[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 89 (Thursday, May 8, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25216-25217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-12005]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Wright, Stearns and Sherburne 
Counties, MN

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The FWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a 
Tier I environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared for 
proposed highway capacity improvements on existing or new alignments 
that connect Interstate 95 (I-94) and Truck Highway 10 (TH 10) between 
the cities of Becker and St. Cloud, Minnesota. The proposed alignment 
connections being studied include existing and new crossings of the 
Mississippi River. The Tier I EIS includes the analysis needed for a 
location decision.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Cheryl Martin, Federal Highway Administration, Galtier Plaza, Box 75, 
175 Fifth Street East, Suite 500, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101-2901, 
Telephone (612) 291-6120; or
Ed Idzorek, Project Manager, Minnesota Department of Transportation--
District 3, 3725 12th Street North, St. Cloud, Minnesota 56302, 
Telephone (320) 654-5546.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Minnesota 
Department of Transportation, will prepare a Tier I EIS on a proposal 
to improve highway capacity for connections between Interstate 94 (I-
94) and Trunk Highway 10 (TH 10) between the cities of Becker and St. 
Cloud, Minnesota, including a crossing of the Mississippi River. The 
area of the proposed improvements is located in Wright, Stearns and 
Sherburne Counties. Expansion of highway capacity is considered 
necessary within the next 20 years to provide for projected traffic 
demands in an area of rapid growth and development.
    The Tier I EIS study will be initiated in late 1997 to examine the 
feasibility and potential impacts of the following alternative 
alignments:
     No Build.
     Utilize the existing TH 24 corridor from I-94 northeast 
(through the city of Clearwater) approximately 4 kilometers (km) then 
north on the current alignment of a local road to connect to TH 10 at a 
point approximately 2 km northwest of the existing TH 10/TH 24 
intersection.
     A new alignment east of the city of Clearwater that 
intersects with I-94 at a point approximately 2.5 km southeast of the 
existing TH 24/I-94 interchange, continuing in a north-northeast 
direction until it intersects with CSAH 8 then continues north on an 
existing local road alignment to intersect with TH 10 at a point 
approximately 2 km northwest of the existing TH 10/TH 24 intersection.
     A new alignment east of the city of St. Cloud that 
intersects I-94 approximately 2.8 km northwest of the existing TH 24 
interchange, continues northeast across the Mississippi River and then 
north to connect to TH 10 in the vicinity of the existing intersection 
of CSAH 3 with TH 10.
     A new alignment west of the city of Becker that intersects 
I-94 approximately 1 km west of the freeway rest area west of the Hasty 
interchange, continuing north on the alignment of existing Barton Road 
then north on a new alignment across the Mississippi River to continue 
along the current alignment of CSAH 53. Approximately 2 km south of TH 
10, the alignment turns north to intersect with TH 10 at a point 
approximately 1.3 km east of the existing intersection of TH 10 and 
CSAH 53.
    The Tier II EIS will be prepared in 15 to 20 years, when the need 
for increased river crossing capacity is imminent. At that time, design 
alternatives for the preferred alignment will be considered and 
environmental impacts and mitigation will be studied in greater detail.
    The ``I-94/TH 10 Regional Connection Scoping Document and Draft 
Scoping Decision Document'' will be published in the Spring of 1997. A 
press release will be published to inform the public of the document's 
availability. Copies of the scoping document will be distributed to 
agencies, interested persons and libraries for review to aid in 
identifying issues and analyses to be contained in the EIS. A 30-day 
comment period for review of the document will be provided. A public 
scoping meeting will also be held during the comment period to afford 
an opportunity for all interested persons, agencies and groups to 
comment on the proposed action.
    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 the proposed action. Public meetings have been held in the past and 
will continue to be held, with public notice given for the time and 
place of the meetings.

[[Page 25217]]

    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 concerning this proposed action and 
the EIS should be directed to the FHWA at the address provided above.

(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)

    Issued on: May 1, 1997.
Stanley M. Graczyk,
Project Development Engineer, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 97-12005 Filed 5-7-97; 8:45 am]
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