[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 37 (Thursday, February 24, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9305-9306]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-4372]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Utah and Wasatch Counties, Utah

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 
second supplement to a final environmental impact statement will be 
prepared for a proposed highway project in Utah and Wasatch Counties, 
Utah.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Gedris, Environmental 
Coordinator, Federal Highway Administration, 2520 West 4700 South, 
Suite 9A, Salt Lake City, Utah 84118, Telephone: (801) 963-0078 ext, 
243; or Dan Nelson, Utah Department of Transportation, Region 3, 825 
North 900 West, Orem, Utah 84057, Telephone: (801) 222-3406.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Utah 
Department of Transportation (UDOT), will prepare a second supplement 
to the final environmental impact statement (EIS) with route termini at 
the existing interchange of Interstate 15 with Utah Route 52 (800 
North) in Orem on the west and the intersection of U.S. Highway 189 
with U.S. Highway 40 approximately 0.8 km (\1/2\ mile) south of Heber 
City on the east. An 8 km (5 mile) section of the 5/40.2 km (25 mile) 
route, from the western terminus to Murdock Diversion in Provo Canyon, 
has been improved to a four-land facility. This original project 
proposed to widen and realign approximately 35.4 km (22 miles) of U.S. 
Highway 189 between its junctions with Utah Route 52 at Olmstead and 
U.S. Highway 40 near Heber City in Utah and Wasatch Counties, Utah, 
including 3.2 km (2 miles) of improved roadway between Olmstead and 
Murdock Diversion. The original EIS for the improvements (FHWA-UT-EIS-
76-02-F) was approved in 1978, and a Supplemental EIS (SEIS) (FHAW-UT-
EIS- 76-02-FS) was prepared and approved on November 9, 1989. The 
purpose of the project is to improve the safety and traffic carrying 
capacity of the highway by correcting substandard geometrics and other 
unsafe conditions. The proposed improvements will provide four lanes 
divided by a median with minimum pavement and clear zone widths.
    Under the first SEIS, four project segments were defined. The lower 
segment of the project from Murdock Diversion to Vivian Park (9.3 km 
[5.8] miles]) has been completed, and the second segment from Vivian 
Park to Wildwood (1.9 km [1.2 miles]) is under construction and nearly 
complete. Preliminary design for the third segment from Wildwood to 
Deer Creek State Park (5.3 miles) has been completed and an 
environmental re-evaluation was completed and approved July 15, 1995. 
The fourth segment from Deer Creek State Park to Herber City (16.4 km 
[10.2 miles]) remains at the conceptual design level provided in the 
1989 SEIS. Since some changes in design and construction, as well as 
traffic use, may have occurred since the 1989 SEIS, the project will be 
restudied to insure that the design parameters and environmental 
considerations are appropriate. The Preferred Alternative developed as 
a part of the first SEIS and partially modified in the 1995 Wildwood to 
Deer Creek State Park Re-evaluation will be the focus for this study.
    Comments are being solicited from appropriate Federal, State, and 
local agencies and from private organizations and citizens who have 
previously expressed or are known to have interest in this proposal. 
Several public scoping and information meetings and a public hearing 
will be held during the course of the analysis. Public notice will be 
given of the time and place of the meetings and hearing. The draft SEIS 
will be available for public and agency review prior to the public 
hearing.
    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 and/
or questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS should be 
directed to the FHWA or UDOT at the addresses provided above.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, Highway 
Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing Executive Order 
12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on Federal programs and 
activities apply to this program.)


[[Page 9306]]


    Dated: Issued on: February 17, 2000.
Michael G. Ritchie,
Division Administrator, Salt Lake City, Utah.
[FR Doc. 00-4372 Filed 2-23-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M