Thursday, April 29, 2004

Part IV

Department of Transportation Federal Administration

Tier 2 Environmental Impact Statements: Daviess, Gibson, Greene, Marion, Johnson, Monroe, Morgan, Pike, Vanderburgh and Warrick Counties; Notices

VerDate jul<14>2003 16:23 Apr 28, 2004 Jkt 203001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4717 Sfmt 4717 E:\FR\FM\29APN2.SGM 29APN2 23618 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 83 / Thursday, April 29, 2004 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION order to provide a basis for informed Scoping will be initiated individually decision-making at this stage. The for each Tier 2 section but will be Federal Highway Administration consultation began in early 1999, before coordinated to address similar issues a decision had been made to proceed simultaneously when possible. The Tier 2 Environmental Impact with a tiered study and continued appropriate federal and state resource Statement: Vanderburgh, Warrick, and throughout the entire Tier 1 process. agencies will be included in this Gibson Counties, Extensive public involvement was ongoing process. The public will also AGENCY: Federal Highway included in the development of the Tier have opportunities to comment during Administration (FHWA), DOT. 1 EIS at many stages including Purpose the scoping process and other stages ACTION: Notice of intent. and Need, alternatives development and throughout the development of the screening and final selection. Twelve proposed project. A date for a scoping SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this build alternatives and the No Build meeting for regulatory agencies to notice to advise the public that a Tier 2 Alternative were considered under address all six Tier 2 sections will be environmental impact statement (EIS) detailed analysis. Of these, Alternative established at a later date. A public will be prepared for the proposed 3C was selected as the single Preferred scoping meeting for this Tier 2 section Section 1, located in Vanderburgh, Alternative in the Tier 1 Final EIS. will also be scheduled at a later date. Warrick, and Gibson Counties, Indiana, The Tier 1 ROD for the I–69 SIU #3 To ensure that the full range of issues of the Evansville-to- included the selection of a variable related to this proposed action is (I–69) highway. width corridor, generally 2000 feet addressed and any significant impacts FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: wide, in which to build an Interstate are identified, comments and Anthony M. DeSimone, Environmental highway that connects the following suggestions are invited from all Engineer, Federal Highway points in Indiana: Evansville, Oakland interested parties. Comments or Administration, Indiana Division, 575 City, Washington, Crane Naval Surface questions concerning this proposed N. Pennsylvania Avenue, Room 254, Warfare Center, Bloomington, action and this Tier 2 EIS should be Indianapolis, Indiana 46204, Telephone Martinsville and Indianapolis. The directed to the FHWA or the INDOT at (317) 226–5307 or Lyle Sadler, Project approved corridor is approximately 142 the address provided above. Manager, Indiana Department of miles long. The Tier 1 ROD approved (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Transportation, Room N855, 100 N. termini for six Tier 2 Sections within Program Number 20.205, Highway Planning Senate Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana the approved corridor, and stated that a and Construction. The regulations 46204, Telephone (317) 233–6972. separate EIS would be prepared for each implementing Executive Order 12732 regarding intergovernmental consultation on SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Tier 2 section. Each Tier 2 EIS will be used to select the specific alignment of Federal programs and activities apply to this FHWA, in cooperation with the Indiana program.) Department of Transportation (INDOT), the proposed action and to determine Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 49 CFR 1.48. will prepare a Tier 2 EIS on a proposal mitigation measures within that section. to build Section 1 of the Evansville-to- The overall purpose of I–69 SIU #3, as Issued on: April 22, 2004. Indianapolis I–69 highway. Section 1 is defined in the Tier 1 EIS, is to: Anthony M. DeSimone, located in Vanderburgh, Warrick and Strengthen the transportation network Environmental Engineer, Federal Highway Gibson Counties, Indiana. The proposed in Southwest Indiana; Support Administration, Indianapolis, Indiana. action would involve the construction Economic Development in Southwest [FR Doc. 04–9766 Filed 4–28–04; 8:45 am] of an interstate highway from the Indiana; and Complete the portion of BILLING CODE 4910–22–M of Interstate 64 (I–64) and the National I–69 project between (I–164) near Evansville Evansville and Indianapolis. Each Tier 2 and proceeding north approximately section will contribute to achieving the DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 12.9 miles to State Road (SR) 64 near overall goals of I–69 SIU #3, and also Oakland City. will serve localized objectives, which Federal Highway Administration I–69 (formerly known as Corridor 18) were discussed in the Tier 1 Final EIS Tier 2 Environmental Impact is a strategic, high priority highway and will be further defined in each Tier Statement: Gibson, Pike, and Daviess serving the east-central United States. I– 2 EIS. Counties, Indiana 69 is planned to be a continuous north- The range of alternatives appropriate south corridor linking Canada, the for each Tier 2 EIS will be determined AGENCY: Federal Highway United States and Mexico. FHWA has for that section in consultation with Administration (FHWA), DOT. identified 32 separate sections of resource agencies. Consideration of the ACTION: Notice of intent. independent utility (SIUs) for the No Build alternative will be included as national I–69 corridor. The Evansville- a baseline for analysis, in accordance SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this to-Indianapolis section of I–69 has been with applicable regulations. notice to advise the public that a Tier 2 designated by FHWA as SIU #3. Alternatives generally will be located environmental impact statement (EIS) The FHWA approved the Record of within the corridor approved in the Tier will be prepared for the proposed Decision (ROD) on the Tier 1 Final EIS 1 ROD. However, pursuant to the Tier Section 2, located in Gibson, Pike and for the I–69 SIU #3 on March 24, 2004. 1 ROD, alternatives outside the selected Daviess Counties, Indiana, of the The purpose of the Tier 1 study was to corridor may be considered when Evansville-to-Indianapolis Interstate 69 resolve: (1) Whether or not to complete necessary to avoid significant impacts (I–69) highway. I–69 in Southwestern Indiana; and if so, within the corridor while still FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: (2) the selection of a corridor for I–69 connecting the Tier 2 termini designated Anthony M. DeSimone, Environmental between Evansville and Indianapolis. in the Tier 1 ROD. Interchange location Engineer, Federal Highway FHWA and INDOT have consulted and design, access to abutting Administration, Indiana Division, 575 extensively with environmental properties, and location of grade N. Pennsylvania Avenue, Room 254, resource agencies about the level of separations with intersecting roads will Indianapolis, Indiana 46204, Telephone detail needed in the Tier 1 process in be determined in the Tier 2 EISs. (317) 226–5307 or Lyle Sadler, Project

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