[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 5, 2000)] [Notices] [Pages 549-550] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 00-200] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration Environmental Impact Statement: Harris and Montgomery Counties, Texas AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of intent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 and Montgomery Counties, 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 and Montgomery Counties. The proposed improvements being considered, as shown in the Region's Long-Range Transportation Plan, are a multilane controlled access facility in northern Harris and Montgomery Counties 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 and Montgomery Counties. A Draft EIS will evaluate various transportation alternatives between Interstate 45 (North) and United States Highway 59 (North). The majority of this corridor crosses relatively undeveloped properties in Harris and Montgomery Counties, although subdivision has occurred in portions. 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 Spring, New Caney and Porter. This study is authorized pursuant to the Texas Transportation Commission Minute Order No. 108744 issued May 27, 1999. The scoring meeting will be on February 3, 2000, at Kingwood College, 20000 Kingwood Drive from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Large scale maps with environmental and social features will be available at the meeting, and several [[Page 550]] 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, P.E., Urban Program Engineer, Austin, Texas. [FR Doc. 00-200 Filed 01-04-00; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-22-M