Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Dale: November 19, 2001 <br />Action Agenda <br />IMm No. fQq <br />SUBJECT: Souheast High Speetl Rail Tier I Drak Environmental Impact SMMment <br />DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING (YIN) No <br /> <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />1) SEHSR Tierl Drag ElS Public Heatlng Karen Lincoln, em. 2594 <br />Information Package antl Comment Sheet Crag eenetlic[ ant. 2592 <br />(antler separate rover) TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br /> Hillsborough T32B181 <br /> Ohapel Hill 9884501 <br /> Durham 888-7331 <br /> Mebane (336)221-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To receive a report on Me Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR) and potential impacts <br />for Omnge County. <br />BACKGROUND: The Nodh Carolina Department of Trenspodation (NCOOT) Rail Division has <br />releasetl the Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR) Tier I Dmk Environmental Impact S+atemen[ <br />(EIS). NCOOT cantlucted eleven (11) public hearings in North Caroline (September 11 Mrpugh <br />November 8) to encourage public comment regaNing the projeM In atltli5on, wmplete tlrefts of <br />the EIS are available for public review and comments e[ varbus Icpticns. Nearby Iccatbns where <br />the drek EIS can be revlewetl include the NCDOT Oisfdct 1 Office in Raleigh, Me NCDOT Division <br />5 OMce in purham, and the Lee County Managels Office In Sanfortl. NGOOT will mnsitler <br />comments submMetl during [hle process in making the Stutly Area Recommendation Report, whch <br />is to be completed by the end of Chia year. <br />The EIS process for this project is divitletl into two tiers. The puryose of the Tler I EIS is to <br />mnsitler regional impacts of Me incremental high speed rail protect in osier to itlentify a general <br />mMtlrr locatlon, and b gather public Input info the proceee. The Tler II phase of [he project will <br />provitle tlefails M track bcations (relocafians), ste0on anangements antl other Flnal tlesign <br />elements. <br />The Tier I Dmfi EIS compares potential environmental impacts and engineering concema for nine <br />(9) alternative routes throughout the stutly area. Bix of Mose alternatives use the Notlh Carolina <br />Railroatl (NCRR) corritlor that traverses Omnqe County. NCDOi will use Me wmpadson of <br />impacts in Tier I Draft EIS, along wiM public comments, [o tletertnine alternatives to be cardetl <br />forward iMO a Final Tier I EIS. The Fetleral Highway Administration (FHAJ and Fetlerel Railroad <br />Atlminlebafion (FRA) will then issue a Recortl of Decision (ROD) for Me pmject. If Me ROD selects <br />a build alternative, the protect will begin the Tier II phase <br />The Tler I EIS uses secontlary tlate sources and general trends within the study area tc compare <br />environmental impacts of the nine sltematives. The mnGUSions, therefore, are based on a "big <br />picWre' perspective and no[ basetl on actual surveys antl preclce impacts. Specific impels, <br />