High-speed rail and federal law





Federal woes plague high-speed rail project

by Kathy Hamilton

for examiner.com

There has been much talk about California’s High-Speed Rail (HSR) program and the need for the project to cut the mustard in accordance with state laws. But little has been written about the federal requirements under the National Environment Policy Act. (NEPA) and other federal requirements. Though the first $8 billion was appropriated by the legislature, it doesn’t mean it can be legally spent yet.

 

One of the issues under federal law is the issue of environmental justice. The United States Environmental Protection Agency defines Environmental justice (EJ) as "the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, sex, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

 

During the Hanford hearing for the project level EIR for the Fresno to Bakersfield segment on 8/29/2012, Frank Oliveira from Citizens for High-Speed Rail Accountability (CC-HSRA) delivered key information regarding the inadequacy of environmental justice to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and HSR representatives. He let them know the Authority had not allowed the public to participate at different points in the project...

 

...On August 2, 2012 the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) adopted an Environmental Justice (EJ) Guidance policy, and although the Authority has been planning the project for over ten years, there is convincing evidence that the Authority did not consider or comply with provisions of EJ that are mandated by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) laws and regulations, said Jeff Taylor, Chairman of the Save Bakersfield Committee...

 

The Authority's Environmental Justice Guide says it "promotes the incorporation of EJ considerations into its programs, policies, and activities to mitigate disproportionate adverse impacts, particularly on minority and low-income populations.” Taylor disputes that claim and says “Unfortunately, the Authority has unfairly excluded untold thousands of people of all races and cultures from having any meaningful involvement in the early stages of the project's planning, design and decision making processes”...

 

Reporting yet another federal law violation there was a letter---46 pages in fact---sent to the FRA August 24th by the Pacific Legal Foundation. PLF is representing the American Civil Rights Foundation. They dispute the Authority’s 10% goal for disadvantaged business enterprises, which are essentially businesses owned by minorities and women who have a net worth less than around 1.3 million dollars (excluding their residence). “We argue that the CHSRA did not have a legal basis for adopting that goal,” said attorney Ralph W. Kasarda.

 

Another key question haunts the project, and that is there have been no reports that agreements have been reached with Union Pacific and BNSF that pledge cooperation with the high-speed rail project. This is a statutory condition for the FRA grants to CHSRA. This means it cannot be waived by the FRA. It applies to FRA grants made to CHSRA under both ARRA and the FY 2010 Act. The governing federal statute provides: “Grant conditions– The Secretary shall require as a condition of making any grant under this chapter for a project that uses rights-of-way owned by a railroad that- (1) a written agreement exists between the applicant and the railroad regarding such use and ownership… (49 U.S.C. 244059c).”

 

During the May 15th hearing before the Senate Joint Committee, Dan Richard said they were working with both UPRR and BNSF to obtain agreements by the end of June regarding HSR use of their respective right-of-ways for the Central Valley project. The Authority said they were close to coming to terms with the railroads.

 

So where is the Authority on the signed railroad agreements? Karen Massie, Information Officer for the California High-speed Rail, declined to comment and instead suggested I do a formal pubic records request. This was done yesterday...

 

The complete story here.