Environmental Impact Statement: Deschutes County, OR, 73420-73421 [E7-25023]

Download as PDF mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES 73420 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 247 / Thursday, December 27, 2007 / Notices pedestrian safety along the existing truck route; and reduce travel time from NY Route 60 to the industrial corridor. The reasonable range of alternatives will include a No-Build Alternative and three Build Alternatives, which are briefly described below. Additional input from Participating and Cooperating Agencies, and from the public, will be necessary before a final decision will be made regarding the full range of alternatives to be studied. • The No-Build Alternative would utilize the existing truck route in its current condition. This alternative would maintain the existing truck route along NY Route 60 to NY Route 5 (Lakeshore Drive) to CR 82 in its present state with only routine maintenance to keep the existing truck route open to traffic. • The Build Alternatives are: Improving the existing truck route; improving other existing routes; or constructing a new urban collector on new alignment by utilizing existing and/ or new roads. Incorporated into and studied with the various build alternatives will be design variations of grade and alignment. The purpose of the Millennium Parkway Project is to improve tractortrailer truck traffic access to the industrial corridor, including the Chadwick Bay Industrial Park, from NY Route 60. In order to meet this purpose, the project limits have been sufficiently delineated to include the industrial corridor. The western boundary of the Project Limits has been established as the existing truck route along NY Route 60, since the tractor-trailer truck traffic currently passing through the City of Dunkirk utilizes this route. The northern boundary of the project limits has been established as the remaining portion of the existing truck route along NY Route 5 and CR 82 as well as the CSX Transportation (CSXT) Railroad, to avoid any additional railroad crossings. The eastern boundary of the project limits has been established as Harrington Road, CR 82, and Cook Road to avoid conflicts with the Dunkirk Airport. Finally, the southern boundary of the project limits has been established as Interstate 90 (I–90) to avoid conflicts with this route (I–90). The limits considered to define the bounds of the affected environment for the environmental assessment of the Build Alternatives, which vary slightly from the Project Limits, are generally as follows: northwest along NY Route 60 from the intersection with I–90, Interchange 59; east then north along the City of Dunkirk city limit line; northeast along the CSXT Railroad; south along the existing alignments of VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:00 Dec 26, 2007 Jkt 214001 Harrington Road, CR 82, and Cook Road; then southwest along the existing alignment of I–90. The anticipated length of the proposed roadway will be determined based on the preferred alternative. The highway’s southern terminus would be located at NY Route 60, north of I–90, Interchange 59, and its northern terminus would be located in the vicinity of the industrial corridor. Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and to private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are known to have interest in this proposal. As part of the formal scoping process for this project, a series of public meetings will be held in the towns of Dunkirk and Sheridan this fall. Public notice will be given regarding the time and place of the meetings. The draft EIS will be available for public and agency reviews and comment prior to a public hearing. The draft EIS is expected to be completed in the spring of 2009. 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 all interested parties. Comments or questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS should be directed to the FHWA, NYSDOT, or CCDPF at the addresses provided earlier. (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.) Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 23 CFR 771.123. Issued on: December 19, 2007. Jeffrey W. Kolb, Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Albany, New York. [FR Doc. E7–25027 Filed 12–26–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–22–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration Environmental Impact Statement: Deschutes County, OR Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of intent. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is issuing this notice of intent to advise agencies and the public than an Environmental PO 00000 Frm 00111 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared to assess the impacts of proposed modifications to U.S. 97 in Deschutes County, Oregon. DATES: A public scoping meeting will be held Thursday, January 24, 2008, at the Sky View Middle School Commons 63555 18th Street, Bend, Oregon 97701. The public scoping meeting will include an informational presentation from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. The informational presentation will be followed by a question and answer period and a general open house from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. An agency scoping meeting will be held on January 10, 2008, at ODOT Region 4, Construction Office Conference Room, 63030 O.B. Riley Road, Bend, Oregon 97701. The agency scoping meeting will be from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. FOR FUTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Michelle Eraut, Environmental Program Manager, Federal Highway Administration, 530 Center Street, NE., Suite 100, Salem, Oregon 97301; telephone 503–587–4716. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), will prepare an EIS for the proposed modifications to U.S. 97 in Deschutes County, Oregon. The proposed improvements may involve the reconstruction or realignment of the existing U.S. 97 roadway between the Bend Parkway/Empire Avenue and Deschutes Market Road-Tumalo Junction interchanges. Improvements to the corridor are considered necessary to meet the mobility standards and facility management goals consistent with U.S. 97’s designation as a statewide expressway, address current and future transportation demand, and improve safety along the corridor including the intersections of U.S. 97 with Cooley and Robal Roads. Current traffic volumes exceed roadway capacity. Traffic is expected to increase 20 to 40% by 2032. The intersections of U.S. 97 with Cooley and Robal Roads are in the top 5 percent of crash locations on state highways within Oregon. The northern portion of the project is located in a predominately rural area. Lands on the eastern side of the highway are being considered for inclusion into the City of Bend’s Urban Growth Boundary. The middle portion of the project begins the transition from rural to urban uses, with the number of accesses increasing. Access to rural residential uses are located on the west side of the highway and access to two mobile home parks are located on the eastern side of the highway. The E:\FR\FM\27DEN1.SGM 27DEN1 mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 247 / Thursday, December 27, 2007 / Notices southern portion of the project is within a high-growth urban commercial setting with regional big box retail uses and a large retail mall on the west side of the highway. Smaller regional and local retail and manufacturing businesses are on the east side of the highway. The EIS will identify transportation needs and deficiencies in the project study area, including safety, mobility, access, safety, system linkages and continuity. The range of alternatives evaluated in the EIS will be developed to meet the identified purpose and need. Potential alternatives and combinations thereof may include, but are not limited to: (1) No action; (2) reroute U.S. 97 on a westerly alignment; and (3) reroute U.S. 973 on an easterly alignment. Design variations of potential alternatives will also be studied, as appropriate. A refinement plan for U.S. 97 & U.S. 20 was completed in May 2007. Information from the refinement plan may be utilized as appropriate in the development of this EIS. The EIS will be initiated with a scoping process. The scoping process will include a program of public outreach and agency coordination conducted over the next several months to elicit input of project purpose and need, potential alternatives, significant and insignificant issues, and collaborative methods of analyzing transportation alternatives and environmental impacts. A series of public, agency and tribal meetings will be held in early 2008 and continue throughout the development of the EIS. The public outreach program will include multiple public meetings conducted by ODOT as well as coordination with the Technical Management Team, the Citizens Advisory Committee and the Project Steering Team. The Technical Management Team is comprised of technical representatives from ODOT, the City of Bend, Deschutes County and the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development. The Citizens Advisory Committee is comprised of the public representing neighborhood and business interests in the project areas. The Project Steering Team is comprised of policy representatives from ODOT, the City of Bend and Deschutes County. A public hearing will be held in connection with the release of the draft EIS. Public notice will be given regarding the time and place of the public meetings and hearings. An internet website has been established at: https://www.US97solutions.org and will be operational beginning January 10, 2008. This website and other communication media will be utilized VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:00 Dec 26, 2007 Jkt 214001 throughout the process to provide public information and to receive comments. All comments and input received during the EIS process will be considered and documented. The FHWA and ODOT will evaluate significant transportation, environmental, social and economic impacts of the project alternatives. Potential areas of impact include: neighborhoods, businesses, natural resources and environmental justice. Measures to avoid, minimize and mitigate any significant adverse impacts will be developed. Comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties, to ensure that the full range of issues related to this project are addressed and all significant issues are identified. Comments or questions regarding the proposed action and the EIS should be directed to the FHWA at the address provided above. Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315. Issued on: December 18, 2007. Michelle Eraut, Environmental Program Manager, Salem, Oregon. [FR Doc. E7–25023 Filed 12–26–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–22–P 73421 are welcome and must be filed by January 18, 2008. DATES: The meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 9, 2008, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday, January 10, 2008, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the Westin Seattle Hotel, 1900 Fifth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101. The hotel’s phone number is 206–728–1000. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Lolich, (202) 366–0704; Maritime Administration, MAR–540, Room W21–309, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Washington, DC 20590–0001; richard.lolich@dot.gov. Authority: 5 U.S.C. App 2, Sec. 9(a)(2); 41 CFR 101–6. 1005; DOT Order 1120.3B. Dated: December 17, 2007. By order of the Maritime Administrator. Christine Gurland, Acting Secretary, Maritime Administration. [FR Doc. E7–25009 Filed 12–26–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–81–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Surface Transportation Board [STB Ex Parte No. 290 (Sub No. 5) (2008– 1)] DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Quarterly Rail Cost Adjustment Factor Maritime Administration Surface Transportation Board. Approval of rail cost adjustment AGENCY: Marine Transportation System National Advisory Council ACTION: National Advisory Council public meeting. SUMMARY: The Board has approved the rebased first quarter 2008 rail cost adjustment factor (RCAF) and cost index filed by the Association of American Railroads. As required by statute, the RCAF is rebased using the fourth quarter 2007 index value as the denominator and first quarter 2008 index value as the numerator (10/1/07 = 1.00). Rebasing is required every five years. The rebased first quarter 2008 RCAF (Unadjusted) is 1.050. The rebased first quarter 2008 RCAF (Adjusted) is 0.486. The rebased first quarter 2008 RCAF–5 is 0.461. EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2008. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pedro Ramirez, (202) 245–0333. [Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) for the hearing impaired: 1–800–877–8339.] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Additional information is contained in the Board’s decision, which is available on our Web site https://www.stb.dot.gov. To purchase a copy of the full decision, write to, e-mail, or call the Board’s contractor, ASAP Document Solutions, 9332 Annapolis Rd., Suite 103, Lanham, MD 20706; e-mail asapdc@verizon.net; ACTION: SUMMARY: The Maritime Administration announces that the Marine Transportation System National Advisory Council (MTSNAC) will hold a meeting to discuss an expanded Marine Transportation System outreach and education program that addresses future workforce needs, environmental issues, and freight mobility; public and private sector data collection efforts; and addressing MTSNAC’s ten public/ private recommendations. A public comment period is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Thursday, January 10. 2008. To provide time for as many people to speak as possible, speaking time for each individual will be limited to three minutes. Members of the public who would like to speak are asked to contact Richard J. Lolich by January 2, 2008. Commenters will be placed on the agenda in the order in which notifications are received. If time allows, additional comments will be permitted. Copies of oral comments must be submitted in writing at the meeting. Additional written comments PO 00000 Frm 00112 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 factor. E:\FR\FM\27DEN1.SGM 27DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 247 (Thursday, December 27, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73420-73421]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-25023]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Deschutes County, OR

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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

SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is issuing this 
notice of intent to advise agencies and the public than an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared to assess the 
impacts of proposed modifications to U.S. 97 in Deschutes County, 
Oregon.

DATES: A public scoping meeting will be held Thursday, January 24, 
2008, at the Sky View Middle School Commons 63555 18th Street, Bend, 
Oregon 97701. The public scoping meeting will include an informational 
presentation from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. The informational presentation will 
be followed by a question and answer period and a general open house 
from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. An agency scoping meeting will be held on 
January 10, 2008, at ODOT Region 4, Construction Office Conference 
Room, 63030 O.B. Riley Road, Bend, Oregon 97701. The agency scoping 
meeting will be from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

FOR FUTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Michelle Eraut, Environmental 
Program Manager, Federal Highway Administration, 530 Center Street, 
NE., Suite 100, Salem, Oregon 97301; telephone 503-587-4716.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Oregon 
Department of Transportation (ODOT), will prepare an EIS for the 
proposed modifications to U.S. 97 in Deschutes County, Oregon. The 
proposed improvements may involve the reconstruction or realignment of 
the existing U.S. 97 roadway between the Bend Parkway/Empire Avenue and 
Deschutes Market Road-Tumalo Junction interchanges.
    Improvements to the corridor are considered necessary to meet the 
mobility standards and facility management goals consistent with U.S. 
97's designation as a statewide expressway, address current and future 
transportation demand, and improve safety along the corridor including 
the intersections of U.S. 97 with Cooley and Robal Roads. Current 
traffic volumes exceed roadway capacity. Traffic is expected to 
increase 20 to 40% by 2032. The intersections of U.S. 97 with Cooley 
and Robal Roads are in the top 5 percent of crash locations on state 
highways within Oregon.
    The northern portion of the project is located in a predominately 
rural area. Lands on the eastern side of the highway are being 
considered for inclusion into the City of Bend's Urban Growth Boundary. 
The middle portion of the project begins the transition from rural to 
urban uses, with the number of accesses increasing. Access to rural 
residential uses are located on the west side of the highway and access 
to two mobile home parks are located on the eastern side of the 
highway. The

[[Page 73421]]

southern portion of the project is within a high-growth urban 
commercial setting with regional big box retail uses and a large retail 
mall on the west side of the highway. Smaller regional and local retail 
and manufacturing businesses are on the east side of the highway.
    The EIS will identify transportation needs and deficiencies in the 
project study area, including safety, mobility, access, safety, system 
linkages and continuity. The range of alternatives evaluated in the EIS 
will be developed to meet the identified purpose and need. Potential 
alternatives and combinations thereof may include, but are not limited 
to: (1) No action; (2) reroute U.S. 97 on a westerly alignment; and (3) 
reroute U.S. 973 on an easterly alignment. Design variations of 
potential alternatives will also be studied, as appropriate. A 
refinement plan for U.S. 97 & U.S. 20 was completed in May 2007. 
Information from the refinement plan may be utilized as appropriate in 
the development of this EIS.
    The EIS will be initiated with a scoping process. The scoping 
process will include a program of public outreach and agency 
coordination conducted over the next several months to elicit input of 
project purpose and need, potential alternatives, significant and 
insignificant issues, and collaborative methods of analyzing 
transportation alternatives and environmental impacts.
    A series of public, agency and tribal meetings will be held in 
early 2008 and continue throughout the development of the EIS. The 
public outreach program will include multiple public meetings conducted 
by ODOT as well as coordination with the Technical Management Team, the 
Citizens Advisory Committee and the Project Steering Team. The 
Technical Management Team is comprised of technical representatives 
from ODOT, the City of Bend, Deschutes County and the Oregon Department 
of Land Conservation and Development. The Citizens Advisory Committee 
is comprised of the public representing neighborhood and business 
interests in the project areas. The Project Steering Team is comprised 
of policy representatives from ODOT, the City of Bend and Deschutes 
County.
    A public hearing will be held in connection with the release of the 
draft EIS. Public notice will be given regarding the time and place of 
the public meetings and hearings. An internet website has been 
established at: https://www.US97solutions.org and will be operational 
beginning January 10, 2008. This website and other communication media 
will be utilized throughout the process to provide public information 
and to receive comments. All comments and input received during the EIS 
process will be considered and documented.
    The FHWA and ODOT will evaluate significant transportation, 
environmental, social and economic impacts of the project alternatives. 
Potential areas of impact include: neighborhoods, businesses, natural 
resources and environmental justice. Measures to avoid, minimize and 
mitigate any significant adverse impacts will be developed.
    Comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties, 
to ensure that the full range of issues related to this project are 
addressed and all significant issues are identified. Comments or 
questions regarding the proposed action and the EIS should be directed 
to the FHWA at the address provided above.

    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315.

    Issued on: December 18, 2007.
Michelle Eraut,
Environmental Program Manager, Salem, Oregon.
 [FR Doc. E7-25023 Filed 12-26-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P

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