Canadian Pacific LimitedAbandonmentLine Between Skinner and Vanceboro, ME

INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION

[Docket No. AB-213 (Sub-No. 4)]

Canadian Pacific Limited--Abandonment--Line Between Skinner and

Vanceboro, ME

The Commission's Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) hereby

notifies all interested parties that SEA will prepare a Draft

Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and conduct scoping meetings in

this proceeding. The Canadian Pacific Limited (CP) filed an application

for authority to abandon and discontinue all freight and passenger

operations over 201.2 miles of rail line between Skinner and Vanceboro,

in Franklin, Somerset, Piscataquis, Penobscot, Aroostook, and

Washington Counties, Maine. Because of the proposed abandonment's

potential for significant environmental impacts, SEA has determined

that preparation of a DEIS is necessary.

The DEIS will address the environmental impacts associated with

this proposed abandonment and will be served on all the parties to the

proceeding and made available to the public. There will be a 45 day

comment period from the date the DEIS is served to allow the public

opportunity to comment. After assessing all of the comments to the DEIS

and any other comments filed during the environmental review process,

SEA will issue a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) that will

include SEA's final recommendations to the Commission. The Commission

will consider the FEIS and the environmental record in making its

decision.

The purpose of the scoping process is to identify significant

environmental issues and determine the scope of issues to be addressed

in the DEIS. Issues typically addressed in DEIS's include alternatives

to the proposed action, impacts on transportation systems, land use,

socio-economic impacts, energy resources, air quality, noise quality,

public health and safety, biological resources, water quality, historic

resources, coastal zone management consistency review, and mitigation

to reduce or avoid impacts on the environment. Persons that cannot

attend the scoping meetings may submit questions and comments in

writing up to 30 days after the scoping meetings. Written comments may

be submitted directly to the Commission no later than April 15, 1994.

Public scoping meetings will be held on the following dates.

March 15, 1994, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at The American

Legion Hall, Maine Street, Woodland, ME, and

March 16, 1994, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at City Hall, City

Council Chambers, 73 Harlow Street, Bangor, ME.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Phillis Johnson-Ball at (202) 927-6213

or Vicki Dettmar at (202) 927-6211, Section of Environmental Analysis,

room 3219, Office of Economic and Environmental Analysis, 12th and

Constitution Avenue, NW., Interstate Commerce Commission, Washington,

DC TDD for hearing impaired: (202) 927-5721.

By the Commission, Elaine K. Kaiser, Chief, Section of

Environmental Analysis, Office of Economic and Environmental

Analysis.

Sidney L. Strickland, Jr.,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 94-3922 Filed 2-18-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7035-01-P