Environmental Impact Statement: Ouachita Parish, LA, 38708-38709 [2012-15662]
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srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
38708
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 125 / Thursday, June 28, 2012 / Notices
www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 1–202–493–2251.
Mail: Docket Management Facility,
U.S. Department of Transportation,
West Building Ground Floor, Room
W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC 20590–0001.
Hand Delivery or Courier: U.S.
Department of Transportation, West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140,
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
James A. Cheatham,
james.cheatham@dot.gov, 202–366–
6221, Office of Planning, Environment,
and Realty, Federal Highway
Administration, Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., Washington, DC, 20590.
Office hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15
p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Assessment of Transportation
Planning Agency Needs, Capabilities,
and Capacity.
Background: FHWA will collect
information on the current state of the
practice, data, methods, and systems
used by state, metropolitan, regional,
local, and tribal transportation planning
entities to support their required
planning process in accordance with
Title 23 United States Code 134 and
135. This includes, but is not limited to,
information to support transportation
research, capacity building, data
collection, planning, travel modeling,
and performance management. This also
includes information about how data is
shared between planning agencies and
how it is processed and used in the
planning context. Questionnaires will
be sent to State DOT headquarters and
districts, Metropolitan Planning,
Organizations, Regional Planning
Organizations, and Tribal Governments.
FHWA anticipates that one
representative from each agency will
take approximately 30 minutes to
complete up to 4 questionnaires each
year. The questionnaires will be
administered via the Internet and
invitations to participate in the
questionnaire will be distributed via
email.
This information, once compiled, will
allow the FHWA to better understand
the existing capabilities that agencies
across the country have in support of
the planning process and the readiness
they possess to handle new and ongoing
challenges. As a result of the collected
information, FHWA will focus its efforts
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and resources on providing targeted and
meaningful support for planning and
readiness nationwide. Additionally,
FHWA will ensure that excellent
planning practices are identified will be
shared broadly across the country.
Respondents: Respondents are
representatives of State DOT
headquarters and districts, Metropolitan
Planning, Organizations, Regional
Planning Organizations, and Tribal
Governments.
Respondents: 950 respondents
annually.
Frequency: 4 per year for 3 years.
Estimated Average Burden per
Response: Approximately 30 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: Up to 1,900 hours annually.
Public Comments Invited: You are
asked to comment on any aspect of this
information collection, including: (1)
Whether the proposed collection is
necessary for the FHWA’s performance;
(2) the accuracy of the estimated
burden; (3) ways for the FHWA to
enhance the quality, usefulness, and
clarity of the collected information; and
(4) ways that the burden could be
minimized, including the use of
computer technology, without reducing
the quality of the collected information.
The agency will summarize and/or
include your comments in the request
for OMB’s clearance of this information
collection.
Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended;
and 49 CFR 1.48.
Issued on: June 22, 2012.
Steven Smith,
Chief, Information Technology Division.
[FR Doc. 2012–15921 Filed 6–27–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement:
Ouachita Parish, LA
Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
AGENCY:
The FHWA is issuing this
notice to advise the public that an
Environmental Impact Statement will be
prepared for a proposed bridge and
highway project in Ouachita Parish,
Louisiana.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Carl M. Highsmith, Project Delivery
Team Leader, Louisiana Division,
Federal Highway Administration, 5304
Flanders Drive, Suite A, Baton Rouge,
LA 70808 Telephone: 225.757.7615.
SUMMARY:
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The
Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA), in cooperation with the
Louisiana Department of Transportation
and Development (DOTD), will prepare
an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) on a proposal to construct the LA
143—US 165 Connector and Ouachita
River Bridge in Ouachita Parish,
Louisiana.
The proposed project consists of a 1.8mile highway north of the corporate
limits of West Monroe connecting
Louisiana Highway 143 (LA 143) to a
new bridge crossing of the Ouachita
River, and a 3.7-mile highway north of
the Monroe city limits connecting the
new bridge to U.S. Highway 165 (US
165). The southern connection
intersects with US 165 at the Forsythe
Avenue Extension and the future Kansas
Lane Connector. The northern
connection intersects with US 165 at
Fink’s Hideaway Road.
The LA 143—US 165 Connector and
Ouachita River Bridge project is
designed to reduce traffic congestion on
existing Ouachita River bridge crossings
north of Interstate 20, link rural
transportation facilities, and provide a
segment of independent utility for a
future, complete roadway loop around
the cities of Monroe and West Monroe
in an effort to move people and goods
more efficiently across the Ouachita
River and within rural portions of
Ouachita Parish.
The bridge location and new highway
alignments were developed in the Stage
0 Feasibility Report prepared in July
2008 and supported by the Ouachita
Council of Governments Monroe
Urbanized Metropolitan Transportation
Plan 2035 Study. Two build alternatives
proposed in the Stage 0 Report, along
with the No Build alternative, will be
evaluated in the EIS. An additional
build alternative may also be developed
for evaluation in the EIS depending
upon social, economic, and
environmental considerations made
known through formal scoping meetings
that will be held upon initiation of the
project. Incorporated into and studied
with the various build alternatives will
be design variations of grade and
alignment and a Level I Toll Study.
Letters describing the proposed action
and soliciting comments will be sent to
the appropriate Federal, State, and local
agencies and to private organizations
and citizens who have previously
expressed or are known to have an
interest in this proposal. Federal
agencies with jurisdiction by law with
regard to social, economic, and
environmental impacts of this proposal
will be requested to be a Cooperating
Agency in this matter in accordance
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 125 / Thursday, June 28, 2012 / Notices
with 40 Code of Federal Regulations
1501.6. In addition to scoping meetings,
numerous public involvement
initiatives, including public meetings,
newsletters, and stakeholder and local
official briefings, will be held
throughout the course of study. A Draft
EIS will be available for public and
agency review prior to a public hearing.
Public notice will be given, in local
newspapers, of the availability of the
Draft EIS and the time and place of all
public meetings and the public hearing.
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 at the address
provided above.
(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: June 21, 2012.
Charles W. Bolinger,
Division Administrator, Baton Rouge,
Louisiana.
[FR Doc. 2012–15662 Filed 6–27–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Surface Transportation Environment
and Planning Cooperative Research
Program (STEP)
stakeholders and partners in order to
increase the total amount of resources
available to meet the Nation’s surface
transportation research needs. The
purpose of this notice is to announce
the STEP implementation strategy for
FY 2013 and to request suggested lines
of research for the FY 2013 STEP via the
STEP Web site at https://
www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/step/index.htm
in anticipation of future surface
transportation legislation.
DATES: Suggestions for lines of research
should be submitted to the STEP Web
site on or before September 26, 2012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gabe Rousseau, Acting Director, Office
of Human Environment, (202) 366–
8044, Gabe.Rousseau@dot.gov or Seetha
Srinivasan, Office of the Chief Counsel,
(202) 366–4099; Federal Highway
Administration, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30
p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Access
This document may be viewed online
through the Federal eRulemaking portal
at: https://www.regulations.gov.
Electronic submission and retrieval help
and guidelines are available on the Web
site. It is available 24 hours each day,
366 days this year. Please follow the
instructions. An electronic copy of this
document may also be downloaded
from the Office of the Federal Register’s
home page at: https://www.archives.gov/
federal-register and the Government
Printing Office’s Web page at: https://
www.gpo.gov/fdsys.
AGENCY:
Background
Section 5207 of the Safe,
Accountable, Flexible, Efficient
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for
Users (SAFETEA–LU) established the
Surface Transportation Environment
and Planning Cooperative Research
Program (STEP). The FHWA anticipates
that the STEP or a similar program to
provide resources for national research
on issues related to planning,
environment, and realty will be
included in future surface
transportation legislation. In Fiscal Year
(FY) 2013, the FHWA expects to seek
partnerships with other Federal
agencies and tribes, State and local
governments, and nongovernmental
transportation and environmental
stakeholders that can leverage limited
research funding in the STEP with other
Section 5207 of SAFETEA–LU (Pub.
L. 109–59, Aug. 10, 2005), established
the STEP in Section 507 of Title 23,
United States Code. The FHWA
anticipates that the STEP or a similar
program to provide resources for
national research on issues related to
planning, environment, and realty will
be included in future surface
transportation legislation. The general
objective of the STEP is to improve
understanding of the complex
relationship between surface
transportation, planning, and the
environment.
The SAFETEA–LU provided $16.875
million per year for FY 2006–2009 to
implement this cooperative research
program. Due to obligation limitations,
rescissions, and congressional
designations of Title V Research in
SAFETEA–LU, an average of $14.5
million of the authorized $16.875
Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice.
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38709
million was only available each fiscal
year to help implement the cooperative
research program.
The STEP is the primary source of
funds for FHWA to conduct research
and develop tools and technologies to
advance the state of the practice
regarding national surface
transportation and environmental
decisionmaking. In FY 2013, the FHWA
expects to seek partnerships with other
Federal agencies and tribes; State and
local governments; and
nongovernmental transportation and
environmental stakeholders. These
partnerships can help leverage limited
research funding in the STEP and
increase the total amount of resources
available to meet the Nation’s surface
transportation research needs.
The FY 2013 STEP will support the
implementation of a national research
agenda that includes:
(1) Enhancing knowledge of strategies
and tools available to accelerate project
delivery while improving
environmental outcomes;
(2) Conducting research to develop
climate change mitigation, adaptation,
and livability strategies;
(3) Developing and supporting
accurate models and tools for evaluating
transportation measures and developing
indicators of economic, social, and
environmental performance of
transportation systems to facilitate
alternative analysis;
(4) Developing and deploying
research to address congestion
reduction efforts;
(5) Developing transportation safety
planning strategies for surface
transportation systems and
improvements;
(6) Improving planning, operation,
and management of surface
transportation systems and rights-ofway;
(7) Enhancing knowledge of strategies
to improve transportation in rural areas
and small communities;
(8) Strengthening and advancing
State/local and tribal capabilities
regarding surface transportation and the
environment;
(9) Improving transportation
decisionmaking and coordination across
international borders;
(10) Improving state of the practice
regarding the impact of transportation
on the environment;
(11) Conducting research to promote
environmental streamlining/
stewardship and sustainability;
(12) Exchanging knowledge and
strategies to improve performance-based
planning and programming for
transportation;
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 125 (Thursday, June 28, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38708-38709]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-15662]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: Ouachita Parish, LA
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an
Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared for a proposed bridge
and highway project in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Carl M. Highsmith, Project
Delivery Team Leader, Louisiana Division, Federal Highway
Administration, 5304 Flanders Drive, Suite A, Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Telephone: 225.757.7615.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA),
in cooperation with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and
Development (DOTD), will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) on a proposal to construct the LA 143--US 165 Connector and
Ouachita River Bridge in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana.
The proposed project consists of a 1.8-mile highway north of the
corporate limits of West Monroe connecting Louisiana Highway 143 (LA
143) to a new bridge crossing of the Ouachita River, and a 3.7-mile
highway north of the Monroe city limits connecting the new bridge to
U.S. Highway 165 (US 165). The southern connection intersects with US
165 at the Forsythe Avenue Extension and the future Kansas Lane
Connector. The northern connection intersects with US 165 at Fink's
Hideaway Road.
The LA 143--US 165 Connector and Ouachita River Bridge project is
designed to reduce traffic congestion on existing Ouachita River bridge
crossings north of Interstate 20, link rural transportation facilities,
and provide a segment of independent utility for a future, complete
roadway loop around the cities of Monroe and West Monroe in an effort
to move people and goods more efficiently across the Ouachita River and
within rural portions of Ouachita Parish.
The bridge location and new highway alignments were developed in
the Stage 0 Feasibility Report prepared in July 2008 and supported by
the Ouachita Council of Governments Monroe Urbanized Metropolitan
Transportation Plan 2035 Study. Two build alternatives proposed in the
Stage 0 Report, along with the No Build alternative, will be evaluated
in the EIS. An additional build alternative may also be developed for
evaluation in the EIS depending upon social, economic, and
environmental considerations made known through formal scoping meetings
that will be held upon initiation of the project. Incorporated into and
studied with the various build alternatives will be design variations
of grade and alignment and a Level I Toll Study.
Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will
be sent to the appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies and to
private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are
known to have an interest in this proposal. Federal agencies with
jurisdiction by law with regard to social, economic, and environmental
impacts of this proposal will be requested to be a Cooperating Agency
in this matter in accordance
[[Page 38709]]
with 40 Code of Federal Regulations 1501.6. In addition to scoping
meetings, numerous public involvement initiatives, including public
meetings, newsletters, and stakeholder and local official briefings,
will be held throughout the course of study. A Draft EIS will be
available for public and agency review prior to a public hearing.
Public notice will be given, in local newspapers, of the availability
of the Draft EIS and the time and place of all public meetings and the
public hearing.
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 at the address provided above.
(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: June 21, 2012.
Charles W. Bolinger,
Division Administrator, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
[FR Doc. 2012-15662 Filed 6-27-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P
