[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 61 (Thursday, March 30, 1995)] [Notices] [Pages 16525-16526] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-7816] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice 2184] Notice of Intent To Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement Concerning the Department of State's Permitting Process for International Bridges Along the Texas/Mexico Border LEAD AGENCY: Department of State, Washington, D.C. COOPERATING AGENCIES: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (F&WS) U.S. Coast Guard International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC), U.S. Section General Services Administration (GSA) SUMMARY: Under Executive Order 11423 (August 16, 1968) and the International Bridge Act of 1972, 33 U.S.C. 535 et seq., the U.S. Department of State (``the Department'') has the authority, inter alia, to issue permits for the construction of bridges along the Texas/Mexico border. (Once such a permit is granted, other agencies, including the U.S. Section of the IBWC and the U.S. [[Page 16526]] Coast Guard, require additional permits related to their respective regulatory functions; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers may also require separate permits.) To date, with respect to each permit application, the Department has issued a Finding of No Significant Impact, based on an Environmental Assessment (EA), consistent with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (NEPA). With several bridges permitted to date and given the expectation of continuing permit applications, the Department intends to prepare voluntarily a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) to assess the cumulative environmental impacts in the United States of existing bridges along the Texas/Mexico border. The PEIS will also describe the general types of projects expected in the foreseeable future and will address the types of impacts that are expected to result from the continuation of present permitting procedures. The Department will use the results of the PEIS to inform both the manner and substance of its permitting process. In undertaking this PEIS, the Department has elected to follow the procedures pertaining to the preparation of programmatic environmental impact statements contained in the NEPA regulations promulgated by the Council on Environmental Quality, 40 CFR 1500 et seq., as well as by the Department, 22 CFR 161 et seq. The Department, EPA, F&WS, IBWC, Coast Guard, GSA and other Federal, state and local agencies will be able to develop supplemental EISs or incorporate the PEIS into future NEPA documentation (EAs or EISs), as allowed by NEPA, for activities or locations not specifically addressed in the PEIS. ALTERNATIVES PROPOSED: Alternatives to be considered include the No Action alternative. Other alternatives identified during the scoping process will be discussed in the Draft PEIS. PUBLIC SCOPING: Comments received as a result of this notice will be used to assist the Department primarily in identifying the alternatives to be included in the PEIS and in assessing the impacts, in the United States, of these alternatives on the quality of the human environment. Scoping meetings will be held the week of May 8 in Harlingen, Laredo and El Paso, Texas to identify alternatives and significant issues related to the PEIS. The exact dates, times and locales for these meetings will be published in local newspapers. Individuals or organizations may participate in the scoping process by providing written comments or by attending the scoping meetings. Written comments may be forwarded to either: U.S. Department of State, OES/ETC, Attn: Ms. Charlotte Roe, 2201 C Street NW., Washington, D.C. 20520, Tel: (202) 647-3367, FAX: (202) 736-7351 USAED, Fort Worth, CESWF-PL-RE, Attn: Mr. Eric Verwers, P.O. Box 17300, Fort Worth, Texas 76102-0300, Tel: (817) 334-2370, FAX: (817) 885-7539. Comments and suggestions should be received no later than 60 days following this notice in order to be considered in the Draft PEIS. Charlotte Roe, Multilateral Affairs Officer, Department of State, OES/ETC. [FR Doc. 95-7816 Filed 3-29-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710-09-M