[Federal Register: March 24, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 56)]
[Notices]
[Page 14271-14272]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24mr03-103]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: Wayne County, MI
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
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 proposed
international border crossing improvements in Wayne County, Michigan,
including improvements to existing infrastructure, new border
crossing(s) and new or expanded border processing facilities. The study
is being undertaken in partnership with Transport Canada, the Michigan
Department of Transportation, and the Ontario Ministry of
Transportation referred to below as the Border Partnership.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: In the United States, James A.
Kirschensteiner, Assistant Division Administrator, Federal Highway
Administration, 315 West Allegan Street, Room 207, Lansing, Michigan
48933, Telephone: (517) 702-1835, Fax: (517) 377-1804, email:
james.kirchensteiner@fhwa.dot.gov. Or, Margaret Barondess, Manager,
Environmental Section, Michigan Department of Transportation, P.O. Box
30050, Lansing, Michigan 48909, Telephone: (517) 335-2621, Fax: (517)
373-9255, email: barondessm@michigan.gov.
In Canada, James Lothrop, Manager Highway Programs, Transport
Canada, Tower C, Place de Ville 18th Floor, 330 Sparks Street, Ottawa,
ON K1A ON5, Telephone: (613) 998-1902, Fax: (613) 990-9636, email:
lothroj@tc.gc.ca. Or, Fred Leech, Project Coordinator Ontario Ministry
of Transportation (MTO), MTO Head Office, Garden City Tower, 4th Floor
301 St. Paul Street, St. Catherines, Ontario, L2R 7R4, Telephone: (905)
704-2218, Fax: (905) 704-2007, email: Fred.Leech@mto.gov.on.ca.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, as a member of the Bi-National
Border Partnership, will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
a proposal to develop transportation improvements to alleviate traffic
congestion and address future travel demand and capacity between
southeast Michigan and southwest Ontario as identified in a Planning
Needs and Feasibility study. The project would identify the purpose and
evaluate needs, potential improvements to existing infrastructure,
including new crossings, the potential for expansion or implementation
of all modes of transportation (rail, highway, marine, etc.) and the
need for new or improved border processing facilities to improve the
safe and secure flow of people, goods, and services across the
international border. Improvements are considered necessary to provide
for increased international movement efficiencies both regionally and
nationally.
The existing geographical international ways and means in Southeast
Michigan and Southwest Ontario include the Blue Water bridges, the
Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, the Ambassador Bridge, and railroad tunnels
between Windsor and Detroit and Port Huron, Michigan, and Sarnia,
Ontario, as well as a ferry that operates on the Detroit River.
[[Page 14272]]
Alternatives under consideration include: (1) Taking no action; (2)
improving existing facilities to increase their capacity to move goods,
services, and people; (3) construction of a new crossing or crossings
to increase capacity and provide redundancy; (4) expansion or
implementation of non-highway modes of transportation (rail, marine,
etc.); or (5) some combination of (2), (3), and (4). As part of the
EIS, an Enhanced Scoping Information Package will be prepared. The
Scoping Information Package will describe alternative locations for
improving international crossing activity in southeast Michigan;
inventory and map known resources; identify and map social, economic,
and environmental constraints; and select practical alternatives.
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, an interest in this proposal. Cooperating Federal agencies
will be solicited.
A series of public meetings were held in Detroit, Michigan,
Windsor, Ontario, and Sarnia, Ontario, on November 12-14, 2002. Other
public meetings are planned as is a formal public hearing for the draft
environmental impact statement. Public notice will be given of the time
and place of the meetings and hearing. Meetings to review the enhanced
Scoping Information Package will be held on dates yet to be determined.
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 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 of
Federal programs and activities apply to this program).
Issued on: March 14, 2003.
James J. Steele,
Division Administrator, Lansing, Michigan.
[FR Doc. 03-6927 Filed 3-21-03; 8:45 am]
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