[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 5, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 550]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-198]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Harris County, Texas

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 an 
environment impact statement will be prepared for a proposed 
transportation improvement project in Harris County, Texas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John Mack, P.E., Federal Highway 
Administration, Texas Division, 826 Federal Bldg., 300 East 8th Street, 
Austin, Texas 78701, Telephone 512-916-5516.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Texas 
Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and The Grand Parkway Association, 
will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposal to 
upgrade the existing road network in Harris County. The proposed 
improvements being considered, as shown in the Region's Long-Range 
Transportation Plan, are a multilane controlled access facility in 
northern Harris County which would be part of a third circumferential 
loop (State Highway 99) around Houston. The proposed improvement length 
is approximately 13 miles. Improvements in this area are necessary to 
provide mobility to the growing area of northwest Harris County.
    A Draft EIS will evaluate various transportation alternatives 
between State Highway 249 near Tomball and Interstate Highway 45 
(North) near the northern terminus of the Hardy Toll Road. The majority 
of this corridor crosses relatively undeveloped properties in Harris 
County. Among the alternatives to be studied are the ``No-action'' 
alternative, Transportation System Management (TSM) alternative, Mass 
Transit alternative and Roadway Build alternative. Cities and towns in 
this region include Tomball and Spring. This study is authorized 
pursuant to the Texas Transportation Commission Minute Order No. 108744 
issued May 27, 1999.
    The scoping meeting will be on February 2, 2000, at Tomball 
College, 30555 Tomball Parkway (SH 249) from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Large 
scale maps with environmental and social features will be available at 
the meeting, and several corridors will be shown on these maps. These 
maps and corridors will reflect input from public workshops held in 
August 1999. The scoping process will continue throughout the 
development of the environmental document.
    Impacts caused by the construction and operation of the facility 
will vary according to the transportation alternative utilized. 
Generally, impacts would include the following: transportation impacts 
(construction detours, construction traffic, mobility improvement and 
evacuation route improvement), air and noise impacts from construction 
equipment and operation of the facility, water quality impacts from 
construction area and roadway storm water runoff, impacts to waters of 
the United States including wetlands from right of way encroachment, 
and impacts to residents and businesses based on potential 
displacements.
    Letters describing the proposed action 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 interest in this proposal. 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 action and the Environmental Impact Statement 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 government consultation on Federal 
programs and activities apply to this program)

    Issued on: December 23, 1999.
Wilbur Lee Gibbons,
Urban Program Engineer, Austin, Texas.
[FR Doc. 00-198 Filed 1-4-00; 8:45 am]
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