[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 5, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 550]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-198]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: Harris County, Texas
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
environment impact statement will be prepared for a proposed
transportation improvement project in Harris County, Texas.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John Mack, P.E., Federal Highway
Administration, Texas Division, 826 Federal Bldg., 300 East 8th Street,
Austin, Texas 78701, Telephone 512-916-5516.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Texas
Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and The Grand Parkway Association,
will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposal to
upgrade the existing road network in Harris County. The proposed
improvements being considered, as shown in the Region's Long-Range
Transportation Plan, are a multilane controlled access facility in
northern Harris County which would be part of a third circumferential
loop (State Highway 99) around Houston. The proposed improvement length
is approximately 13 miles. Improvements in this area are necessary to
provide mobility to the growing area of northwest Harris County.
A Draft EIS will evaluate various transportation alternatives
between State Highway 249 near Tomball and Interstate Highway 45
(North) near the northern terminus of the Hardy Toll Road. The majority
of this corridor crosses relatively undeveloped properties in Harris
County. Among the alternatives to be studied are the ``No-action''
alternative, Transportation System Management (TSM) alternative, Mass
Transit alternative and Roadway Build alternative. Cities and towns in
this region include Tomball and Spring. This study is authorized
pursuant to the Texas Transportation Commission Minute Order No. 108744
issued May 27, 1999.
The scoping meeting will be on February 2, 2000, at Tomball
College, 30555 Tomball Parkway (SH 249) from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Large
scale maps with environmental and social features will be available at
the meeting, and several corridors will be shown on these maps. These
maps and corridors will reflect input from public workshops held in
August 1999. The scoping process will continue throughout the
development of the environmental document.
Impacts caused by the construction and operation of the facility
will vary according to the transportation alternative utilized.
Generally, impacts would include the following: transportation impacts
(construction detours, construction traffic, mobility improvement and
evacuation route improvement), air and noise impacts from construction
equipment and operation of the facility, water quality impacts from
construction area and roadway storm water runoff, impacts to waters of
the United States including wetlands from right of way encroachment,
and impacts to residents and businesses based on potential
displacements.
Letters describing the proposed action soliciting comments will be
sent to appropriate Federal, State and local agencies, and to private
organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are known
to have interest in this proposal. 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 Environmental Impact Statement 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 government consultation on Federal
programs and activities apply to this program)
Issued on: December 23, 1999.
Wilbur Lee Gibbons,
Urban Program Engineer, Austin, Texas.
[FR Doc. 00-198 Filed 1-4-00; 8:45 am]
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