[Federal Register: March 23, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 55)] [Notices] [Page 14038-14039] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr23mr99-131] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration Environmental Impact Statement: Summit County, CO AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of intent and public scoping meetings. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an environmental impact statement will be prepared for the proposed transportation improvements on SH 9 from Frisco to Breckenridge in Summit County, Colorado. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Scott Sands, FHWA Colorado Division, 555 Zang Street, Room 250, Denver, CO 80228, Telephone: 303/ 969-6730 extension 362. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for transportation improvements on SH 9 from Frisco to Breckenridge in Summit County, Colorado. The EIS will evaluate the No-action and Build alternative(s) on SH 9 study limit from I-70 to River Park Drive south of Breckenridge, and determine the estimated costs and potential impacts associated with each. CDOT will be the local lead agency for the preparation of the EIS. The project is approximately ten miles in length and alternatives which may be evaluated included TSM (Transportation System Management), various four lane roadway typical sections and transit alternatives. Scoping has begun within the Environmental Assessment first initiated for this project. A public scoping meeting was held in Frisco, Colorado on November 5, 1998. Scoping meetings have also been conducted with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Forest Service, Environmental Protection Agency, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Frisco City Council, Breckenridge City Council, Summit County Commissioners as well as interested citizens, property owners, business owners and others. Scoping will be continued through coordination with affected parties, organizations, federal, state and local agencies with future public and one-on-one meetings which will be held throughout the life of the project. Written comments on project scope should be sent to: Ms. Lisa Kassels, Planning and Environmental Project Manager, CDOT Region 1, 18500 East Colfax Avenue, Aurora, CO 80011, Telephone: 303/757-9156. FHWA, CDOT and other local agencies invite interested individuals, organizations, and federal, state and local agencies to participate in defining the alternatives to be evaluated in the EIS and identifying any significant social, economic, or environmental issues related to the alternatives. Information describing the purpose of the project, the proposed alternatives, the areas to be evaluated, the citizen involvement program, and the preliminary project schedule will be available. These scoping materials may be requested contacting Ms. Lisa Kassels at the address and phone number above. Scoping comments may be made verbally at future public meetings or in writing. The public will receive notices on location and time of future meetings through newspaper advertisements and individual correspondence. To ensure that a full range of issues related to this proposed action are addressed and all significant issues are identified, comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. if you wish to be placed on the mailing list to receive further information as the project develops, contact Ms. Lisa Kassels. All significant social, economic, and environmental impacts of the alternatives carried forward for further study (e.g., the No-action alternative, a TSM alternative, a Build alternative) will be evaluated. Depending upon the alternatives under study, environmental and social impacts to be evaluated may include safety and mobility impacts, traffic and parking impacts if stations are proposed, visual impacts, impacts on cultural and paleontological resources, and noise impacts. Impacts on natural areas, threatened and endangered species, and water quality [[Page 14039]] will also be covered. Depending upon the alternative which surfaces as the preferred and the associated impacts of that alternative, construction-related impacts may need to be evaluated, and mitigation of any significant adverse impacts would be developed. In accordance with FHWA policy, the Draft EIS will be prepared with required engineering design studies necessary to complete the document. After its publication, the Draft EIS will be available for public and agency review and comments, and a public hearing will be held. On the basis of the Draft EIS and the comments received, a preferred alternative will be selected and preparation of the Final EIS and Record of Decision will proceed. (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, Highway Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this program) Issued: March 4, 1999. Ronald A. Speral, Environmental/ROW Program Manager, Colorado Division, Federal Highway Administration, Lakewood, Colorado. [FR Doc. 99-7026 Filed 3-22-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-22-M