Alaska Railroad Corporation-Construction and Operation Exemption-a Rail Line Extension to Port MacKenzie, AK

The Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC or Applicant) petitioned the Surface Transportation Board (Board) pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 10502 for authority to construct and operate a new rail line from Matanuska- Susitna Borough's (MSB) Port MacKenzie to ARRC's existing main line between Wasilla and north of Willow, Alaska. The project would involve the construction and operation of approximately 30 to 45 miles of new rail to the main line track. Figure 1 shows ARRC's existing track and the proposed rail line extension from Port MacKenzie to ARRC's existing main line (All figures are available for viewing on the Board's Web site at http://www.stb.dot.gov by going to "Environmental Matters," then selecting "Key Cases" in the dropdown; and then when the next page appears, clicking "Alaska Railroad--Port MacKenzie Rail Extension). Because the construction and operation of this project has the potential to result in significant environmental impacts, the Board's Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) has determined that the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is appropriate. For further information about the Board's environmental review process and the EIS, you may also visit a Board-sponsored project Web site at http://www.stbportmacraileis.com. To help determine the scope of the EIS, and as required by the Board's regulations at 49 CFR 1105.10(a)(2), SEA published in the Federal Register and mailed to the public on February 12, 2008, the Notice of Availability of Draft Scope of Study for the EIS, Notice of Scoping Meetings, and Request for Comments. SEA also prepared and distributed to the public a fact sheet that introduced ARRC's Port MacKenzie Rail Extension, announced SEA's intent to prepare an EIS, requested comments, and gave notice of six public scoping meetings to citizens; elected officials; Federal, state, and local agencies; tribal organizations; and other potentially interested stakeholders. SEA held six public scoping meetings in Knik, Big Lake, Willow, Houston, Wasilla, and Anchorage, Alaska on March 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, and 11, 2008, respectively. The scoping comment period concluded March 21, 2008. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District (USACE); Federal Railroad Administration (FRA); and United States Coast Guard (USGC) requested and were granted cooperating agency status in preparation of the EIS. After review and consideration of all comments received, this notice sets forth the final scope of the EIS. The final scope reflects any changes to the draft scope as a result of the comments, summarizes and addresses the principal environmental concerns raised by the comments, and briefly discusses pertinent issues concerning this project that further clarify the final scope.