[Federal Register: October 30, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 210)]
[Notices]
[Page 61856-61857]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30oc03-116]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement; Harris and Brazoria Counties, TX
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), TxDOT.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an
environmental impact statement will be prepared for a proposed highway
project to improve State Highway 35 in Harris and Brazoria Counties,
Texas.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John Mack, P.E., Federal Highway
Administration, Texas Division, 300 East 8th Street, Room 826, Austin,
Texas 78701, Telephone (512) 536-5960.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Texas
Department of Transportation (TxDOT), will prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposal for transportation improvements
within the State Highway 35 corridor from Bellfort Road in Harris
County to Farm-to-Market Road 1462 in Brazoria County. The EIS will be
conducted concurrently with a Major Corridor Feasibility Study (MCFS)
that will examine and evaluate all reasonable and feasible modal
alternatives for transportation improvements within the State Highway
35 corridor from Interstate Highway 45 to State Highway 288 in
Angleton. The proposed action could include a combination of highway,
toll, and transit components for the facility of approximately 22 miles
in length, built on a new location within the above limits. The
majority of the corridor crosses heavily urbanized regions of Harris
and Brazoria Counties. Cities and towns in the region include the
cities of Houston, Brookside Village, Pearland, and Alvin.
Alternatives to be studied include ``No-action'' (the no-build
alternative), Transportation System Management (TSM)/Transportation
Demand Management (TDM) alternative, mass transit alternative and
roadway build alternatives. The EIS will evaluate
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potential impacts from construction and operation of the proposed
transportation improvements including, but not limited to, the
following: transportation impacts (construction detours, construction
traffic, mobility improvement and evacuation route improvements), air
and noise impacts from construction equipment and operation of the
facility, water quality impacts from construction area and roadway
storm water runoff, impacts to waters of the United States including
wetlands from right of way encroachment, impacts to historic and
archeological resources, impacts to floodplains, and impacts and/or
potential displacements to residents and businesses.
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. Public meetings will be held
on dates to be determined at a later time. A formal scoping meeting
will be held in January 2004. In addition, a public hearing will be
held. Public notice will be given of the time and place of the meetings
and hearing. A copy of the Draft EIS will be made available for public
review prior to 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 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 governmental consultation on federal
programs and activities apply to this program.)
John R. Mack,
District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 03-27364 Filed 10-22-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M