2020-12863. 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, improving the curved alignment of State Route 20 in the County of Nevada, 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 November 12, 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: Kelly McNally, Branch Chief, Caltrans Office of Environmental Management, M-2 California Department of Transportation—District 3, 703 B Street, Marysville, California 95901. Office hours: 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Pacific Standard Time, telephone: [phone] or email [e-mail]. For FHWA, contact David Tedrick at 916-498-5024 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:

Caltrans proposes to improve two non-contiguous segments of the alignment of State Route (SR) 20 in Nevada County between post miles (PM) 29.7-30.9 and 36.8-39.8 by modifying the existing horizontal and vertical curves of the roadway and adding turnouts. This project will update the roadway to current standards by increasing the curve radii, widening shoulders to 8 feet, adding turnouts for both directions, and improving the vertical profile grade. Additionally, this project will improve the clear recovery zone (CRZ) by removing obstacles and flattening slopes close to the traveled way.

The actions by the Federal agencies, and the laws under which such actions were taken, are described in the Final Environmental Assessment (FEA)/Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the project, issued on April 28, 2020, and in other documents in Caltrans' project records. The FEA, FONSI, and other project records are available by contacting Caltrans at the addresses provided 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. Council on Environmental Quality Regulations

2. National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.

3. Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1970, 23 U.S.C. 109

4. MAP-21, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (Pub. L. 112-141)

5. Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (CAAA)

6. Clean Water Act of 1977 and 1987

7. Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972 (see Clean Water Act of 1977 & 1987)

8. Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (Paleontological Resources)

9. Noise Control Act of 1972

10. Safe Drinking Water Act of 1944, as amended

11. Endangered Species Act of 1973

12. Executive Order 11990, Protection of Wetlands

13. Executive Order 13112, Invasive Species

14. Executive Order 13186, Migratory Birds

15. Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1934, as amended

16. Migratory Bird Treaty Act

17. Water Bank Act Wetlands Mitigation Banks, ISTEA 1991, Sections 1006-1007

18. Wildflowers, Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Act of 1987 Section 130

19. Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972

20. Coastal Zone Management Act Reauthorization Amendments Of 1990

21. Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management

22. Department of Transportation (DOT) Executive Order 5650.2—Floodplain Management and Protection (April 23, 1979)

23. Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act of 1899, Sections 9 and 10

24. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended

25. Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice and Low-Income Populations

(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: June 9, 2020.

Rodney Whitfield,

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