[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 229 (Monday, November 30, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74833-74834]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30277]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration Revised Notice of Intent To
Prepare a Tier 1 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 purpose of this NOI is to update the notice that was
issued in the Federal Register Vol. 79 No. 221, Monday, November 17,
2014, Notices. The FHWA is issuing this revised notice to advise the
public that FHWA and WisDOT will be preparing a Tier 1 Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for proposed transportation improvements along
the Interstate (I)-90/94 corridor, from United States Highway (US) 12/
Wisconsin State Highway (WIS) 16 Interchange to the I-39/WIS 78
interchange in Juneau, Sauk, and Columbia Counties in Wisconsin.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Johnny Gerbitz, Field Operations
Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 525 Junction Road, Suite
8000, Madison, Wisconsin, 53717-2157, Telephone: (608) 829-7511. You
may also contact Steve Krebs, Director, Bureau of Technical Services,
Wisconsin Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 7965, Madison,
Wisconsin, 53707-7965, Telephone: (608) 246-7930.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FHWA, in cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of
Transportation (WisDOT), will prepare a Tier 1 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/WIS 78 interchange (south of
Portage), approximately 25 miles. The project limits include
operational areas of influence at each interchange. The preliminary
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.
FHWA's decision to prepare an EIS is based on the initial review
that indicates the proposed action is likely to have significant
impacts on the environment, including wetlands. The study began
preparing a traditional Draft EIS for the corridor, but due to project
complexity and funding limitations, FHWA and WisDOT have decided to
prepare a Tiered EIS. The Tiered EIS approach will allow FHWA and
WisDOT to bring forward portions of the project as needs dictate and as
funding becomes available.
The Tier 1 EIS document will analyze the project on a broad scale
and identify a preferred corridor location for potential future
improvements. The Tier 1 EIS will evaluate the social, economic, and
environmental impacts for a range of alternatives within the existing
I-90/94 corridor and improvements along other corridors. The Tier 1 EIS
will be prepared in accordance with 23 U.S.C. 139, 23 CFR771, and 40
CFR parts 1500-1508. Completion of the Tier 1 EIS and the Record of
Decision (ROD) is expected in 2018.
Subsequent Tier 2 environmental documents will be prepared with a
greater degree of engineering detail for specific improvements in the
remainder of the corridor. The alternative analysis in the Tier 2
documents will include, but is not limited to, the alternatives that
have been developed as part of the previous EIS study.
Public involvement is a critical component of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and will occur throughout the
development of the draft and final Tier 1 EIS. 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 Tier 1 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 (http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/projects/swregion/9094/index.htm). To ensure
[[Page 74834]]
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.)
Dated: November 23, 2015.
Johnny M. Gerbitz,
Field Operations Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, Madison,
Wisconsin.
[FR Doc. 2015-30277 Filed 11-27-15; 8:45 am]
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