[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 133 (Tuesday, July 11, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42750-42751]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-17485]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Fairfax County, Virginia

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is issuing this 
notice to advise the public of its intent to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement in cooperation with the Virginia Department of 
Transportation (VDOT) for proposed improvements to the Capital Beltway 
(Interstate 495) in Fairfax County, Virginia for approximately 14 miles 
from Backlick Road (Route 617) to the American Legion Memorial Bridge 
at the Virginia/Maryland State line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward Sundra, Environmental 
Specialist, Sr., Federal Highway Administration, Post Office Box 10249, 
Richmond, Virginia 23240-0249, Telephone 804-775-3338.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1997, a Major Investment Study (MIS) was 
completed in accordance with 23 CFR 450.318 which examined the 
transportation problems associated with the Capital Beltway in Virginia 
and identified possible solutions to address those problems as well as 
future transportation needs in the area. The MIS resulted in the 
determination that highway improvements which promote high occupancy 
vehicle (HOV) and bus transit use would be the most effective 
transportation investment to serve current and future demand on the 
Capital Beltway. The MIS also recommended that potential rail transit 
improvements serving the Capital Beltway corridor be studied on a 
regional basis by an appropriate transit agency or multi-jurisdictional 
team.
    In 1998, FHWA and VDOT initiated the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) process for the proposed recommendations resulting from the 
MIS. Based on a preliminary assessment of the project area and 
potential environmental impacts, FHWA and VDOT cooperatively agreed to 
prepare an Environmental Assessment in accordance with 40 CFR 1501.3(b) 
and 23 CFR 771.119(a) which permits the preparation of an Environmental 
Assessment when the significance of the environmental impacts are not 
clearly established and the preparation of the Environmental Assessment 
would assist agency decision making regarding the

[[Page 42751]]

need for an Environmental Impact Statement.
    To provide additional definition to the MIS recommendations, 
alternatives for interchange improvements, mainline configurations, and 
direct HOV access were developed and evaluated. Following an extensive 
and ongoing public involvement and outreach effort involving citizen 
workshops and information meetings, newsletters, a telephone hot-line, 
a website, and business/civic/neighborhood meetings, the alternatives 
were refined through an iterative screening process which determined 
the feasibility of implementing the various combinations of mainline 
configurations and interchange concepts. This screening process was 
based on engineering, operational, and environmental criteria. The most 
effective mainline and interchange combinations were combined into 
several ``end-to-end'' alternatives and carried forward for more 
detailed environmental analysis. Based on the initial results of this 
environmental analysis, it was determined that the proposed 
improvements to the Capital Beltway would result in greater 
environmental impacts than originally anticipated requiring the 
preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement.
    Alternatives being considered for improving the Capital Beltway 
include various combinations of the following: Widening the existing 
roadway, implementing lane management strategies such as HOV lanes or 
express/local lanes, reconstructing existing interchanges, and 
providing new direct access points for HOV traffic. Other alternatives 
being considered include the Transportation System Management 
alternative and the No-Build alternative. Additional information on the 
scope of the proposed Capital Beltway improvements and the alternatives 
that will be evaluated in the Environmental Impact Statement is 
available on the Internet at http://project1.parsons.com/capitalbeltway.
    This Environmental Impact Statement will replace the Environmental 
Assessment currently being prepared by FHWA and VDOT for the proposed 
Capital Beltway while building upon the scoping, engineering, and 
environmental work as well as the public involvement effort conducted 
to date. As part of the early coordination for the Environmental 
Assessment, letters describing the proposed action and soliciting input 
were sent to the appropriate Federal, State and local agencies, private 
organizations, citizens, and interest groups who have expressed or are 
known to have an interest in this proposal. Coordination with these 
agencies, organizations and individuals will continue as the 
Environmental Impact Statement is prepared. All Federal, State, and 
local agencies contacted during the early coordination for the 
Environmental Assessment will be notified of the FHWA's intent to 
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Capital 
Beltway improvements and provided an additional opportunity to comment 
on its proposed scope. Similar notice will be given to private 
organizations, citizens, and interest groups that have previously 
expressed or are known to have interest in this proposal. In addition, 
public input will continue to be solicited through the ongoing public 
involvement and outreach effort. Public hearings will be held when the 
draft Environmental Impact Statement is completed. Public notices will 
be given of the times and places of the hearings, and the draft 
Environmental Impact Statement will be available for public and agency 
review and comment prior to the public hearings. Finally, preparation 
of this Environmental Impact Statement will be coordinated closely with 
the Maryland State Highway Administration's Capital Beltway Corridor 
Transportation Study, the Virginia Department of Rail and Public 
Transportation's Capital Beltway Corridor Rail Feasibility Study, and 
the Environmental Impact Statement currently being prepared for the 
Dulles Corridor Rapid Transit Project.
    Although no formal scoping meeting is planned at this time, 
comments are invited from all interested parties to ensure that the 
full range of issues related to this proposed action are identified and 
taken into account. Comments or questions concerning the proposed 
action and draft Environmental Impact Statement should be directed to 
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 intergovernmental consultation on 
Federal programs and activities apply to this proposed action)

    Authority: 23 U.S.C. Sec. 315; 49 CFR 1.48.

    Issued on June 30, 2000.
Edward S. Sundra,
Environmental Specialist, Sr.
[FR Doc. 00-17485 Filed 7-10-00; 8:45 am]
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