E8-20975. Notice of Final Federal Agency Actions on State Highway 99 (Segment E) in Texas

AGENCY:

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of Limitation on Claims for Judicial Review of Actions by FHWA and Other Federal Agencies.

SUMMARY:

This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA and other Federal agencies that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to a proposed highway project, Grand Parkway (State Highway 99) Segment E, from Interstate Highway 10 (I-10) to United States Highway 290 (U.S. 290) in Harris County, Texas. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

DATES:

By this notice, the FHWA 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 March 9, 2009. If the Federal law that authorizes judicial review of a claim provides a time period of less than 180 days for filing such claim, then that shorter time period still applies.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Gregory Punske, P.E., District Engineer, District B (South), Federal Highway Administration, 300 East 8th Street, Room 826, Austin, Texas 78701; telephone: [phone]; e-mail: [e-mail]. The FHWA Texas Division Office's normal business hours are 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. (central time) Monday through Friday. You may also contact Dianna Noble, P.E., Environmental Affairs Division, Texas Department of Transportation, 118 E. Riverside Drive, Austin, Texas 78704; telephone: [phone]; e-mail: [e-mail]. The Texas Department of Transportation normal business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (central time) Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Notice is hereby given that the FHWA and other Federal agencies have taken final agency actions by issuing licenses, permits, and approvals for the following highway project in the State of Texas: Grand Parkway (State Highway 99) Segment E from I-10 to U.S. 290 in Harris County; FHWA Project Reference Number: FHWA-TX-EIS-02-01-F. The project will be a 22.4 km (13.9 mi) long, four-lane controlled access toll road with intermittent frontage roads, grade-separated intersections with exit and entrance ramps at eight intersecting roadways, and elevated directional interchanges at State Highway 99 and U.S. 290. It will begin in western Harris County at Franz Road near I-10. It will then proceed north through Harris County and end at U.S. 290. The purpose of the project is to efficiently link the suburban communities and major roadways, enhance mobility and safety, and respond to economic growth. The actions by the Federal agencies, and the laws under which such actions were taken, are described in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the project, approved on November 19, 2007, in the FHWA Record of Decision (ROD) issued on June 24, 2008, and in other documents in the FHWA administrative record. The FEIS, ROD, and other documents in the FHWA administrative record file are available by contacting the FHWA or the Texas Department of Transportation at the addresses provided above. The FHWA FEIS and ROD can be viewed and downloaded from the Grand Parkway Association Web site at http://www.grandpky.com/​segments/​e/​.

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. 4321-4335]; Federal-Aid Highway Act [23 U.S.C. 109].

2. Air: Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7401-7671(q).

3. Land: Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966 [49 U.S.C. 303].

4. Wildlife: Endangered Species Act [16 U.S.C. 1531-1544] Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act [16 U.S.C. 661-667(d)], 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. 470(f) et seq.]; Archeological Resources Protection Act of 1977 [16 U.S.C. 470(aa)-(ll)]; Archeological and Historic Preservation Act [16 U.S.C. 469-469(c)].

6. Social and Economic: Civil Rights Act of 1964 [42 U.S.C. 2000(d)-2000(d)(1)]; Farmland Protection Policy Act (FPPA) [7 U.S.C. 4201-4209].

7. Wetlands and Water Resources: Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1251-1342; Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), 16 U.S.C. 4601-4604.

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. 11514 Protection and Enhancement of Environmental Quality.

(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: September 3, 2008.

Gregory S. Punske,

District Engineer, Austin.