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Environmental Assessment for
Merger of Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railroads
for the Interstate Commerce Commission
ICF International conducted all aspects of the environmental
assessment of the proposed merger of Burlington
Northern and Santa Fe Railroads for the Interstate
Commerce Commission (renamed as U.S. Surface Transportation
Board). Our primary responsibilities included
analyses of potential impacts from new construction
and increases in rail traffic, development of
mitigation measures, agency consultation, public
outreach, and response to agency and public comments.
We also supported SEA in identifying and analyzing
rail line segments, rail yards, and intermodal
facilities that would experience a sufficient
increase in rail or truck traffic to trigger the
environmental analysis thresholds for air and
noise. In addition, ICF International conducted an
extensive public involvement effort, which included
running advertisements in 27 newspapers across
12 states, monitoring a toll-free hotline, and
distributing factsheets.
Analysis of Traffic Emission
Controls for the Phoenix Metropolitan Area, for
Maricopa Association of Governments, Phoenix,
Arizona
ICF International evaluated the existing traffic
emissions modeling software and the inputs used
to determine their effectiveness in realistically
modeling emissions. Our data collection and model
performance evaluation provided the basis for
the design of the microscale carbon monoxide analysis
that was subsequently used in the development
of the Maricopa County carbon monoxide plan.
Intersection Air Quality Model
Development for National Cooperative Highway Research
Program
In order to develop more accurate predictions
of carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations at intersections,
a better understanding of emissions, dispersion,
traffic, and their interrelationships is needed.
To help address this information gap, ICF International
conducted a multiphase data analysis, field study,
and model development project. The result is the
HYROAD model, an improved traffic, emission, and
dispersion model for estimating microscale CO
concentrations due to mobile source emissions
near heavily traveled roadways.
Environmental Justice Desk
Reference for the California Department of Transportation
ICF International developed an environmental
justice reference guide for California transportation
planners. As background for this study, we organized
and conducted 10 workshops around the state for
community-based organizations involved in environmental
justice issues, as well as a two-day conference
for local and regional public agencies. We then
developed an extensive guidebook that discusses
how transportation systems impact low-income and
minority communities from both an environmental
perspective and an economic perspective. The handbook
also provides legal and historical perspectives
on transportation environmental justice and provides
detailed guidance to planners seeking to better
incorporate environmental justice goals in long-range
transportation planning and project development.
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U.S.
Inventory of GHG Emissions and Sinks for U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA)
ICF International assists EPA in developing the official
U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emission inventory for
submission to the Framework Convention on Climate
Change (FCCC) Secretariat. The U.S. report has been
produced and distributed for the years 1990-2000
and provides a basis for ongoing development of:
- a comprehensive and detailed inventory and
methodology for emissions and sinks of GHGs
for the U.S.
- an international system of consistent national
inventories of GHG emissions and sinks for all
countries participating in the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Building on this work, we also developed a detailed
inventory of GHG emissions for the transportation
sector. This work involved analyzing ways to disaggregate
the national inventory of carbon dioxide, methane,
and nitrous oxide emissions into geographic components
(e.g., state, county, or urbanized area) and other
physical and spatial characteristics (e.g., vehicle
type, fuel type, roadway type), as well as by
economic sector (e.g., emissions from travel associated
with shopping centers, hospitals, schools, package
delivery services, etc.).
Environmental Impact Statement
for Construction and Operation of 13-Mile Freight
Rail Line in Houston, Texas
For the U.S. Surface Transportation Board,
ICF International is preparing a time-sensitive Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for the construction and
operation of a controversial 13-mile rail line
(also known as a build-out) to connect petrochemical
plants in the Bayport Loop to an existing mainline.
A partnership comprised of Burlington Northern
and Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) and four petrochemical
companies is proposing the new line. We are also
analyzing the proposed operations over 50 miles
of existing Union Pacific mainline track between
the new line and the yard where BNSF would create
new trains bound for various destinations.
The EIS is addressing effects related to grade
crossing safety and delay, land use, noise, wetlands,
water bodies, sensitive habitat, hazardous materials
transport, and air quality, among others. ICF International is analyzing a broad number of alternative
alignments to assist the Board in determining
which alternatives to analyze in detail in the
Draft EIS. We are consulting with the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers over potential impacts to wetlands.
In addition, we are consulting with the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service because two of the alternative
alignments may affect an endangered flower. The
applicants' preferred alignment would traverse
airport property. Therefore, ICF International is
analyzing the potential impacts to airport operations
and is consulting with the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA).
The public and elected officials are generally
opposed to the proposed project. ICF International
is planning and implementing a substantial public
involvement effort in English and Spanish to involve
the numerous communities in the area of the new
construction and along the mainline. We also are
conducting substantial consultation with relevant
federal, state, and local agencies. We are striving
to achieve the appropriate level of analysis and
public involvement while avoiding unnecessary
delays. The FAA, U.S. Coast Guard, and National
Aeronautics and Space Administration are serving
as cooperating agencies.
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