[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 216 (Tuesday, November 9, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61176-61177]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-28943]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management


Environmental Impact Statement: Daggett county, Utah

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT Bureau of Land 
Management, (BLM), DOI.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
and Amend the Diamond Mountain Resource Area Resource Management Plan.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA and BLM are issuing this Notice to advise the public 
that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for the 
proposed Browns Park Road Re-alignment and Paving Project proposed by 
Daggett County, Utah. This 26.9 km (16.8 miles) segment would connect 
from the currently paved portion of Browns Park Road that junctions 
with US Highway 191 in Utah to Colorado Route 318. The BLM, as a 
cooperating agency, under this Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS, may 
amend the Diamond Mountain Resource Area Resource Management Plan (RMP) 
by adding a corridor for the proposed action.

AGENCY DECISIONS: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969, as amended, the FHWA must decide whether or not to proceed 
with the proposed project and under what terms, conditions, and 
stipulations. The BLM, which will assist in the preparation of the EIS, 
will decide whether to amend the RMP and provide a letter of consent to 
the FHWA under Interagency Agreement AA851-LA2-40.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Allen, Environmental Engineer, 
Federal Highway Administration, 2520 West 4700 South, Suite 9A, Salt 
Lake City, Utah 84118-1847, Telephone: (801) 963-0078 Ext. 229; Greg 
Searle, Utah Department of Transportation, Region 3 (801) 227-8058 and 
Duane De Paepe, Bureau of Land Management, Vernal Field Office, (435) 
781-4400.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FHWA as lead agency, in cooperation with the 
Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) will prepare an EIS to re-
align and pave the existing Browns Park Road. The Vernal Field Office 
of the Bureau of Land Management will serve as a cooperating agency and 
will assist in preparation of the EIS and direct preparation of the 
plan amendment for the Diamond Mountain Resource Area RMP. The plan 
amendment criteria would be the same as in the Diamond Mountain 
Resource Area RMP Record of Decision (Fall, 1994). The construction 
project would consist of upgrading and realigning portions of an 
existing county road that crosses 19.6 km of public land parcels 
administered by the BLM (12.2 miles), 6.9 km State of Utah lands (4.3 
miles), as well as .5 km of land that is privately owned (.3 miles).
    Currently, the Browns Park Road is unpaved, and characterized by 
rutted washboard surfaces and dust producing surface materials. 
Horizontal and vertical alignments on the existing roadway vary from 
good in the straight sections to poor on the steep and curving 
sections. Jesse Ewing Canyon has some extremely steep grades in the 
range of 14 to 17 percent. This makes travel very difficult during 
inclement weather and has proven to be very dangerous as evidenced by a 
traffic fatality in recent years. In addition to addressing these 
maintenance and safety concerns, Daggett County also considers it 
important to bring this road up to the standards of the adjoining 
highways.
    The proposal is to pave the section of Daggett County road between 
Red Creek (T3N R23E Sec. 16) and the Colorado State line (T2N R25E Sec. 
35), known as the Browns Park Road. This 26.9 km segment would be 9 m 
(29.5 feet) in width and have a design speed of 60 km/hr (38 mph). It 
would connect from the currently paved portion of Browns Park Road that 
junctions with US Highway 191 in Utah to Colorado Route 318, and 
provide improved access to recreational, agricultural, and commercial 
developments in the Green River and Flaming Gorge areas from Utah, 
Colorado and Wyoming.
    The proposed project would generally follow the existing Browns 
Park Road alignment. However, there are two proposed courses around 
Jesse Ewing Canyon that would lengthen the road course to reduce grades 
and provide a safer route of travel.
    The corridor width needed for construction would be expected to 
average about 30.5 m (100 feet). New disturbance associated with the 
realignment proposed in Jesse Ewing Canyon is expected to be 
approximately 12.1 hectares (30 acres). In addition, several 
construction equipment staging

[[Page 61177]]

(temporary use) areas and borrow sites would be required, and would be 
located along the road corridor (8.1 hectares [20 acres]). The overall 
disturbed area associated with this project is expected to be less than 
60.7 hectares (150 acres).
    The primary users of the Browns Park Road are agriculturists, 
recreationists, and residents in the area. The upgrade of the road 
would greatly improve travel conditions and safety, and would 
substantially reduce present maintenance costs for the road. It would 
also support the increased travel demands projected for the near 
future.
    The alternative is no action which would leave the road in its 
present condition. Suggestions for other alternatives are welcome.
    Letters describing the proposed project and soliciting comments 
will be sent to appropriate federal, state, and local agencies, and to 
private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are 
known to have an interest in this proposal.
    Three public open house scoping meetings will be held, two in Utah 
(Dutch John and Vernal), and one in Craig, Colorado. The open houses 
will include displays explaining the project and a forum for commenting 
on the project. The meetings will be held as follows:

Craig, Colorado: December 1, 1999, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Craig City 
Hall, 300 West 4th Street, Council Meeting Room
Vernal, Utah: December 2, 1999, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Western Park, 
302 East 200 South
Dutch John, Utah: December 3, 1999, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Dutch John 
Conference Hall

    Written comments on the scope of this proposal will be accepted 
until December 27, 1999. Comments should be directed to Linda Matthews, 
JBR Environmental Consultants, Inc., 8160 South Highland Drive, Suite 
A-4, Sandy, Utah 84093. At least one public hearing will be held 
following release of the Draft EIS. Public notice will be given of the 
time and place of the hearing. The Draft EIS will be available for 
public and agency review and comment prior to the public hearing.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
project is addressed and any significant impacts are identified, 
comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. 
Comments or questions concerning this proposed project and the EIS 
should be directed to Tom Allen, Environmental Engineer, Federal 
Highway Administration, 2520 West 4700 South, Suite 9A, Salt Lake City, 
Utah 84118-1847, Telephone: (801) 963-0078 Ext. 229.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations 
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental 
consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this 
program.)
    Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents will 
be available for public review at the Utah Division of FHWA and at the 
BLM Vernal Field Office and will be subject to disclosure under the 
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). They may be published as part of the 
Environmental Impact Statement and other related documents. Individual 
respondents may request confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your 
name or street address from public review and disclosure under the 
FOIA, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your written 
comment. Such requests will be honored to the extent allowed by law. 
All submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals 
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations 
or businesses, will be made available for public inspection in their 
entirety.
Michael Ritchie,
Division Administrator, Utah Division, Federal Highway Administration, 
Salt Lake City, Utah.
Linda S. Colville,
BLM Acting Utah State Director, Salt Lake City, Utah.
[FR Doc. 99-28943 Filed 11-8-99; 8:45 am]
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