[Federal Register: April 29, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 83)]
[Notices]
[Page 23617-23618]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29ap04-100]
[[Page 23617]]
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Part IV
Department of Transportation
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Federal Highway Administration
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Tier 2 Environmental Impact Statements: Daviess, Gibson, Greene,
Marion, Johnson, Monroe, Morgan, Pike, Vanderburgh and Warrick
Counties; Notices
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Tier 2 Environmental Impact Statement: Vanderburgh, Warrick, and
Gibson Counties, Indiana
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 a
Tier 2 environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared for the
proposed Section 1, located in Vanderburgh, Warrick, and Gibson
Counties, Indiana, of the Evansville-to-Indianapolis Interstate 69 (I-
69) highway.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony M. DeSimone, Environmental
Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, Indiana Division, 575 N.
Pennsylvania Avenue, Room 254, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204, Telephone
(317) 226-5307 or Lyle Sadler, Project Manager, Indiana Department of
Transportation, Room N855, 100 N. Senate Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana
46204, Telephone (317) 233-6972.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Indiana
Department of Transportation (INDOT), will prepare a Tier 2 EIS on a
proposal to build Section 1 of the Evansville-to-Indianapolis I-69
highway. Section 1 is located in Vanderburgh, Warrick and Gibson
Counties, Indiana. The proposed action would involve the construction
of an interstate highway from the interchange of Interstate 64 (I-64)
and Interstate 164 (I-164) near Evansville and proceeding north
approximately 12.9 miles to State Road (SR) 64 near Oakland City.
I-69 (formerly known as Corridor 18) is a strategic, high priority
highway serving the east-central United States. I-69 is planned to be a
continuous north-south corridor linking Canada, the United States and
Mexico. FHWA has identified 32 separate sections of independent utility
(SIUs) for the national I-69 corridor. The Evansville-to-Indianapolis
section of I-69 has been designated by FHWA as SIU 3.
The FHWA approved the Record of Decision (ROD) on the Tier 1 Final
EIS for the I-69 SIU 3 on March 24, 2004. The purpose of the
Tier 1 study was to resolve: (1) Whether or not to complete I-69 in
Southwestern Indiana; and if so, (2) the selection of a corridor for I-
69 between Evansville and Indianapolis.
FHWA and INDOT have consulted extensively with environmental
resource agencies about the level of detail needed in the Tier 1
process in order to provide a basis for informed decision-making at
this stage. The consultation began in early 1999, before a decision had
been made to proceed with a tiered study and continued throughout the
entire Tier 1 process.
Extensive public involvement was included in the development of the
Tier 1 EIS at many stages including Purpose and Need, alternatives
development and screening and final selection. Twelve build
alternatives and the No Build Alternative were considered under
detailed analysis. Of these, Alternative 3C was selected as the single
Preferred Alternative in the Tier 1 Final EIS.
The Tier 1 ROD for the I-69 SIU 3 included the selection
of a variable width corridor, generally 2000 feet wide, in which to
build an Interstate highway that connects the following points in
Indiana: Evansville, Oakland City, Washington, Crane Naval Surface
Warfare Center, Bloomington, Martinsville and Indianapolis. The
approved corridor is approximately 142 miles long. The Tier 1 ROD
approved termini for six Tier 2 Sections within the approved corridor,
and stated that a separate EIS would be prepared for each Tier 2
section. Each Tier 2 EIS will be used to select the specific alignment
of the proposed action and to determine mitigation measures within that
section.
The overall purpose of I-69 SIU 3, as defined in the Tier
1 EIS, is to: Strengthen the transportation network in Southwest
Indiana; Support Economic Development in Southwest Indiana; and
Complete the portion of the National I-69 project between Evansville
and Indianapolis. Each Tier 2 section will contribute to achieving the
overall goals of I-69 SIU 3, and also will serve localized
objectives, which were discussed in the Tier 1 Final EIS and will be
further defined in each Tier 2 EIS.
The range of alternatives appropriate for each Tier 2 EIS will be
determined for that section in consultation with resource agencies.
Consideration of the No Build alternative will be included as a
baseline for analysis, in accordance with applicable regulations.
Alternatives generally will be located within the corridor approved in
the Tier 1 ROD. However, pursuant to the Tier 1 ROD, alternatives
outside the selected corridor may be considered when necessary to avoid
significant impacts within the corridor while still connecting the Tier
2 termini designated in the Tier 1 ROD. Interchange location and
design, access to abutting properties, and location of grade
separations with intersecting roads will be determined in the Tier 2
EISs.
Scoping will be initiated individually for each Tier 2 section but
will be coordinated to address similar issues simultaneously when
possible. The appropriate federal and state resource agencies will be
included in this ongoing process. The public will also have
opportunities to comment during the scoping process and other stages
throughout the development of the proposed project. A date for a
scoping meeting for regulatory agencies to address all six Tier 2
sections will be established at a later date. A public scoping meeting
for this Tier 2 section will also be scheduled at a later date.
To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed
action is addressed and any significant impacts are identified,
comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties.
Comments or questions concerning this proposed action and this Tier 2
EIS should be directed to the FHWA or the INDOT at the address provided
above.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205,
Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing
Executive Order 12732 regarding intergovernmental consultation on
Federal programs and activities apply to this program.)
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 49 CFR 1.48.
Issued on: April 22, 2004.
Anthony M. DeSimone,
Environmental Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, Indianapolis,
Indiana.
[FR Doc. 04-9766 Filed 4-28-04; 8:45 am]
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