[Federal Register: August 21, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 162)]
[Notices]
[Page 54256]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21au02-130]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement; Pottawattamie County, IA, Douglas
County, NE
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 improving the
freeway system for Interstate-80 (I-80), I-29, and I-480 in the City of
Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, and the City of Omaha,
Douglas County, Nebraska.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rebecca Hiatt, Operations Engineer,
FHWA, 105 6th Street, Ames, IA 50010-6337, (515) 233-7321. James P.
Rost, Director, Office of Location and Environment, Iowa Department of
Transportation, 800 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50010, (515) 239-1798.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Access
An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded using a modem
and suitable communications software from the Government Printing
Office's Electronic Bulletin Board Service at (202) 512-1661. Internet
users may reach the Federal Register's home page at: http://
www.nara.gov/fedreg and the Government Printing Office's database at:
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.
Background
The FHWA, in cooperation with the Iowa Department of
Transportation, will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS)
for the proposed Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvement Project
including improvements to I-80, I-29, and I-480. The system
deficiencies noted in an earlier needs study (conducted by the
Metropolitan Planning Organization and the City of Council Bluffs in
April 1999) included deteriorated roadways and bridges, reduced travel
efficiency, substandard roadway geometry, and safety issues. The
proposed system improvements include approximately 18 mainline-miles of
interstate, and 16 interchanges (3 system, 13 service). The project
area includes Interstate 80 from near the 24th Street interchange in
the City of Omaha, Nebraska, east to U.S. Hwy 6 (Kanesville Blvd) just
northeast of the City of Council Bluffs, Iowa. The project also
includes: Interstate 29, from just south of Iowa Hwy 92 and U.S. Hwy
275 south of Council Bluffs, and north to Iowa Hwy 192 (16th Street)
just north of Council Bluffs; Interstate 480 from the Missouri River
Bridge (on the Nebraska side) to Interstate 29 at the Broadway
interchange in Council Bluffs; studies of the Missouri River crossings;
and an underpass of the Union Pacific mainline.
Due to the size of the system and the multi-year/multi-project
approach, a tiered EIS process will be conducted. A Tier 1 EIS will be
prepared to determine the preferred set of long-range improvements for
the I-80, I-29, and I-480 freeway system. The EIS will consider a broad
range of alternatives including no action, reconstruction of the
existing alignment, and improvements to transportation system
management, transportation demand management, transit, and cross-town
corridors. Following the conclusion of the Tier 1 EIS, preliminary
engineering, in-depth environmental studies, and Tier 2 environmental
documents (EIS, environmental assessment (EA), or categorical exclusion
(CE)) will be completed for individual projects as appropriate.
Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments have
been sent to appropriate federal, state, and local agencies, and to
private organizations and citizens who are known to be interested in
this proposed project.
A scoping meeting for identifying significant issues to be
addressed in the environmental impact statement will be held on
September 12, 2002 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Best Western Crossroads of
the Bluffs at 2216 27th Avenue (I-80 and 24th Street), Council Bluffs,
Iowa.
In addition to the scoping meeting, a series of public meetings and
a public hearing on the draft EIS will be held in the City of Council
Bluffs, Iowa, during 2002, 2003 and 2004. Public notice will be given
of the time and place of the public meetings and public hearing. The
draft EIS will be available for public and agency review and comment
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 the Iowa Department of Transportation or FHWA at the
address provided under the caption FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
(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.)
(Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 49 CFR 1.48)
Bobby W. Blackmon,
Division Administrator.
[FR Doc. 02-21214 Filed 8-20-02; 8:45 am]
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