Action
Notice of Intent to prepare an Alternatives Analysis and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (AA/DEIS).
Summary
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) as lead agency and the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) Commission intend to conduct an Alternatives Analysis and prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (AA/DEIS) on a proposal by SMART for the proposed introduction of commuter rail service along an existing railroad right- of-way extending approximately 75-miles from Cloverdale in Sonoma County to a San Francisco/East Bay bound ferry terminal in Marin County. The EIS will be prepared as a joint EIS and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to satisfy the requirements of both the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The purpose of this notice is to notify interested individuals, organizations, and business entities, affected Native American Tribes and Federal, State, and local government agencies of the intent to prepare an AA/DEIS and to invite participation in the study. At present three alternatives are proposed for evaluation in the EIS/EIR. In addition, reasonable alternatives identified through the scoping process will be evaluated in the EIS/EIR. Scoping will be accomplished through correspondence and discussion with interested persons, organizations, and Federal, State and local agencies, and through public and agency meetings.