Environmental Assessment Document Downloads

Notice of Availability

On January 1, 1970, the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) was signed into Law. NEPA establishes a national environmental policy focused on federal activities. The intention of NEPA is to balance a sustainable environment with other essential needs of present and future Americans. NEPA asks federal agencies to consider the potential environmental consequences of their projects, document the analysis, and make this information available to the public for comment prior to implementation.

The United States Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) awarded a Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Discretionary Grant for the National Gateway freight rail corridor. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) are partnering to administer the implementation of the TIGER grant on behalf of the U.S. DOT and in collaboration with the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Maryland, as well as the track owner, CSX. The Phase I National Gateway Clearance Initiative is a project that is intended to provide the necessary overhead clearance required to accommodate the more efficient and environmentally-beneficial transportation of double-stack intermodal containers on the existing rail corridor between North Baltimore, Ohio and Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.

In accordance with NEPA, an Environmental Assessment and Section 4(f) Evaluation was completed to evaluate potential impacts to the natural and human environments associated with this proposed action. The document is provided for your review, and we are requesting your feedback and comments on the document. Written comments must be post marked or electronically submitted by October 17, 2010, to the attention of::

Daniel W. Johnson
FHWA Resource Center at Baltimore
10 S. Howard Street, Suite 4000
Baltimore, MD 21201
danw.johnson@dot.gov

If commenting electronically, please include "National Gateway Phase 1 comments" in the subject line. The U.S. DOT will review and consider all comments and requests.

Environmental Assessment

Environmental_Assessment_and_Section_4_f__Evaluation


Figure 1 Phase I Corridor NGCI
Figure 2 Phase I Corridor NGCI Obstructions
Figure 3 B&O Railroad's Pittsburgh Division
Figure 4 B&O Railroad's Magnolia Cutoff
Figure 5_Pittsburgh Lake Erie RR
Tables 1 thru 5

Appendix A Part 1 of 2 - Appendix A Part 2 of 2

Appendix B - Cost Benefit Methodology

Appendix C - Federal Cultural Resource Coordination

Appendix D - Ohio
    Ohio Phase I NGCI Document 083110
    Attachment 01 - Site Location Maps
    Attachment 02 - Limits of Disturbance
    Attachment 03 - Design Plans
    Attachment 04 - Photographs
    Attachment 05 - Cost Spreadsheet.pdf
    Attachment 06 - Stream Summary and Field Forms
    Attachment 07- Wetland_Maps_and_Field_Forms
    Attachment 08 - Threatened and Endangered Species Research
    Attachment 09 - Drinking Water Resources Mapping
    Attachment 10 - Floodplain Mapping.pdf
    Attachment 11 - Farmland Protection Sheets
    Attachment 12 - Cultural Resource Coordination
    Attachment 13 - Census Summary Sheets
    Attachment 14 - Public Involvement
    Attachment 15 - Hazardous Materials and Regulated Substances

Appendix E - Pennsylvania
    PA Phase I NGCI Document 082310
    Attachment 01 - Site Location Maps
    Attachment 02 - Limits of Distrubance
    Attachment 03 - Design Plans.pdf
    Attachment 04 - Photographs.pdf
    Attachment 05 - Maintenance of Traffic Plans
    Attachment 06 - Cost Spreadsheet
    Attachment 07 - Stream Summary and Field Forms
    Attachment 08 - Drinking Water Resources Mapping
    Attachment 09- Wetland Maps and Delineation Forms
    Attachment 10 - Floodplain Mapping
    Attachment 11 - Natural Heritage Inventory Receipts
    Attachment 12 - Cultural Resource
    Attachment 12 - State Eligibilty & Effects CD
        Attachment 12 - State Eligibilty & Effects CD/PA Effects Letter 021710
        Attachment 12 - State Eligibilty & Effects CD/PA Eligibility B&O HRSF 112309
        Attachment 12 - State Eligibilty & Effects CD/PA Eligibility P&LE HRSF 112309
        Attachment 12 - State Eligibilty & Effects CD/PA Phase IA Report - 052710
        Attachment 12 - State Eligibilty & Effects CD/PHMC Arch Concurrence 061010
    Attachment 13 - Environmental Justice Summary Sheets
    Attachment 14 - Public Involvement

Appendix F - West Virginia
    WV Phase I NGCI NEPA Document 082310
    Attachment 1 - Site Location Maps
    Attachment 2 - Limits of Disturbance
    Attachment 3 - Cultural Resources
    Attachment 3 - (State Eligibility & Effects CD)
        1. WV Eligibility Letter and Attachment 1 113009
        2. CSX-NGI_WVSHPO_Submittal_Attachment_2_Survey_Forms_113009
        3. WV Effects Letter 021910
    Attachment 4 - Threatened and Endangered Species Research
    Attachment 5 - Public Involvement

Appendix G - Maryland
    MD Phase I NGCI NEPA Document 082310b
    Attachment 1 - Site Location Maps
    Attachment 2 - LOD
    Attachment 3 - Cultural Resources
    Attachment 3 - (State Eligibility & Effects CD)
        Attachment 1 - Site Location Maps
        Attachment 2 - LOD
        Attachment 3 - Cultural Resources
        Attachment 4 - Threatened and Endangered Species Correspondence
        Attachment 5 - Public Involvement
        Attachment 6- Parks Forests and Other Recreational Facilities
        MD Phase I NGCI NEPA Document 082310b
    Attachment 4 - Threatened and Endangered Species Correspondence
    Attachment 5 - Public Involvement
    Attachment 6- Parks Forests and Other Recreational Facilities

Appendix H - Memorandums of Understanding

Appendix I - State's Acquisition Brochures

Appendix J - Air Conformity Modeling

Appendix K - Photographs of Tunnel Alternatives