Environmental Impact Statement; Portland, OR and Vancouver/Clark County, WA, 56523-56524 [05-19230]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 186 / Tuesday, September 27, 2005 / Notices be presented to the committee at any time by providing 25 copies to the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section or by providing copies at the meeting. Copies of the document to be presented to ARAC for decision by the FAA may be made available by contacting the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. If you need assistance or require a reasonable accommodation for the meeting or meeting documents, please contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. Sign and oral interpretation, as well as a listening device, can be made available if requested 10 calendar days before the meeting. Issued in Washington, DC, on September 20, 2005. Anthony F. Fazio, Director, Office of Rulemaking. [FR Doc. 05–19207 Filed 9–26–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–13–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration Federal Transit Administration Environmental Impact Statement; Portland, OR and Vancouver/Clark County, WA Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration are issuing this notice to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for proposed highway and transit improvements in the Interstate 5 Columbia River Crossing (CRC) corridor between the Portland, Oregon and Vancouver/Clark County, Washington area. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Saxton, Area Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, Washington Division at 360–753–9411, Jeff Graham, Operations Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, Oregon Division at 503–587–4727 and from Linda Gehrke, Deputy Regional Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, at 206–220– 4463. Public information contact: Amy Echols, CRC Communications Manager, Washington State Department of VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:52 Sep 26, 2005 Jkt 205001 Transportation (WSDOT) at 360–737– 2726 or echolsa@columbiarivercrossing.org. Agency Coordination contact: Heather Gundersen, CRC Environmental Manager, Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), at 360–737– 2726 or gundersenh@columbiarivercrossing.org. Additional information on the Columbia River Crossing Project can also be found on the project Web site at https://www..columbiarivercrossing.org. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Proposed Action Background The FHWA and FTA, as Federal colead agencies, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council (RTC), Metropolitan Service District (Metro), Clark County Public Transportation Benefit Area Authority (C–TRAN), and Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet), will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on proposed highway and transit improvements in the I–5 Columbia River Crossing corridor between the Portland, Oregon and Vancouver/Clark County, Washington area. The Columbia River Crossing study area generally encompasses the I–5 corridor from the I–5/I–405 interchange in Portland, Oregon in the south to the I–5/I–205 merge in Clark County, Washington in the north. The existing I–5 crossing of the Columbia River is two side-by-side bridges, built in 1917 and 1958. In 1982 another river crossing—the Interstate 205 Glenn Jackson Bridge—opened approximately six miles to the east. Together, the two crossings connect the greater Portland-Vancouver region, carrying over 260,000 trips across the Columbia River daily. Growth in the region’s population and border-toborder commerce is straining the capacity of the two crossings. This has resulted in trip diversion, unmet travel demand and hours of daily congestion that stalls commuters and delay freight, adversely affecting interstate traffic and commerce. In 1998, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) formed a bi-state partnership to study transportation and potential solutions in the I–5 Columbia River Crossing corridor. ODOT and WSDOT engaged local jurisdictions and agencies, businesses, neighborhoods, and interest groups in Washington and Oregon to plan and implement improvements along the I–5 corridor PO 00000 Frm 00084 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 56523 between the Portland metropolitan area and Vancouver in southern Clark County, Washington. Two studies resulted from this initial work: the Portland/Vancouver I–5 Trade Corridor Freight Feasibility and Needs Assessment Study Final Report, completed in 2000, and the Portland/ Vancouver I–5 Transportation and Trade Partnership Final Strategic Plan, completed in 2002. This bi-state work included a variety of recommendations for corridor-wide improvements, traffic management and improvements in the I–5 Bridge Influence Area (BIA)—an approximately 5-mile section of the I–5 corridor extending from the SR 500 interchange north of the river to Columbia Boulevard south of the river. Other significant transportation studies in the corridor include the South/North Major Investment Study (MIS) Final Report (1995) and the South/North Corridor Project Draft EIS (1998). These studies investigated a variety of high capacity transit corridors and modes between the Portland, Oregon area and Vancouver/Clark County, Washington. Building on the previous studies, the I–5 Transportation and Trade Partnership Strategic Plan (2002), called for adding capacity over the Columbia River with a replacement bridge or by supplementing existing I–5 bridges to ease impacts of bottlenecks on local travel and interstate commerce. Another recommendation called for considering high-capacity transit improvements in the area of the I–5 Interstate Bridge over the Columbia River. The studies also stressed looking at a range of financing options, increasing general purpose lane capacity to three lanes where there are currently two at Delta Park and ensuring that low-income and minority populations within the corridor are involved in planning. ODOT is undertaking an Environmental Assessment at Delta Park. The Columbia River Crossing Project will study thse recommendations as well as others associated with the Bridge Influence Area. Alternatives A reasonable range of alternatives, including those identified in the Portland/Vancouver I–5 Transportation and Trade Partnership Final Strategic Plan and the South/North Corridor Project Draft EIS, will be considered. The EIS will include a range of highway and transit build alternatives, as well as a No-Build Alternative. Probable Effects FHWA, FTA, WSDOT, ODOT, RTC, Metro, C–TRAN, and TriMet will E:\FR\FM\27SEN1.SGM 27SEN1 56524 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 186 / Tuesday, September 27, 2005 / Notices evaluate significant transportation, environmental, social, and economic impacts of the alternatives. Potential areas of impact include: support of state, regional, and local land use and transportation plans and policies, neighborhoods, land use and economics, cultural resources, environmental justice, and natural resources. All impacts will be evaluated for both the construction period and the long-term period of operation. Measures to avoid, minimize and mitigate any significant impacts will be developed. Scoping Process Agency Coordination: The project sponsors are working with the local, state and federal resource agencies to implement regular opportunities for coordination during the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. This process will comply with SAFETEA–LU Section 6002. Tribal Coordination: The formal Tribal government consultation will occur through government-togovernment collaboration. Public Meetings: Three public information meetings will be held in October 2005, including: • Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11 a.m.–2 p.m., at the Jantzen Beach Super Center (central mall area), 1405 Jantzen Beach Center, Portland, Oregon; • Tuesday, October 25, 2005, 4 p.m.– 8 p.m., at Clark College, Gaiser Hall, 1800 E. McLoughlin Blvd., Vancover, Washington 98663; and • Thursday, October 27, 2005, 4 p.m.–8 p.m., at OAME (Oregon Association of Minority Enterpreneurs) Main Conference Room, 4134 N. Vancouver St. (at N. Skidmore St.), Portland, OR 97211. All public information meeting locations are accessible to persons with disabilities. Any individual who requires special assistance, such as a sign language interpreter, should contact Amy Echols, CRC Communications Manager at 360–737– 2726 or echolsa@columbiarivercrossing.org at least 48-hours in advance of the meeting in order for WSDOT or ODOT to make necessary arrangement. To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed action are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments and suggestions are invited from interested parties. Comments or questions concerning this proposal will be accepted at the public meetings or can be sent to the Columbia River Crossing project office at 700 Washington Street, Suite 222, Vancouver, WA 98660 or to Heather VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:52 Sep 26, 2005 Jkt 205001 Gundersen at gundersenh@columbiarivercrossing.org (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this program.) Issued on: September 20, 2005. Steve Saxton, Area Engineer, Washington Division, Federal Highway Administration. Linda M. Gehre, Acting Regional Administrator, Region 10, Federal Transit Administration. [FR Doc. 05–19230 Filed 9–26–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–22–M DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration [Docket No. PHMSA–05–21747; Notice 2] Pipeline Safety: Grant of Waiver; Southern LNG Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA); U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Grant of Waiver; Southern LNG. AGENCY: SUMMARY: Southern LNG (SLNG) requested a waiver of compliance from the regulatory requirements at 49 CFR 193.2301, which requires each liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility constructed after March 31, 2000, to comply with 49 CFR part 193 and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard NFPA 59A ‘‘Standard for Production, Storage, and Handling of Liquefied Natural Gas.’’ SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background SLNG, an El Paso Company, requested a waiver from § 193.2301. This regulation requires each LNG facility constructed after March 31, 2000, to comply with 49 CFR part 193 and Standard NFPA 59A. Standard NFPA 59A requires that welded containers designed for not more than 15 pounds per square inch gauge comply with the Eighth Edition, 1990, of American Petroleum Institute (API) Standard API 620, ‘‘Design and Construction of Large, Welded, LowPressure Storage Tanks (Appendix Q).’’ The Eighth Edition of API 620 requires inspection according to Appendix Q which calls for a full radiographic examination of all vertical and horizontal butt welds associated with the container. PO 00000 Frm 00085 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 SLNG is proposing to use the current Tenth Edition, Addendum 1, of API 620. The Tenth Edition, Addendum 1, of API 620, allows ultrasonic examination—in lieu of radiography—as an acceptable alternative non-destructive testing method. SLNG proposes to use ultrasonic examination on its project, which consists of full semi-automated and manual ultrasonic examination using shear wave probes. SLNG also proposes to use a volumetric ultrasonic examination which combines creep wave probes and focused angled longitudinal waive probes. Findings PHMSA considered SLNG’s waiver request and published a notice inviting interested persons to comment on whether a waiver should be granted (70 FR 40781; July 14, 2005). There were two comments from the public in response to the notice; both were in support of the waiver. One commenter, a member of the API Committee on Refinery Equipment, Subcommittee on Pressure Vessels and Tanks, said that the use of ultrasonic examination in lieu of radiographic examination for large LNG tanks improves jobsite safety because it eliminates the hazards of radiation exposure. This commenter also said that ultrasonic examination is more capable than radiographic examination for detecting crack-like weld defects. The other commenter provided a copy of NFPA 59A Report on Comments, dated May 2005 and stated that the NFPA 59A Committee approved the latest edition of API 620. The 2006 edition of NFPA 59A was approved as an American National Standard on August 18, 2005. Grant of Waiver In its Report on Comments, dated May 2005, the NFPA 59A Committee accepted in principle the latest edition of API 620, Tenth Edition, Addendum 1. The Tenth Edition, Addendum 1, of API 620 adds ultrasonic examination as an acceptable method of examination. The Tenth Edition, Addendum 1, of API 620 indicates that both radiographic and ultrasonic examination are acceptable means of testing. For the reasons explained above and in the Notice dated July 14, 2005, PHMSA finds that the requested waiver is consistent with pipeline safety and that an equivalent level of safety can be achieved. Therefore, SLNG’s request for waiver of compliance with § 193.2301 is granted. E:\FR\FM\27SEN1.SGM 27SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 27, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56523-56524]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-19230]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

Federal Transit Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Portland, OR and Vancouver/Clark 
County, WA

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA), 
Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit 
Administration are issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for proposed 
highway and transit improvements in the Interstate 5 Columbia River 
Crossing (CRC) corridor between the Portland, Oregon and Vancouver/
Clark County, Washington area.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Saxton, Area Engineer, Federal 
Highway Administration, Washington Division at 360-753-9411, Jeff 
Graham, Operations Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, Oregon 
Division at 503-587-4727 and from Linda Gehrke, Deputy Regional 
Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, at 206-220-4463.
    Public information contact: Amy Echols, CRC Communications Manager, 
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) at 360-737-2726 
or echolsa@columbiarivercrossing.org.
    Agency Coordination contact: Heather Gundersen, CRC Environmental 
Manager, Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), at 360-737-2726 or 
gundersenh@columbiarivercrossing.org.
    Additional information on the Columbia River Crossing Project can 
also be found on the project Web site at https://
www..columbiarivercrossing.org.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Proposed Action Background

    The FHWA and FTA, as Federal co-lead agencies, the Washington State 
Department of Transportation (WSDOT), Oregon Department of 
Transportation (ODOT), Southwest Washington Regional Transportation 
Council (RTC), Metropolitan Service District (Metro), Clark County 
Public Transportation Benefit Area Authority (C-TRAN), and Tri-County 
Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet), will prepare 
an environmental impact statement (EIS) on proposed highway and transit 
improvements in the I-5 Columbia River Crossing corridor between the 
Portland, Oregon and Vancouver/Clark County, Washington area. The 
Columbia River Crossing study area generally encompasses the I-5 
corridor from the I-5/I-405 interchange in Portland, Oregon in the 
south to the I-5/I-205 merge in Clark County, Washington in the north.
    The existing I-5 crossing of the Columbia River is two side-by-side 
bridges, built in 1917 and 1958. In 1982 another river crossing--the 
Interstate 205 Glenn Jackson Bridge--opened approximately six miles to 
the east. Together, the two crossings connect the greater Portland-
Vancouver region, carrying over 260,000 trips across the Columbia River 
daily. Growth in the region's population and border-to-border commerce 
is straining the capacity of the two crossings. This has resulted in 
trip diversion, unmet travel demand and hours of daily congestion that 
stalls commuters and delay freight, adversely affecting interstate 
traffic and commerce.
    In 1998, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) 
and Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) formed a bi-state 
partnership to study transportation and potential solutions in the I-5 
Columbia River Crossing corridor. ODOT and WSDOT engaged local 
jurisdictions and agencies, businesses, neighborhoods, and interest 
groups in Washington and Oregon to plan and implement improvements 
along the I-5 corridor between the Portland metropolitan area and 
Vancouver in southern Clark County, Washington. Two studies resulted 
from this initial work: the Portland/Vancouver I-5 Trade Corridor 
Freight Feasibility and Needs Assessment Study Final Report, completed 
in 2000, and the Portland/Vancouver I-5 Transportation and Trade 
Partnership Final Strategic Plan, completed in 2002. This bi-state work 
included a variety of recommendations for corridor-wide improvements, 
traffic management and improvements in the I-5 Bridge Influence Area 
(BIA)--an approximately 5-mile section of the I-5 corridor extending 
from the SR 500 interchange north of the river to Columbia Boulevard 
south of the river.
    Other significant transportation studies in the corridor include 
the South/North Major Investment Study (MIS) Final Report (1995) and 
the South/North Corridor Project Draft EIS (1998). These studies 
investigated a variety of high capacity transit corridors and modes 
between the Portland, Oregon area and Vancouver/Clark County, 
Washington.
    Building on the previous studies, the I-5 Transportation and Trade 
Partnership Strategic Plan (2002), called for adding capacity over the 
Columbia River with a replacement bridge or by supplementing existing 
I-5 bridges to ease impacts of bottlenecks on local travel and 
interstate commerce. Another recommendation called for considering 
high-capacity transit improvements in the area of the I-5 Interstate 
Bridge over the Columbia River. The studies also stressed looking at a 
range of financing options, increasing general purpose lane capacity to 
three lanes where there are currently two at Delta Park and ensuring 
that low-income and minority populations within the corridor are 
involved in planning. ODOT is undertaking an Environmental Assessment 
at Delta Park. The Columbia River Crossing Project will study thse 
recommendations as well as others associated with the Bridge Influence 
Area.

Alternatives

    A reasonable range of alternatives, including those identified in 
the Portland/Vancouver I-5 Transportation and Trade Partnership Final 
Strategic Plan and the South/North Corridor Project Draft EIS, will be 
considered. The EIS will include a range of highway and transit build 
alternatives, as well as a No-Build Alternative.

Probable Effects

    FHWA, FTA, WSDOT, ODOT, RTC, Metro, C-TRAN, and TriMet will

[[Page 56524]]

evaluate significant transportation, environmental, social, and 
economic impacts of the alternatives. Potential areas of impact 
include: support of state, regional, and local land use and 
transportation plans and policies, neighborhoods, land use and 
economics, cultural resources, environmental justice, and natural 
resources. All impacts will be evaluated for both the construction 
period and the long-term period of operation. Measures to avoid, 
minimize and mitigate any significant impacts will be developed.

Scoping Process

    Agency Coordination: The project sponsors are working with the 
local, state and federal resource agencies to implement regular 
opportunities for coordination during the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) process. This process will comply with SAFETEA-LU Section 
6002.
    Tribal Coordination: The formal Tribal government consultation will 
occur through government-to-government collaboration.
    Public Meetings: Three public information meetings will be held in 
October 2005, including:
     Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Jantzen 
Beach Super Center (central mall area), 1405 Jantzen Beach Center, 
Portland, Oregon;
     Tuesday, October 25, 2005, 4 p.m.-8 p.m., at Clark 
College, Gaiser Hall, 1800 E. McLoughlin Blvd., Vancover, Washington 
98663; and
     Thursday, October 27, 2005, 4 p.m.-8 p.m., at OAME (Oregon 
Association of Minority Enterpreneurs) Main Conference Room, 4134 N. 
Vancouver St. (at N. Skidmore St.), Portland, OR 97211.
    All public information meeting locations are accessible to persons 
with disabilities. Any individual who requires special assistance, such 
as a sign language interpreter, should contact Amy Echols, CRC 
Communications Manager at 360-737-2726 or 
echolsa@columbiarivercrossing.org at least 48-hours in advance of the 
meeting in order for WSDOT or ODOT to make necessary arrangement.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments 
and suggestions are invited from interested parties. Comments or 
questions concerning this proposal will be accepted at the public 
meetings or can be sent to the Columbia River Crossing project office 
at 700 Washington Street, Suite 222, Vancouver, WA 98660 or to Heather 
Gundersen at gundersenh@columbiarivercrossing.org

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing 
Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on 
Federal programs and activities apply to this program.)

    Issued on: September 20, 2005.
Steve Saxton,
Area Engineer, Washington Division, Federal Highway Administration.
Linda M. Gehre,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 10, Federal Transit 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 05-19230 Filed 9-26-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M
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