[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 77 (Friday, April 21, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19982-19983]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-9845]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: Chittenden County, Vermont
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 a
draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared for
a proposed highway project in Chittenden County, Vermont.
[[Page 19983]] FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donald J. West,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Federal
Building, Montpelier, VT 05601, Telephone (802)828-4423.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Vermont
Agency of Transportation, will prepare a draft Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to focus on a proposed temporary
project change for a portion of the previously approved Burlington
Southern Connector/Champlain Parkway Project. The entire project
involves the construction of approximately 2.5 miles of a four lane,
access controlled highway known as the Southern Connector, commencing
at the interchange of I-189 with Shelburne Street (US Route 7), and
extending westerly and northerly to the intersection of Battery and
King Streets in the Burlington Central Business District.
A draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project was
completed in 1977, and a final EIS (FHWA-VT-EIS-77-02-F) was completed
and approved in 1979. A portion of the original proposed project has
been constructed. Final design for an additional portion has been
completed. The remaining segment has been delayed due to the fact that
it traverses an EPA Superfund Site. Resolution of issues on the cleanup
of the Superfund Site have prohibited the entire project from being
constructed. The proposed temporary project change would involve the
construction of improvements to detour around the Superfund Site to
allow the collector to function as intended and provide traffic relief
until the Superfund Site issues are resolved.
The draft SEIS will summarize issues for the entire project, as
covered in the original draft and final EIS. Additional information and
impact analysis will be presented for a temporary detour around the
Superfund Site, which will generally follow existing streets (Lakeside
Avenue and Pine Streets); however, an approximately .5 mile section of
the detour will involve new route location. Alternatives under
consideration are: (1) Taking no action (i.e., no changes from the
approved project); and (2) a range of alternatives for making a
temporary connection via use of Lakeside Avenue and Pine Street to
avoid the Superfund Site.
Impacts anticipated with the project change would be focused on
right-of-way and possible section 106 and section 4(f) issues,
primarily concerned with the northern portion of the temporary detour.
Impacts of the project change on wetlands, if any, are expected to be
minimal. Secondary and cumulative impacts of the project change will
also be addressed.
No formal scoping meeting will be held. However, comments will be
solicited from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), US Army
Corps of Engineers (ACOE), US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), State
Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), and State Agency of Natural
Resources (ANR). Also, a public informational meeting will be held in
the project area early in the document development. The draft SEIS is
expected to be filed on or about June 1, 1995, and will be sent to
appropriate federal, state and local agencies, and to private
organizations and citizens who have previously expressed interest in
this project for their comments. A public hearing will be held
following the filing of the draft SEIS.
Comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties to
ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed action
are addressed and that all significant issues are identified. Comments
or questions concerning this proposal action and the SEIS should be
directed to the FHWA at the address provided above.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205,
Highway Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental
coordination consultation on Federal programs and activities apply
to this program)
Issued on: April 13, 1995.
William K. Fung,
Engineering Coordinator, Montpelier.
[FR Doc. 95-9845 Filed 4-20-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P
