United States/Mexico border to the existing Union Pacific Railroad (UP) connection at approximate UP milepost 31. The Line would be part of a larger project proposed by PVH, the Puerto Verde Global Trade Bridge (PVGTB Project), consisting of a new trade corridor for freight rail and commercial motor vehicles between Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, and Eagle Pass, Texas, United States. The Board's Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) determined that the construction and operation of the Line has the potential to result in significant environmental impacts; therefore, the preparation of an EIS is appropriate pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). In addition to the Line, the PVGTB Project in the United States includes an approximately 1.3-mile roadway and other infrastructure as described below. Only the Line requires licensing authority from the Board. The Line and the roadway would cross the Rio Grande River via two new bridges. Separately from the Board's final decision on GER's petition, the proposed bridges would require permits from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). USCG will participate as a Cooperating Agency in the EIS process.

Action & Dates

Action
Notice of intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS); notice of initiation of the scoping process; request for comments on scope of EIS, and notice of public scoping meetings.
Dates
Comments on the scope of the EIS are due by April 29, 2024. In addition to receiving written comments on the scope of the EIS, OEA will host three public scoping meetings: two in-person public meetings on April 16, 2024, and a virtual public meeting on April 23, 2024. See below for additional details.

Public Comment

Comments Close
2024-04-29

Document Excerpt

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Surface Transportation Board [Docket No. Docket No. FD 36652] AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board. ACTION: Notice of intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS); notice of initiation of the scoping process; request for comments on scope of EIS, and notice of public scoping meetings. SUMMARY: On December 14, 2023, Green Eagle Railroad, LLC (GER), a subsidiary of Puerto Verde Holdings (PVH), filed a petition with the Surface Transportation Board (Board) for authority to construct and operate approximately 1.3 miles of new common carrier rail line (the Line) in Maverick County, Texas. The Line would extend from the United States/Mexico border to the existing Union Pacific Railroad (UP) connection at approximate UP milepost 31. The Line would be part of a larger project proposed by PVH, the Puerto Verde Global Trade Bridge (PVGTB Project), consisting of a new trade corridor for freight rail and commercial motor vehicles between Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, and Eagle Pass, Texas, United States. The Board's Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) determined that the construction and operation of the Line has the potential to result in significant environmental ( printed page 22205) impacts; therefore, the preparation of an EIS is appropriate pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). In addition to the Line, the PVGTB Project in the United States includes an approximately 1.3-mile roadway and other infrastructure as described below. Only the

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Full Document

Citation: 89 FR 22204