Public Scoping MeetingNational Environmental Policy Act

Portageville Bridge Project

Tuesday, November 19, 20134 PM – 7 PM

Genesee River Restaurant, Mount Morris, New York

IntroductionRay Hessinger

New York State Department of Transportation

Portageville Bridge Project

• Welcome and Introductions• Safety Briefing• Purpose of the Meeting• Presentation by the Project Team• Public Comments

Portageville Bridge ProjectIntroduction

• National Environmental Policy Act– Initiate project’s environmental review to receive

federal funding

• National Historic Preservation Act– Solicit public interest to serve as consulting parties

with regard to potential effects on historic resources

• Obtain public comment on all of above

Portageville Bridge ProjectPurpose of the Meeting

• Project Background• Project Alternatives• NEPA Process and Next Steps• Public Scoping Process and Public Comments

Portageville Bridge ProjectPresentation Overview

Project BackgroundEarly Planning Activities

• SEQRA Milestones– Positive Declaration of Intent to Prepare SEQRA EIS,

September 17, 2008– SEQRA Scoping Meeting, October 1, 2008– Publish SEQRA Draft EIS, November 26, 2012– SEQRA Public Hearing, January 10, 2013

• Community Advisory Committee Meetings held on April 1, 2009 and November 12, 2009

• NEPA Milestones– Identification of CMAQ Funds, July 2013– Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS, October 31, 2013

Project Presentation

Chris CalvertAKRF, Inc.

Portageville Bridge Project

Project BackgroundPurpose and Need

PurposeProvide a modern rail crossing of the Genesee River for Norfolk Southern on the Southern Tier route between Buffalo and Binghamton, capable of carrying current industry standard freight rail loads, to the greatest degree possible meeting FRA Class 4 speeds, while reducing ongoing maintenance efforts and costs.

Needs•Critical component of Norfolk Southern’s Southern Tier route•At the end of its useful life as a freight structure; requires continuous inspection and frequent repair•Imposes restrictions on the entire Southern Tier route•Safety concerns for park users who trespass on the bridge

Project BackgroundProject Goals

• Eliminate operational constraints along the Southern Tier route caused by the existing Portageville Bridge

• Reduce the need for ongoing maintenance and concomitant costs• Optimize existing infrastructure and planned improvements to

the Southern Tier route as part of Norfolk Southern’s overall operational strategy in New York and in this region of the country

• Minimize the risk of trespassing on the Portageville Bridge by Letchworth State Park patrons

Project AlternativesAlternatives Considered

No Name

1 No Action / Maintenance Alternative

2 Repair / Retrofit Existing Bridge

3 New Bridge on Same Alignment

4 New Bridge on Parallel Alignment / Remove Existing Bridge

5 New Bridge on Parallel Alignment / Convey Existing Bridge

6 New Southern Alignment / Remove Existing Bridge

7 New Southern Alignment / Convey Existing Bridge

8 Reroute Rail Traffic / Remove Existing Bridge

9 Reroute Rail Traffic / Convey Existing Bridge

Alternative was rejectedin SEQRA DEIS

Alternative was studiedIn SEQRA DEIS

Environmental ReviewNEPA Process

Next StepsNEPA DEIS

Prepare a NEPA Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) that will…•Build on the prior SEQRA DEIS, using as much relevant information as possible•Identify and address public comments previously received on the SEQRA DEIS•Address public comments received during the NEPA scoping period•Address requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act•Identify mitigation commitments that have been developed in consultation with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation since publication of the SEQRA DEIS

Next StepsNEPA DEIS

Prepare a NEPA EIS that will…•Identify a preferred alternative for the project•Address federal regulatory requirements pursuant to Executive Order 11988 (Floodplains) and Executive Order 11990 (Wetlands)•Address the requirements of Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act

Next StepsSEQRA DEIS Conclusions

The NEPA DEIS will revisit and incorporate all relevant information and conclusions from the SEQRA DEIS.

Topic No Impact Impact

Social Conditions ●

Economic Conditions ●

Wetlands ●

Surface Waterbodies and Watercourses ●

Wild and Scenic Rivers ●

Navigable Waters ●

Floodplains ●

Coastal Resources ●

Groundwater, Aquifers, and Reservoirs ●

Next StepsSEQRA DEIS Conclusions

The NEPA DEIS will revisit and incorporate all relevant information and conclusions from the SEQRA DEIS.

Topic No Impact Impact

Stormwater Management ●

General Ecology and Wildlife Resources ●

Critical Environmental Areas ●

Historic and Cultural Resources ●

Parklands and Recreational Resources ●

Visual Resources ●

Farmlands ●

Air Quality ●

Energy and Greenhouse Gases ●

Next StepsSEQRA DEIS Conclusions

The NEPA DEIS will revisit and incorporate all relevant information and conclusions from the SEQRA DEIS.

Topic No Impact Impact

Noise ●

Asbestos ●

Hazardous Waste and Contaminated Materials ●

Construction Effects ●

Indirect Effects ●

Cumulative Effects ●

Public Scoping ProcessRay Hessinger

New York State Department of Transportation

Portageville Bridge Project

Public Scoping ProcessSchedule

October 31, 2013 Notice of IntentNovember 19, 2013 Public scoping meetingDecember 19, 2013 Scoping comment period endsWinter/Spring 2014 Publish NEPA DEISSpring 2014 NEPA DEIS Hearing

Public Scoping ProcessSubmission of Written Comments

By E-mail PortagevilleBridge@dot.ny.gov

By MailRaymond HessingerDirector, Freight & Passenger Rail BureauNYSDOT50 Wolf Road, POD 54Albany, NY 12232

All comments are due by December 19, 2013

• Speaking order– Individuals who registered to speak– Open the floor for any other comments

• If a large number of individuals have registered to speak, NYSDOT may limit comments to three minutes

• Stenographer will record all comments• Please begin by stating your name and organization for

the record• NYSDOT and Norfolk Southern will not be responding to

questions posed during public comment period tonight

Public Scoping ProcessOral Comments