[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 192 (Tuesday, October 3, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59043-59044]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-25328]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Kootenai County, Idaho

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 
U.S.C. 4321; 40 CFR 1508.22; 23 CFR 771.123(a), the FHWA is issuing 
this notice to advise the public that an environmental impact statement 
will be prepared for a proposed highway project in Kootenai County, 
Idaho near the city of Coeur d'Alene.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Victoria Peters, Design Operations 
Engineer or Christy Darden, Project Manager, Federal Highway 
Administration, 610 East Fifth Street, Vancouver, Washington 98661, 
telephone 360-696-7700.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in partnership with the U.S. 
Forest Service, East Side Highway District, and Idaho Department of 
Transportation, will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on 
a proposal to improve Fernan Lake Road also known as Idaho Forest 
Highway 80. The section proposed for improvement begins at Fernan 
Village, outside of Coeur d'Alene, and ends at Fernan Saddle for a 
distance of approximately 17.2 kilometers (10.7 miles).
    Fernan Lake Road provides access to Idaho Panhandle National Forest 
(IPNF). Because it is located close to the population in Coeur d'Alene 
and has direct access to I-90, Fernan Lake Road has a high vehicle 
usage. The recreational usage creates a dangerous mix of users 
including bicyclists, pedestrians, cars, recreational vehicles, timber 
haulers, trucks and school buses along this substandard paved road.
    The existing Fernan Lake Road is narrow, has numerous sharp curves, 
a failing subgrade, a deteriorating road surface, and a substandard 
horizontal alignment which limits sight distance (``blind curves''). 
There are no developed recreational parking areas and very few turnouts 
along Fernan Lake, so users park along the road,

[[Page 59044]]

creating a safety hazard. Safety hazards are created by a narrow road 
with sharp curves and a surface that is in poor condition. The reported 
accidents over a period of approximately five years (January 1994 to 
December 1998) are two to three times higher than typical for this type 
of road. Solutions are needed to reduce the rate and severity of 
accidents and to provide for the current and projected traffic demand.
    The overall purpose of the project is to cost effectively improve 
the physical conditions and safety features of Fernan Lake Road, while 
minimizing adverse impacts to sensitive environmental resources. 
Project objectives will be based on the needs developed during the 
scoping process. All improvements must be consistent with the 
applicable guidelines from the IPNF Forest Plan, Kootenai County plans 
and ordinances, Idaho state regulations, and federal regulations.
    Alternatives under consideration include (1) taking no action; (2) 
improving the existing road to meet the appropriate Idaho state design 
criteria; (3) improving the existing road to meet the appropriate 
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials 
(AASHTO) design criteria; (4) other alternatives that may be developed 
during the NEPA process.
    Notices 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 
interest in this proposal. Two public scoping meetings were held during 
2000 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Based in part on data collected and 
comments received, FHWA has determined that it will prepare an EIS on 
the project. Comments previously received will be utilized during the 
EIS. Additional interagency and public scoping activities will be 
conducted. The time and place of the public scoping activities will be 
provided in the local news media and by notice to individuals and 
agencies that have expressed interest in the proposal. The draft EIS 
will be available for public and agency review and comment. Schedules 
for these activities will be distributed when available this winter.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addresses and all significant issues identified, comments 
and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Previous 
comments received by FHWA have identified a number of issues such as 
impacts to private landowners, water quality, wetlands, and wildlife, 
as well as, hillside stability, placement of fill in the lake, tree 
removal, and parking along the roadway. 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: September 27, 2000.
Ronald W. Carmichael,
Division Engineer, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-25328 Filed 10-2-00; 8:45 am]
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