[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 28, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72717-72718]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-33611]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement, Kittitas County, WA

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a 
programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared for 
a proposed highway project in Kittitas County, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gene K. Fong, Division Administrator, 
Federal Highway Administration, 711 South Capital Way, Suite 501, 
Olympia, WA 98501-0943, telephone: (360) 753-9480; or Leonard Pittman, 
Regional Administrator, Washington State Department of Transportation, 
2809 Rudkin Road, Union Gap, WA 98909, telephone: (509) 575-2530.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Washington 
State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), will prepare an EIS for a 
proposal to improve a 13 mile portion of Interstate 90 (I-90) 
immediately east of Snoqualmie Pass in the Cascade Mountains, from Hyak 
(MP 54) to Easton Hill (MP 67).
    The proposed improvements are intended to restore degraded highway 
surfaces, eliminate impediments to trucking, increase traffic capacity 
and design speed, and reduce closures due to avalanches and avalanche 
control activities. This highway is the major east-west corridor for 
truck-borne shipping in Washington; it is also the major east-west 
route for passenger automobile traffic. The proposed work is between 54 
and 67 miles from Seattle. It is immediately east of Snoqualmie Pass in 
the Cascade Mountains, a popular destination for winter recreation 
within the state of Washington. I-90 in the Snoqualmie Pass area is 
subject to heavy traffic flows at all times of the year, with traffic-
related slowdowns and stoppages an ongoing concern. Closures due to 
avalanches and avalanche control activities are common, and in the 
winter of 1998-1999, record snowfalls made closure frequent. Traffic 
stoppages on I-90 are costly to the state's economy. Potential issues 
of concern include fish and their habitat, wildlife habitat 
connectivity, wetlands, water quality, threatened and endangered 
species, existing management plans for forests and other areas, slope 
stability, cultural resources, public safety, and socioeconomic impacts 
related to traffic flow.
    Alternatives under consideration include: (1) Taking no action; (2) 
resurfacing the deteriorated concrete surface; (3) splitting eastbound 
from westbound lanes by building new westbound lanes along the opposite 
(south) side of Keechelus Lake from the existing east and westbound 
lanes, to rejoin at an undetermined distance southeast of the lake's 
outlet; (4) adding a third lane each way to connect with the existing 
3-lane configuration at each end of the project; (5) straightening 
curves to increase design speeds, including one possible elevated 
section over part of an embankment in Keechelus Lake; (6) overpass and 
snowshed modification to provide adequate clearance for oversize loads; 
(7) increasing capacity of the existing snowshed to handle 5 snow 
chutes and protect all lanes. These alternatives are not necessarily 
exclusive, since some of them accomplish different purposes and may be 
used in combination with each other. Within the alternatives, there are 
possible subalternatives.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to the appropriate federal, state, local agencies affected 
Indian tribes, private organizations, and citizens who have previously 
expressed or are known to have an interest in this project. A series of 
meetings with the public, interested community groups, and governmental 
agencies will be held beginning in February. In addition, a public 
hearing will be held after the release of the Draft EIS to receive 
public and agency comments. Public notice will be given of the time and 
place of the future meetings and 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 to this proposed project 
are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments and 
suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or 
questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS should be 
directed to FHWA at the address or phone number provided above. 
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 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.)


[[Page 72718]]


    Issued on: December 15, 1999.
Catherine F. Nicholas,
Transportation and Environmental Engineer, FHWA Washington Division.
[FR Doc. 99-33611 Filed 12-27-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M