Notice of 15-Day Public Comment Period

on Section 106 Draft Memorandum of Agreement

for the New Hampshire Northcoast Infrastructure Project

The public is invited to review and comment on a Draft Section 106 Memorandum of Agreement (“MOA”) for the proposed New Hampshire Northcoast Infrastructure Project between Rollinsford, NH in Strafford County and Ossipee, NH in Carroll County (“Project”).

New Hampshire Northcoast Corp. (“NHN”) has received a federal grant under the Fiscal Year 2020 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program – Agreement Number 69A36521402980CRSNH as amended (“Grant”). This grant will partially fund a variety of rail- related safety improvements along 42-miles of railroad corridor, including proposed repairs and upgrades to the Haven Hill Road Bridge in Rochester, Strafford County, NH (“Bridge’).

The Federal Railroad Administration (“FRA”), who is the grant administrator, must comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (“Section 106”) before authorizing the use of FRA/USDOT funds for the Project. Section 106 requires federal agencies to: identify and evaluate historic properties; assess effects of the project on historic properties; and resolve any adverse effects. The Project has been determined to have an adverse effect on the Bridge, which is a historic property; the adverse effect will be resolved through the execution of a Section 106 MOA. A Draft Section 106 MOA has been developed to codify the resolution of adverse effects created by the Project. The FRA and NHN now seek public comment on the Draft Section 106 MOA and the Stipulations described within.

The Draft Section 106 MOA and its attachments can be viewed at:

https://www.regulations.gov/document/FRA-2023-0015-0001

Comments can be shared directly with the FRA by visiting the regulations.gov link above or by searching regulations.gov for Docket Number FRA-2023-0015.

The 15-day public comment period is open between April 3, 2023 and April 18, 2023.