[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 50 (Monday, March 16, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12816-12817]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6679]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-4307-N-02]


Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS); City of Porterville, 
CA Section 108 Loan Guarantee Funded Infrastructure Project

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and 
Development, HUD.

ACTION: Notice of availability of DEIS and public comment dates.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Housing and Urban Development gives notice 
that the City of Porterville, California, has prepared a combined Draft 
Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) 
for a Section 108 Loan Guarantee funded infrastructure project as 
described in this notice. This notice is in accordance with regulations 
of the Council on Environmental Quality under its rule (40 CFR part 
1500).
    Interested individuals, government agencies, and private 
organizations are invited to comment on the Draft Environmental Impact 
Report/Draft Environmental Impact Statement concerning the project to 
the specified person or address indicated below.
    Particularly solicited are comments on the draft EIR/EIS and the 
major issues identified below.
    Federal agencies having jurisdiction by law, special expertise or 
other special interest should report their interests and indicate their 
readiness to aid in the final EIR/EIS effort.

DATES: Effective date: This notice shall be effective on March 16, 
1998.
    Comment due date: Written comments must arrive by May 1, 1998 at 
the address given below. We will consider all comments received in 
preparing the Final Environmental Impact Statement.

ADDRESSES: All interested agencies, groups and persons are invited to 
submit written comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement to 
the following contact person: Ronald J. Mauck, City of Porterville, 
Department of Community Development and Services, 291 North Main 
Street, Porterville, CA 93257.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ronald J. Mauck (see address 
above), telephone (209) 782-7460.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A combined Draft Environmental Impact 
Report/Environmental Impact Statement has been completed and accepted 
for the proposed action described below. Comments on the Draft EIR/EIS 
are requested and will be accepted by the contact person until May 1, 
1998.
    Title of Action: City of Porterville Section 108 Loan Guarantee 
Funded Infrastructure Project.
    Description of Action: The Draft Environmental Impact Report/
Environmental Impact Statement examines the social, economic and 
environmental impacts on the City of Porterville and its environs from 
completion of the proposed action. Key objectives of the project 
include:
    (1) Provision of new, and retention of existing, jobs through 
development of a variety of public infrastructure resulting in 
employment opportunities for low and moderate income persons; (2) 
rehabilitation of three central business district parking lots; and (3) 
provision of financial assistance in rehabilitating existing commercial 
structures or acquisition of sites for, and construction of new, 
commercial buildings.
    The combined EIR/EIS analyzes potential environmental effects of 
five alternative projects. The alternative projects described here are 
illustrative of varying options for development, enabling an evaluation 
of the full range of impacts identified within the EIR/EIS alternative.
    Alternative 1 would provide for extension of water and sewer trunk 
lines within Indiana Street and Teapot Dome Avenue connecting the 
existing City water and sewer infrastructure system with industrial 
designated lands along Tea Pot Dome Avenue and within the easterly 
sector of the Porterville Municipal Airport. Alternative 1 would also 
include development of a new highway interchange at the intersection of 
State Highway 65 and Teapot Dome Avenue. Approximately 280 acres of 
vacant and agricultural land currently designated by the City General 
Plan for future industrial development would ultimately be converted to 
urbanized use under Alternative 1.
    Alternative 2 would provide for extension of water trunk lines 
within South Newcomb Street from River Avenue south across the Tule 
River to a point just south of the intersection of South Newcomb Street 
and State Highway 190. Alternative 2 would also provide for the 
construction of South Newcomb Street to arterial width from Heritage 
Avenue south across the Tule River, inclusive of construction of a 
bridge across the river, to a point just south of the intersection of 
South Newcomb Street and State Highway 190. Street improvements would 
include curb, gutter, sidewalk, and streetlights. Approximately 280 
acres of vacant land currently designated by the City General Plan for 
low-density

[[Page 12817]]

residential uses would be ultimately converted to Industrial/Commercial 
Uses under Alternative 2.
    Alternative 3 would provide for extension of sewer and water trunk 
lines from Indiana Street north of Gibbons Avenue to the intersection 
of Indiana Street and Scranton Avenue then west along Scranton Avenue 
across State Highway 65 to the intersection of Scranton Avenue and 
South Newcomb Street. Construction of State Highway on and off ramps at 
the intersection of State Highway 65 and Scranton Avenue would also be 
provided by Alternative 3. Approximately 300 acres of vacant land 
designated for highway commercial uses and 150 acres of primarily 
vacant land designated for industrial uses would ultimately be 
converted to urbanized uses under Alternative 3.
    Alternative 4 (the Proposed Action) would provide for 
infrastructure improvements within two (2) distinctly separate 
locations. Alternative 4--Area No. 1 would provide for extension of 
water and sewer trunk lines in the vicinity of the Porterville 
Municipal Airport, improvement of Tea Pot Dome Avenue, and Newcomb and 
West Streets proximate to the Municipal Airport, improvements to the 
abandoned runway located at the Municipal Airport, and installation of 
master planned storm drain improvements in the vicinity of the 
municipal airport. Alternative 4-Area No. 2 would provide for extension 
of water trunk lines in the vicinity of South Jaye Street, State 
Highway 65 and Gibbons Avenue. South Jaye Street would be extended as 
an arterial width street from its southerly terminus to Gibbons Avenue. 
Alternative 4 would also accomplish installation of storm drain 
facilities in South Jaye Street and Gibbons Avenue. Under Alternative 
4, approximately 380 acres of primarily vacant land designated for 
industrial uses would ultimately be converted to urbanized use.
    Alternative 5 is the No Project alternative, consideration of which 
is required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and by 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Under this alternative, 
the proposed infrastructure project would not occur precluding 
industrial/commercial development of any of the areas discussed in 
Alternatives 1-4.
    Location: City of Porterville, Tulare County, California
    Potential Environmental Impacts: Land use and planning; population 
and housing; water impacts; air quality impacts; transportation and 
circulation impacts; biological resource impacts; energy and mineral 
resource impacts; hazards, noise impacts; demands on public services 
and utilities; aesthetic impacts; recreation impacts; and cumulative 
effects. Most of these impacts would be reduced to a level of 
insignificance following implementation of proposed mitigation 
measures.
    The Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact 
Statement will be published on or about March 16, 1998 and will be on 
file at 291 North Main Street, Porterville, California 93257 and 
available for public inspection, or copies may be obtained at the same 
address, upon request.

    Dated: March 11, 1998.
Richard H. Broun,
Director, Office of Community Viability.
[FR Doc. 98-6679 Filed 3-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-29-P