[Federal Register: January 7, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 4)]
[Notices]               
[Page 1261-1262]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07ja08-73]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

 
Environmental Impact Statement; Stearns County, MN

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 (EIS) will be prepared for the 
construction of a new roadway located between County State Aid Highway 
(CSAH) 4/CSAH 133 in St. Joseph and Trunk Highway (TH) 15 in Waite 
Park, a distance of approximately 7 miles, in the St. Cloud 
Metropolitan Area, Stearns County, Minnesota.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Martin, Federal Highway 
Administration, Galtier Plaza, Suite 500, 380 Jackson Street, St. Paul, 
Minnesota 55101, Telephone (651) 291-6120; or Mitchell Anderson, P.E., 
Stearns County Engineer, Stearns County Department of Highways, P.O. 
Box 246, St. Cloud, Minnesota 56302, Telephone (320) 255-6180.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with Stearns County 
Department of Highways, will prepare an EIS to identify a new safe and 
efficient minor arterial transportation corridor within the greater 
southwest St. Cloud Metropolitan Area that can be preserved for future 
use in an area of planned growth. The proposed roadway is located 
between CSAH 4/CSAH 133 in St. Joseph to TH 15 in Waite Park, a 
distance of approximately 7 miles, in Stearns County, Minnesota. The 
purpose of the proposed project is to enhance mobility, enhance 
connectivity to regional corridors, and support the economic and social 
needs for the growing southwest St. Cloud Metropolitan Area by 
providing infrastructure support and accessibility to the planned 
growth areas of the communities of St. Joseph and Waite Park.
    The EIS will evaluate the social, economic, transportation and 
environmental impacts of alternatives, including: (1) No-Build and (2) 
``Build'' alternatives with variations in the location of the 
alignment.
    The ``St. Cloud Metro Area Southwest Beltway Scoping Document/Draft 
Scoping Decision Document'' will be published in early spring of 2008. 
A press release will be published to inform the public of the 
document's availability. Copies of the scoping document will be 
distributed to agencies, interested persons and libraries for review to 
aid in identifying issues and analyses to be contained in the EIS. A 
thirty-day comment period for review of the document will be provided 
to afford an opportunity for all interested persons, agencies and 
groups to comment on the proposed action. A public scoping meeting will 
also be held during the comment period. Public notice will be given for 
the time and place of the meeting. After the scoping comment period has 
closed, the ``St. Cloud Metro Southwest Beltway Scoping Decision 
Document'' will be published in 2008. A Draft EIS will be prepared 
based on the outcome of and closely following the scoping process. The 
Draft EIS will be available for agency and public review and comment. 
In addition, a public hearing will be held following completion of the 
Draft EIS. Public Notice will be given for the time and place of the 
public hearing on the Draft EIS. Coordination has been initiated and 
will continue with appropriate Federal, State and local agencies and 
private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are 
known to have an interest in the proposed action. ``Participating 
agencies'' have been identified and a meeting will be held in February 
or March 2008 to discuss the project and receive input on the ``purpose 
and need'' for the project and range of

[[Page 1262]]

alternatives to be studied in the Draft EIS. 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 above.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing 
Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on 
Federal programs and activities apply to this program.)

    Dated: Issued on: December 28, 2007.
Cheryl B. Martin,
Environmental Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, St. Paul, 
Minnesota.
[FR Doc. 07-6302 Filed 1-4-08; 8:45 am]

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