[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 2 (Thursday, January 3, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 537-538]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-25164]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement; Grays Harbor County, WA
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, affected Indian tribes and agencies that
an environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared for the
proposed development of a site to build pontoons that would be used to
restore the function of the existing SR 520 Evergreen Point Bridge in
case of catastrophic failure. The Washington State Department of
Transportation (WSDOT) is a co-lead agency on the EIS. FHWA and WSDOT
will prepare the EIS in accordance with the provisions of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Safe, Accountable, Flexible,
Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU),
and with Washington's State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen Boch, Federal Highway
Administration, 915 2nd Avenue, Room 3142, Seattle, Washington, 98174,
Telephone: (206) 220-7536; Jenifer Young, Washington State Department
of Transportation, SR 520 Project Office, Seattle, Washington,
Telephone: (206) 770-3522.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the project is to expedite
construction of pontoons to be used to restore the existing SR 520
Evergreen Point Bridge in the event of a catastrophic failure. To meet
this purpose, the proposed action being evaluated in the EIS is to
develop a facility to build pontoons that would be of appropriate size
and type to restore the function of the existing floating bridge, and
to store these pontoons until needed at open-water moorage locations or
onsite. Other potential uses of the pontoons are to support future
planned replacement of the Evergreen Point Bridge if the pontoons are
not needed for emergency use, or support emergency replacement or
repair of other WSDOT floating bridges.
WSDOT and FHWA, as lead agencies, have identified an underlying
need of timely availability of new pontoons. (1) The SR 520 Evergreen
Point Bridge is vulnerable to catastrophic failure; severe winter
storms have damaged the 44-year-old bridge and rendered it increasingly
vulnerable to windstorms and earthquakes. (2) The SR 520 Evergreen
Point Bridge is a key regional transportation link. There is no
available detour designed for, or capable of, accommodating the
vehicles that cross the bridge each day at equivalent speeds or travel
times. (3) It will take several years to produce SR 520 Evergreen Point
Bridge pontoons. Currently, no existing facility in Washington has the
capacity to quickly produce the number and size of pontoons that would
be needed to replace the SR 520 bridge in the event of catastrophic
failure. FHWA and WSDOT are seeking comment on the proposed purpose and
need for the project, as required by SAFETEA-LU. Information on public
and agency scoping meetings and address to send written comments to is
provided below.
The proposed location for construction of pontoons is a 45 acre
property in the City of Hoquiam, Grays Harbor County. Alternatives
under initial consideration include: (1) Constructing a casting basin
facility; (2) constructing a barge launch facility; (3) constructing a
barge slip facility; and (4) No Build. Each ``build'' alternative will
also include: improvements to the existing shoreline earthen berm and
additional ancillary facilities, including a concrete batch plant,
office space, parking area, access roads, rail spur, laydown area, and
water treatment area. The EIS will evaluate potential effects on the
physical, human, and natural environments. Areas of investigation
include, but are not limited to: ecosystems, including threatened and
endangered species, archaeological and historic resources, social and
economic factors, land use, transportation, noise and vibration, air
quality, soils and geology, hazardous materials, visual and aesthetic
qualities, and public services and utilities.
The purpose of the Notice of Intent is to invite participation in
the EIS process and comment from interested agencies, organizations,
and citizens. In accordance with SAFETEA-LU, FHWA extended invitation
to other Federal and non-Federal agencies and Indian tribes that may
have an interest in being a ``cooperating agency'' or ``participating
agency'' in December 2007. A public, agency and tribal coordination
plan is being prepared. Agency and public scoping meetings will be held
in January 2008. Scoping meetings are scheduled for the following date
and times:
Agency and Tribal Scoping Meeting: January 17, 2008, 10
a.m. to 12 p.m., Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Old
Capital Building, Room 430, 600 South Washington, Olympia Washington.
Public Scoping Meeting: January 17, 2008, 5:30 p.m. to 8
p.m., Hoquiam High School Cafeteria, 501 West Emerson Avenue, Hoquiam,
Washington. A court reporter will be available to record oral comments.
To ensure that the full range of issues related to the proposed
action are addressed, and all significant issues are identified,
comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties.
Comments on the proposed purpose and need and the scope of alternatives
and impacts to be considered are requested by February 1, 2008 and
should be sent to: Jenifer Young, WSDOT-SR 520 Project Office, 600
Stewart Street, Suite 520, Seattle, WA, 98101; fax number (206) 770-
3569; or e-mail to [email protected].
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program 20.205, Highway
Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing
Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation of
[[Page 538]]
federal programs and activities apply to this program.)
Dated: December 20, 2007.
Stephen Boch,
Major Project Oversight Manager, Olympia, WA.
[FR Doc. E7-25164 Filed 1-2-08; 8:45 am]
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