[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 199 (Friday, October 11, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 53385]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-26196]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
[FES 9649]


Proposed American River Bridge Crossing Project, Folsom, 
California

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of final environmental impact statement.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (as amended), the Bureau of Reclamation 
(Reclamation) has prepared a final environmental impact statement 
(FEIS) for the American River Bridge Crossing Project in Folsom, 
California. The Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service are cooperating agencies under NEPA.
    The purpose of the FEIS is to address the environmental impacts of 
constructing a bridge across the American River in the City of Folsom 
in eastern Sacramento County. The FEIS describes the environmental 
effects of five alternatives, including no action. The purpose of the 
American River Bridge crossing project alternatives are:
     To relieve traffic on Rainbow Bridge, currently operating 
at design capacity;
     To relieve traffic congestion on the bridge approach 
roadways and intersections in the immediate vicinity of the bridge;
     To improve traffic circulation throughout Folsom;
     To provide additional cross-river transportation 
facilities to accommodate present and future commute traffic in area 
communities; and
     To improve automobile, bicycle, and pedestrian safety in 
the vicinity of Rainbow Bridge.
    The FEIS also includes all comments received on the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report and 
responses to those comments.

DATES: No decision will be made on the proposed action until 30 days 
after release of the FEIS. After the 30-day waiting period, Reclamation 
will complete a Record of Decision which states the action that will be 
implemented and will discuss all factors leading to the decision.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the FEIS may be requested from Reclamation at the 
following address: Regional Director, Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-
Pacific Regional Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Attention: MP-152, 
Sacramento, CA 95825-1898; Telephone: (916) 979-2482.
    Copies of the FEIS are also available for inspection at the above 
address and at the following libraries
     City of Folsom Planning Department, 50 Natoma Street, 
Folsom CA 95630.
     Natural Resources Library, U.S. Department of the 
Interior, 1849 C Street, NW, Main Interior Building, Washington DC 
20240-0001.
     Library, Bureau of Reclamation, 6th Avenue and Kipling, 
Room 167, Building 67, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225-0007.
     California State University Library, Government 
Publications Section, 2000 Jed Smith Drive, Sacramento CA 95819.
     City of Folsom Public Library, 300 Persifer Street, Folsom 
CA 95630.
     Fair Oaks-Orangevale Community Library, 11601 Fair Oaks 
Boulevard, Fair Oaks CA 95628.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Douglas Kleinsmith, U.S. Bureau of 
Reclamation. Mid-Pacific Region, 2800 Cottage Way, MP-152, Sacramento 
California 95825-1898, telephone (916) 979-2482.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Reclamation and the City of Folsom prepared 
a joint draft environmental impact report/environmental impact 
statement (DEIR/DEIS) for the American River Bridge Crossing Project in 
March 1992. It was decided that a separate final environmental impact 
report (FEIR) and a separate FEIS would be prepared, rather than a 
joint FEIS/FEIR, because the NEPA process was delayed by meeting the 
requirements of related Federal environmental laws. Pursuant to the 
California Environmental Quality Act, the City of Folsom released and 
certified the FEIR in July 1994. A supplement to the FEIR was released 
November 1994. This FEIS incorporates the information contained in 
those two documents and new information received since the release of 
the Supplement to the FEIR.
    The proposed action (preferred alternative) consists of a 2,300-
foot span bridge connecting Folsom Boulevard with Folsom-Auburn Road. 
The bridge would be constructed to accommodate four vehicular lanes, 
bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and right-of-way for a future high-
occupancy vehicle facility (such as light rail line or carpool lane). 
The project would require roadway and intersection improvements in 
Folsom's downtown historic district, widening Folsom Boulevard, 
modifying the Greenback Lane/ Folsom-Auburn Road intersection for the 
northern bridge approach, and raising an electrical transmission line 
to meet clearance requirements over the northern bridge approach.
    Because the bridge facility crosses federal land, the City of 
Folsom must apply for an easement from Reclamation for construction. 
Accordingly, Reclamation is the lead federal agency responsible for 
NEPA compliance on the proposed action.
    Other alternatives evaluated in detail in the FEIS are three other 
bridge crossing sites in the City of Folsom and the no action 
alternative. The other sites considered in detail are the Oak Avenue 
Parkway extension and bridge upstream of Rainbow Bridge, a bridge 
parallel to Rainbow Bridge with a connector to the Oak Avenue Parkway 
extension, and a bridge below Folsom Dam.

    Dated: September 18, 1996.
Kirk C. Rodgers,
Deputy Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 96-26196 Filed 10-10-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-P