HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 11-19-2001-10aORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Dale: November 19, 2001
Action Agenda
IMm No. fQq
SUBJECT: Souheast High Speetl Rail Tier I Drak Environmental Impact SMMment
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING (YIN) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
1) SEHSR Tierl Drag ElS Public Heatlng Karen Lincoln, em. 2594
Information Package antl Comment Sheet Crag eenetlic[ ant. 2592
(antler separate rover) TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough T32B181
Ohapel Hill 9884501
Durham 888-7331
Mebane (336)221-2031
PURPOSE: To receive a report on Me Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR) and potential impacts
for Omnge County.
BACKGROUND: The Nodh Carolina Department of Trenspodation (NCOOT) Rail Division has
releasetl the Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR) Tier I Dmk Environmental Impact S+atemen[
(EIS). NCOOT cantlucted eleven (11) public hearings in North Caroline (September 11 Mrpugh
November 8) to encourage public comment regaNing the projeM In atltli5on, wmplete tlrefts of
the EIS are available for public review and comments e[ varbus Icpticns. Nearby Iccatbns where
the drek EIS can be revlewetl include the NCDOT Oisfdct 1 Office in Raleigh, Me NCDOT Division
5 OMce in purham, and the Lee County Managels Office In Sanfortl. NGOOT will mnsitler
comments submMetl during [hle process in making the Stutly Area Recommendation Report, whch
is to be completed by the end of Chia year.
The EIS process for this project is divitletl into two tiers. The puryose of the Tler I EIS is to
mnsitler regional impacts of Me incremental high speed rail protect in osier to itlentify a general
mMtlrr locatlon, and b gather public Input info the proceee. The Tler II phase of [he project will
provitle tlefails M track bcations (relocafians), ste0on anangements antl other Flnal tlesign
elements.
The Tier I Dmfi EIS compares potential environmental impacts and engineering concema for nine
(9) alternative routes throughout the stutly area. Bix of Mose alternatives use the Notlh Carolina
Railroatl (NCRR) corritlor that traverses Omnqe County. NCDOi will use Me wmpadson of
impacts in Tier I Draft EIS, along wiM public comments, [o tletertnine alternatives to be cardetl
forward iMO a Final Tier I EIS. The Fetleral Highway Administration (FHAJ and Fetlerel Railroad
Atlminlebafion (FRA) will then issue a Recortl of Decision (ROD) for Me pmject. If Me ROD selects
a build alternative, the protect will begin the Tier II phase
The Tler I EIS uses secontlary tlate sources and general trends within the study area tc compare
environmental impacts of the nine sltematives. The mnGUSions, therefore, are based on a "big
picWre' perspective and no[ basetl on actual surveys antl preclce impacts. Specific impels,
z
benefits and mitigation measures will be tletailetl in the Tler II environmental documentation
prOCe33.
Impacts of the SEHSR protect In Orange County cannot be fully determined until the RecoN of
Decision has been matle antl tlefails to be determined In the Tler II EIS have been worketl out.
The Tier II s[utly pracesa la scheduletl to begin in January 2003.
The altachetl information package from the public hearing heltl in Durham on September 18, 2001
contains pertinent pages fromthe Executive Summary of the Tier I Drak EIS. (The In/ormepon
package sent under separate cover has been espied /mm the October 16, 2001 9000 agenda
materials. Please refer to the October 16 in/ortnatlon package for color pullouts o1 the ettemeflve
mules, which are provided in black antl while in the aftachetl in/armaGOn peckegeJ
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None at this time.
RECOMMENDATION: The Atlminlstretlon recommentls that the BOaM receive the mport end
address any comments [o stafr b be bnvartletl fc NCOOT Rail Division.