[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 16 (Tuesday, January 25, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4015-4016]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-1712]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Merced County, CA

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 
expressway

[[Page 4016]]

project in Merced County,in Merced County, California.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Mr. Robert F. Tally, Team Leader, 
District Operations--North, California Division, 980 9th Street, Suite 
400, Sacramento, CA 95814-2724, Telephone: (916) 498-5020.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  The FHWA, in cooperation with the 
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Merced 
County Department of Public Works, will prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) on a proposal to construct a regional arterial, the 
Campus Parkway, in Merced County. The proposed project would involve 
the construction of an alignment, between the State Route 99/Mission 
Avenue Interchange to the southwest and the Bellevue Road to the 
northeast. The project would be approximately 10.5 kilometers (6.5 
miles) in length.
    Construction of this corridor is considered necessary to provide 
for the locally projected future traffic demand and conform with the 
regional transportation planning for the year 2020. The proposed 
project would provide access to the Merced's eastern industrial area, 
the northern area of the city of Merced, and the University Community 
Specific Use Development Plan area near Lake Yosemite, which 
encompasses the site for the campus of the University of California at 
Merced. Alternatives under consideration include: (1) Taking no action 
and (2) constructing a four-lane limited access highway on the ultimate 
six-lane Right-of-Way. Incorporated into and studied with the various 
build alternatives will be design variations of grade and alignment.
    Letter describing the proposed action 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 interest in this proposal. Public information meetings 
will be held in Merced County between March and November 2000. In 
addition, a public hearing will be held. Public notice will be given of 
the time and place of the meetings and hearing. The draft EIS will be 
available for public and agency review and comment prior to the public 
hearing. No formal scoping meeting is planned at this time.
    To ensure that the full range of issues relate to this proposed 
action are addressed and all significant issues are identified, 
comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. 
Comments or questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS 
should be directed to the FHWA at the address provided above.

 (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)

    Issued on: January 19, 2000.
Robert F. Tally,
Team Leader, District Operations--North California Division, Federal 
Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-1712 Filed 1-24-00; 8:45 am]
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