[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 150 (Friday, August 2, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 40474]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19621]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Stearns County, Minnesota

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 (EIS) will be prepared for the proposed 
reconstruction of Trunk Highway 23 (TH 23) in Stearns County, 
Minnesota.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Cheryl Martin, Federal Highway Administration, Suite 490 Metro Square 
Building, 121 East Seventh Place, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55101, Telephone 
(612) 290-3240; or Tony Hughes, Project Manager, Minnesota Department 
of Transportation--District 3, P.O. Box 370, 3725 12th Street North, 
St. Cloud, MN 56303, Telephone (612) 255-2909.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Minnesota 
Department of Transportation, will prepare an EIS on a proposal to 
improve TH 23 in Stearns County, Minnesota. The EIS will consider 
alternatives and impacts of reconstructing existing TH 23 between 
Richmond and I-94 for a distance of approximately 21 kilometers (13 
miles). Improvements to the corridor are considered necessary to 
provide for existing and projected traffic demands. The alternatives to 
be studied in the Draft EIS as identified in the ``Draft Scoping 
Decision Document'' include:
     No Build.
     Utilize the existing TH 23 Corridor from the west end of 
Richmond, utilize an unused railroad corridor between County Road 163 
in Richmond and County Road 158 near Cold Spring, utilize the existing 
TH 23 Corridor to the connection near I-94.
     Same as previously described alternative except this 
alternative includes the construction of a four-lane rural expressway 
on new alignment south and east of the City of Rockville. This segment 
of expressway would connect to existing TH 23 midway between Rockville 
and Cold Spring on the west and approximately midway between Rockville 
and I-94 on the east.
     Same as previously described alternative except the four-
lane expressway on new alignment is shifted further south and east of 
the City of Rockville.
    The ``TH 23 Scoping Document and Draft Scoping Decision Document'' 
was published July 12, 1996. Copies of the document are being 
distributed to agencies, interested persons, elected and appointed 
officials and libraries for review to aid in identifying issues and 
analyses to be contained in the EIS. The comment period for the ``TH 23 
Scoping Document and Draft Scoping Decision Document'' extends through 
August 14, 1996. To afford an opportunity for all interested persons, 
agencies and groups to comment on the proposed action, a public scoping 
meeting will be held on August 8, 1996 to receive comments. A press 
release was published to inform citizens of the documents' 
availability.
    Coordination has been initiated and will continue with appropriate 
Federal, State and local agencies, and private organizations and 
citizens who have previously expressed or are known to have an interest 
in this project. A series of public meetings will be held. Public 
notice will be given for the time and place of the meetings.
    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 EIS should be 
directed to the FHWA at the address provided above.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistant 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)

    Issued on: July 25, 1996.
Alan J. Friesen,
Engineering and Operations Engineer, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 96-19621 Filed 8-1-96; 8:45 am]
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