[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 169 (Thursday, August 30, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 45891]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-21944]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Barron and Polk Counties, WI

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION:  Notice of intent to prepare and Environmental Impact 
Statement.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared for transportation 
improvements in the United States Highway (USH) 8 corridor between the 
junction of State Trunk Highway (STH) 35 north and USH 53, in Polk and 
Barron Counties, Wisconsin.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Peter M. Garcia, Field Operations 
Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 567 D'Onofrio Drive, Madison, 
Wisconsin, 53719-2814; telephone: (608) 829-7513. You may also contact 
Ms. Carol Cutshall, Director, Bureau of Environmental, Wisconsin 
Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 7965, Madison, Wisconsin, 53707-
7965; telephone: (608) 266-9626.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded by using a 
computer, modem and suitable communications software from the 
Government Printing Offices' Electronic Bulletin Board Service at (202) 
512-1661. Internet users may reach the Federal Register home page at 
http://www.nara.gov/fedreg and the Government Printing Officers' 
database at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.

Background

    The FHWA, in cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of 
Transportation, will prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) on a proposal to study the long term safety, operational and 
capacity improvements on an approximately 40 mile (65 kilometer) 
section of USH 8 between the junction of STH 35 north and USH 53, in 
Polk and Barron Counties, Wisconsin. The EIS will evaluate the social, 
economic and environmental impacts of alternatives, including: (1) No 
Build--this alternative assumes the continue use of existing facilities 
with the maintenance necessary to ensure their use, (2) Improvements 
Within the Existing Highway Corridor--this alternative would evaluate 
improve traffic handling capabilities and safety by either geometric 
improvements and passing lanes or a four-lane facility on the existing 
corridor, and (3) Improvements on New Location--this alternative would 
provide corridor alignments that bypass the communities of Range, 
Turtle Lake, Poskin, Almena and Barron as well as interchanges for 
bypasses of Turtle Lake and Barron. All alternatives will examine 
improvements to pedestrian, bicycle, and snowmobile facilities.
    Information describing the proposed action and soliciting comments 
will be sent to appropriate Federal, State and local agencies and to 
private agencies, organizations, and citizens who have expressed, or 
are known to have an interest in this proposal. A project advisory 
committee comprised of Federal and State agencies, local officials, 
environmental, and other community interests will be established to 
provide input during development and refinement of alternatives and 
impact evaluation activities. Public meeting and other forms will be 
held to solicit comments from citizens and interest groups. In 
addition, a public hearing will be held. Public notice will be given of 
the time and place of the meeting and hearing. The draft EIS will be 
available for public and agency review and comment prior to the public 
hearing. Agencies having an interest in or jurisdiction regarding the 
proposed action will be contacted through interagency coordination 
meetings and mailing.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed, and all substantive 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 FHWA or the Wisconsin Department of 
Transportation at the address provided in the caption FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

(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).

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

    Issued on: August 21, 2001.
Peter M. Garcia,
Field Operations Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, Madison, 
Wisconsin.
[FR Doc. 01-21944 Filed 8-29-01; 8:45 am]
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