[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 221 (Monday, November 17, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68502-68503]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-27110]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: Juneau, Sauk, and Columbia
Counties, Wisconsin
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Wisconsin Department of
Transportation (WisDOT).
ACTION: Federal Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS).
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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for a proposed
freeway corridor improvement project on I-90/94 from Wisconsin Dells to
Portage in Juneau, Sauk, and Columbia Counties in south-central
Wisconsin.
[[Page 68503]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tracey Blankenship, Major Projects
Program Manager, Federal Highway Administration, 525 Junction Road,
Suite 8000, Madison, Wisconsin 53717-2157, Telephone: (608) 829-7510.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Wisconsin
Department of Transportation (WisDOT), will prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for proposed improvements in the I-90/94
corridor and adjacent local road systems from the US 12/WIS 16
interchange (2 miles north of Wisconsin Dells) to the I-39 interchange
(south of Portage), approximately 25 miles. The project limits include
operational areas of influence at each interchange. The purpose of this
project is to address pavement and bridge structural needs; highway and
roadside safety issues and design deficiencies; accommodate existing
and projected traffic volumes; and improve the transportation system's
ability to support local and regional tourism economies in the
Wisconsin Dells area and northern Wisconsin. The EIS will evaluate a
range of alternatives for the I-90/94 mainline and system interchanges,
adjacent arterial roads, and connections to the local road network.
This may result in full reconstruction and redesign of the I-90/94
corridor in this area and rebuilding existing interchanges. The EIS
will be prepared in accordance with 23 USC 139, 23 CFR 771, and 40 CFR
1500-1508. Completion of the EIS is expected in 2018 and the Record of
Decision (ROD) in 2019.
Public involvement is a critical component of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and will occur throughout the
development of the draft and final Environmental Impact Statement. All
environmental documents will be made available for review by federal
and state resource agencies and the public. Specific efforts to
encourage involvement by, and solicit comments from, minority and low-
income populations in the project study area will be made, with public
involvement meetings held throughout the environmental document
process. Public notice will be given as to the time and place of public
involvement meetings. A public hearing will be held after the
completion of the Draft EIS.
Inquiries related to this study can be sent to
[email protected]. A public Web site will be maintained
throughout the study to provide information about the project and allow
for on-line public comment (http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/projects/swregion/9094/index.htm). To ensure the full range of issues related to
the proposed action are addressed and all significant issues
identified, comments and suggestions are invited from all interested
parties. Comments and questions concerning the proposed action and the
EIS should be directed to the FHWA address provided above.
Projects receiving Federal funds must comply with Title VI of the
Civil Rights Act, and Executive Order 12898 ``Federal Actions to
Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income
Populations.'' Federal law prohibits discrimination on the basis of
race, color, age, sex, or country of national origin in the
implementation of this project. It is also Federal policy to identify
and address any disproportionately high and adverse effects of federal
projects on the health or environment of minority and low-income
populations to the greatest extent practicable and permitted by law.
(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; 49 CFR 1.48.
Issued on: November 7, 2014.
Johnny M. Gerbitz,
Field Operations Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, Madison,
Wisconsin.
[FR Doc. 2014-27110 Filed 11-14-14; 8:45 am]
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