[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 5, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 550-551]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-199]


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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 
environmental 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

[[Page 551]]

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 290 and State Highway 249 near Tomball. 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 Hockley and Tomball. 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 governmental 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. 00-199 Filed 1-4-00; 8:45 am]
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