[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 149 (Thursday, August 2, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40312-40313]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-19342]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement, Riverside County, California

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), as lead agency, in 
cooperation with the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) 
and the California Department of Transportation intend to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). The EIS will study 
alternatives to implement transportation corridor improvements in 
western Riverside County, specifically improvements for the Hemet to 
Corona/Lake Elsinore (East to West) transportation corridor.
    Pursuant to 40 CFR 1508.28, FHWA intends to tier the EIS for this 
project. The Tier 1 EIS to be prepared pursuant to this notice will be 
used to support a route location decision. A future Tier 2 EIS will be 
prepared to present the design features and construction level of 
detail for the evaluation of alternatives within the preferred route.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Ann Rondinella, Environmental 
Specialist, Federal Highway Administration, 980 Ninth Street, Suite 
400, Sacramento, CA 95814-2724. Telephone: (916) 498-5040. Fax: (916) 
498-5008. Cathy Bechtel, RCTC, 3560 University Avenue, Suite 100, 
Riverside, CA 92501. Telephone: (909) 787-7141. Fax: (909) 787-7920.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Hemet to Corona/Lake Elsinore (East to 
West) transportation corridor is part of the Community and 
Environmental Transportation Acceptability Process (CETAP) being 
undertaken jointly by the County of Riverside and the RCTC. CETAP is 
one component of the Riverside County Integrated Project (RCIP), which 
also includes a new Riverside County General Plan and a Multi-Species 
Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) for western Riverside County. 
According to current projections by the Southern California Association 
of Governments (SCAG), population and employment are expected to more 
than double in western Riverside County within the next 20 years. Due 
to the fast pace of development, opportunities are being lost to 
preserve land for habitat conservation and regional transportation 
facilities. These facilities are intended to address the mobility needs 
for both people and goods, with the potential for incorporating the 
needs for highways, transit, and utilities, where appropriate.
    In July, 2000, the RCTC Board of Directors and the Riverside County 
Board of Supervisors directed the initiation of engineering and 
environmental studies for two corridors: Winchester to Temecula (North 
to South) and Hemet to Corona/Lake Elsinore (East to West), which will 
move forward in parallel. A separate Notice of Intent is being issued 
for the Winchester to Temecula Corridor.
    The objective of the proposed EIS is to provide environmental 
analysis of a multimodal transportation facility within the Hemet to 
Corona/Lake Elsinore Corridor to allow agencies to proceed with the 
preservation of right-of-way for a preferred alternative. One goal of 
the RCIP process is to preserve the rights-of-way needed for the 
transportation facilities while minimizing potential impacts on 
habitat, aquatic resources, communities, landowners, and other elements 
of the environment.
    Additional information regarding the Riverside County Integrated 
Project is also available on the Internet at www.rcip.org.
    Public scoping meetings will be held. The public will be notified 
through local newspapers, postings in public places, and through other 
public notification methods. The notices will identify the place, 
dates, and time of the meetings.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to the proposed 
improvements

[[Page 40313]]

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 EIS should be 
directed to FHWA and/or RCTC at the addresses provided above.


(Catalog of Federal 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.)

    Issued on: July 23, 2001.
Jeffrey W. Kolb,
Team Leader, Program Delivery Team-South Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. 01-19342 Filed 8-1-01; 8:45 am]
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