[Federal Register: June 28, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 125)]
[Notices]
[Page 43697-43698]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28jn02-110]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: Shasta and Trinity Counties, CA
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is issuing this
notice to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) will be prepared for a proposed State Route 299 (SR 299) project
in Shasta and Trinity Counties, California.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Harry Khani, Transportation Engineer,
Federal Highway Administration, 980 Ninth Street, Suite 400,
Sacramento, California 95814, telephone: (916) 498-5056, e-mail:
Harry.Khani@fhwa.dot.gov. Chris Cummings, California Department of
Transportation Project Manager, 1657 Riverside Drive, Redding, CA
96049, telephone: (530) 225-3495, e-mail: chris_cummings@dot.ca.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the California
Department of Transportation (Caltrans), will prepare an EIS for a
proposed highway improvement project of SR 299 in Shasta and Trinity
Counties, California.
SR 299 is the principal arterial between Interstate 5 and Highway
101 and is designated as a high emphasis route in the Interregional
Roadway System. SR 299 is of economic importance to the region as it
provides access to a vast recreational area and links the upper
Sacramento Valley with the deepwater port in Eureka. The project
portion of the highway, the Buckhorn Grade, represents the only
obstacle preventing interstate trucks and oversize permit loads from
utilizing this direct access to the coast.
The proposed project limits extends approximately 7.5 miles from
the boundary of the Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area
to west of the Shasta-Trinity County line. The existing SR 299 corridor
within these limits consists of a two-lane highway with limited passing
lanes at various locations. The road closely follows the extremely
rugged terrain forming a steep, twisted alignment with a design speed
of 25 mph.
The proposed project would construct a new two-lane alignment, with
truck climbing lanes, standard shoulders, 50 mph design speed, and
maximum 7% grade. Possible alignment variations include bridges,
viaducts, and a possible tunnel at the Buckhorn Summit. The replaced SR
299 alignment would be relinquished or reclaimed (all or part).
Caltrans has been investigating Buckhorn Grade realignment designs
for over 40 years. Since the early 1990's four Project Study Reports
have been completed. Since 2000, Caltrans has conducted over 11
meetings with the public, with local governmental officials, and with
jurisdictional agencies.
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. In addition, a public workshop
will be held, with public notice given of the time and location. The
draft EIS will be available for public and agency review and comment
prior to the public workshop.
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 the FHWA at the address provided.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205,
Highway Research, Planning, and Construction. The regulations
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental
consultation on
[[Page 43698]]
Federal programs and activities apply to this program.)
Issued on: June 13, 2002.
Jeffery Kolb,
Chief District Operation South-California Division, Federal Highway
Administration.
[FR Doc. 02-16411 Filed 6-27-02; 8:45 am]
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