00-199. Environmental Impact Statement: Harris County, Texas  

  • [Federal Register Volume 65, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 5, 2000)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 550-551]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 00-199]
    
    
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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 
    environmental 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
    
    [[Page 551]]
    
    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 290 and State Highway 249 near Tomball. 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 Hockley and Tomball. 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 governmental 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. 00-199 Filed 1-4-00; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4910-22-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
01/05/2000
Department:
Federal Highway Administration
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice of Intent.
Document Number:
00-199
Pages:
550-551 (2 pages)
PDF File:
00-199.pdf