[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 135 (Thursday, July 15, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 38232-38233] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-18095] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration Environmental Impact Statement: District of Columbia, Prince George's County, Maryland and City of Alexandria and Fairfax County, VA AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of intent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a supplement to a final environmental impact statement will be prepared for a proposed bridge project in the District of Columbia, Prince George's County, Maryland and the City of Alexandria and Fairfax County, Virginia. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John Gerner, Project Manager, Woodrow Wilson Bridge Center, 1800 Duke Street, Suite 200, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, Telephone: (703) 519-9800. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the District of Columbia Department of Public Works, Virginia Department of Transportation, and Maryland State Highway Administration, will prepare a supplement to the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for a proposal to enhance mobility while addressing community and environmental concerns along I-95/I-495 (Capital Beltway) from west of Telegraph Road to east of MD 210 in the vicinity of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. The original FEIS for the improvements (FHWA-MD-VA-DC-EIS-91- 01-F) was approved on September 2, 1997 and a Record of Decision (ROD) was issued on November 25, 1997. The proposed improvements documented in that FEIS provide for replacing the existing bridge with a new bridge crossing consisting of two new parallel drawbridges, one for eastbound traffic and the other for westbound traffic, constructed approximately thirty feet south of and twenty feet higher than the existing bridge. Each span would have five general purpose traffic lanes (separated into two express and three local lanes), and one lane reserved for future use by public transit or high occupancy vehicle use. Thus, the new bridge would have a total ten general purpose traffic lanes and two lanes reserved for limited future use. Four interchanges adjacent to the bridge, two in Maryland and two in Virginia, will also be reconstructed to provide for roadway widening associated with the larger bridge, smoother traffic flow, and improved access to the bridge. The location and preliminary design of the project have been approved. However, a U.S. District Court ruling, City of Alexandria v. Slater, 1999 U.S. DIST. LEXIS 5254 (D. DC April 14, 1999), found that the FEIS was inadequate because a ten lane alternative had not been fully considered, the presentation of construction impacts associated with the project was not detailed enough, and the impact on cultural resources in yet to be selected mitigation sites and possible sites in the construction area were not described (on the last point, the Court also found that the National Historic Preservation Act had been violated). The Federal Government is appealing the Court's decision. The Federal Government is not appealing other portions of the decision dealing with the Clean Air Act. Although the Federal Highway Administration is appealing this decision, in recognition of the need for timely action on this bridge replacement project, the Federal Highway Administration has decided to begin processing a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) to address the issues raised by the Court and to present information on changes to the project which were not evaluated in the FEIS, even while the appeal of the Court decision is pending. In addition, and since the publication of the FEIS in 1997, the development of the final design has led to a number of changes in the project, resulting in some changes in the boundaries of the project, the configuration of the interchanges, the amount of dredging in the Potomac River, and other relatively limited changes. These changes are best addressed in an SEIS, irrespective of the District Court decision. This ``Alternatives SEIS'' is being undertaken to: (1) Do preliminary engineering and design work necessary to develop 10 lane alternative designs, (2) consider these 10 lane alternatives along with the current 12 lane design, (3) address construction impacts and effects upon cultural resources and historic sites in the area, and (4) address [[Page 38233]] changes to the project since the issuance of the ROD. If the appeal is resolved favorably and the mandate to more fully consider 10 lane alternatives, construction impacts, and yet to be identified historic sites in an SEIS is vacated, development of a ``limited scope SEIS'' (23 CFR 773.130(f)) only dealing with the changes which have occurred since the 1997 ROD would continue. Work would stop on those matters which flow directly from the District Court's decision, as an SEIS on these issues would then be unnecessary and limiting the scope of the SEIS would allow the project to remain on its original schedule. If the appeal is not successful, the ``Alternatives SEIS'' addressing changes to the project since the ROD was issued as well as evaluating various 10 lane alternatives and other issues required by the District Court would be completed. Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and to private organizations and citizens and citizen groups who have previously expressed or are known to have an interest in this proposal. It is anticipated that Scoping Meetings will be held both in Virginia and Maryland early in August, 1999. If the appeal is not successful and an ``Alternatives SEIS'' is prepared, Public Information Workshops will be held both in Maryland and Virginia in December, 1999 and Public Hearings will be held both in Maryland and Virginia in May, 2000. If the appeal is successful and a ``limited scope SEIS'' is prepared, the Public Information Workshop will not be conducted, but Public Hearings will be held both in Maryland and Virginia in January, 2000 to present the results of the evaluations of proposed changes to the project since the FEIS and ROD were issued in 1997. In either case, the draft SEIS will be available for public and agency review and comment prior to the Public Hearing. Public notice will be given of the availability of the Draft SEIS for review and of the time and place of the public meetings and hearings. 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 these proposed actions and SEIS should be directed to the FHWA at the address provided above. (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, Highway Research, Planning and Construction. The regulation implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation of Federal programs and activities apply to this program). Nelson J. Castellanos, Division Administrator, Baltimore, Maryland. [FR Doc. 99-18095 Filed 7-14-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-22-M