2020-11487. Notice of Final Federal Agency Actions on Proposed Highway in California

AGENCY:

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION:

Notice of Limitation on Claims for Judicial Review of Actions by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).

SUMMARY:

The FHWA, on behalf of Caltrans, is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by Caltrans that are final. The actions relate to a proposed highway project, the State Route 74 Lower Ortega Highway Widening Project within the City of San Juan Capistrano and unincorporated Orange County (12-ORA-74 p.m. 1.0/2.1), in the State of California. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

DATES:

By this notice, the FHWA, on behalf of Caltrans, is advising the public of final agency actions subject to 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). A claim seeking judicial review of the Federal agency actions on the highway project will be barred unless the claim is filed on or before October 26, 2020. If the Federal law that authorizes judicial review of a claim provides a time period of less than 150 days for filing such claim, then that shorter time period still applies.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For Caltrans: Smita Deshpande, Senior Environmental Planner, Caltrans-District 12, 1750 East Fourth Street, Suite 100, Santa Ana, California 92705, weekdays 8:00a.m. to 5:00p.m., telephone [phone], email [e-mail]. For FHWA, contact David Tedrick at [phone] or email [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Effective July 1, 2007, the FHWA assigned, and Caltrans assumed, environmental responsibilities for this project pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327. Notice is hereby given that Caltrans has taken final agency actions subject to 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1) by issuing licenses, permits, and approvals for the following highway project in the State of California: The State Route 74 (SR-74) Lower Ortega Highway Widening Project (FHWA Project No. 1200000051), which would widen SR-74 from two lanes to four lanes from Calle Entradero (PM 1.0) to 150 feet (ft) east of the City/County boundary (PM 2.1). The Proposed Project will provide one additional 12 ft lane in each direction, and a 12 ft painted median at the western portion within the project limits. In addition, a paved 5 ft and 8 ft shoulder will be provided on each side of the roadway to accommodate Class II (striped on-road) bicycle facilities. The shoulder will be 8 ft wide from Avenida Siega to the City/County boundary limits to merge with the completed County portion. The actions by the agencies, and the laws under which such actions were taken, are described in the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the project, approved on May 7, 2020, in the Caltrans Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), issued on May 7, 2020 and in other documents in the project record. The EA, FONSI, and other project records are available by contacting Caltrans at the addresses provided above. The EA and FONSI can be obtained from any contact listed above.

This notice applies to all Federal agency decisions as of the issuance date of this notice and all laws under which such actions were taken, including but not limited to:

1. General: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) [42 U.S.C. 4321-4351]; Federal-Aid Highway Act [23 U.S.C. 109 and 23 U.S.C. 128].

2. Air: Clean Air Act [42 U.S.C. 7401-7671q].

3. Land: Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966 [49 U.S.C. 303; 23 U.S.C. 138]; Landscaping and Scenic Enhancement (Wildflowers) [23 U.S.C. 319].

4. Wildlife: Endangered Species Act [16 U.S.C. 1531-1544 and Section 1536]; Marine Mammal Protection Act [16 U.S.C. 1361-1423h]; Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act [16 U.S.C. 661-667d]; Migratory Bird Treaty Act [16 U.S.C. 703-712].

5. Historic and Cultural Resources: Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended [16 U.S.C. 470f]; Archeological Resources Protection Act of 1977 [16 U.S.C. 470aa-470mm]; Archeological and Historic Preservation Act [16 U.S.C. 469-469c]; Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) [25 U.S.C. 3001-3013].

6. Social and Economic: American Indian Religious Freedom Act [42 U.S.C. 1996]; Farmland Protection Policy Act (FPPA) [7 U.S.C. 4201-4209].

7. Wetlands and Water Resources: Clean Water Act (Section 404, Section 401, Section 319) [33 U.S.C. 1251-1387]; Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) [16 U.S.C. 4601-4604]; Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) [42 U.S.C. 300f-300j-26)]; Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 [33 U.S.C. 401-406]; Wild and Scenic Rivers Act [16 U.S.C. 1271-1287]; Emergency Wetlands Resources Act, [16 U.S.C. 3901, 3921]; Wetlands Mitigation [23 U.S.C. 119(g) and 133(b)(14)]; Flood Disaster Protection Act, 42 U.S.C. 4012a, 4106].

8. Executive Orders: E.O. 11990 Protection of Wetlands; E.O. 11988 Floodplain Management; E.O. 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low Income Populations; E.O. 11593 Protection and Enhancement of Cultural Resources; E.O. 13007 Indian Sacred Sites; E.O. 13287 Preserve America; E.O. 13175 Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments; E.O. 11514 Protection and Enhancement of Environmental Quality; E.O. 13112 Invasive Species.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this program.)

(Authority: 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1))

Issued on: May 21, 2020.

Rodney Whitfield,

Director, Financial Services, Federal Highway Administration, California Division.