[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 234 (Wednesday, December 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63287-63288]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-30167]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: King County Washington

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), King County Department 
of Transportation, Washington.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare a draft supplemental environmental 
impact statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Washington State Department 
of Transportation and King County Department of Transportation, is 
issuing this notice to advise the public that a supplemental to the 
final environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared on the 
proposal to replace the Elliott Bridge on 149th Avenue Southeast where 
it crosses the Cedar River

[[Page 63288]]

approximately three miles east of downtown Renton in King County, 
Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Healy, Transportation and 
Environmental Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 711 South 
Capital Way, Suite 501, Olympia, Washington, 98501-1284, Telephone: 
(360) 753-9480 or Tina Morehead, Senior Environmental Engineer, King 
County, Road Services Division, Department of Transportation, King 
Street Center M.S. KSC-0231, 201 South Jackson Street, Seattle, WA 
98104-3856, Telephone: (206) 296-3733.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Record of Decision for the original EIS 
for the improvements (FHWA-WA-EIS-92-4-F) was signed on November 21, 
1995. In the original EIS, the proposed improvements to the Elliott 
Bridge provided a three-lane bridge (two travel lanes and one center 
lane) with pedestrian sidewalk and associated approach road 
realignment. Improvements to the bridge were and still are considered 
necessary to provide for traffic circulation, roadway safety, and 
structural stability.
    After approval and subsequent appeal of the local shoreline 
substantial development permit, King County withdrew its shoreline 
permit application based on issues related to the federal Endangered 
Species Act. Since that withdrawal, the county has reevaluated the 
original purpose and need for the project, reviewed and expanded the 
alternatives considered, and determined that a supplemental EIS needs 
to be prepared.
    Alternatives under consideration include four action alternatives 
in addition to the no-action alternative. The four action alternatives 
include: Alternative IS--replacing the existing bridge with a new 
bridge approximately 50 feet east of the existing bridge and 
constructing two offset tee-intersections to provide connections to 
Southeast Jones Place and Jones Road; Alternative 4S--replacing the 
existing bridge with a new bridge approximately 820 feet east of the 
existing bridge and constructing a new road alignment from the existing 
tee intersection of 152nd Avenue Southeast and SR 169 northeastly to 
tie into the existing 154th Place Southeast approximately 1,100 feet 
north of the new bridge, and constructing a new intersection with Jones 
Road; Alternative 5S--similar to 4S but the new bridge would be located 
approximately 180 feet further east; and Alternative 7Sb replacing the 
existing bridge with a new bridge approximately 65 feet west of the 
existing bridge and constructing a tee intersection to provide 
connection to Southeast Jones Place and a right turn lane from 154th 
Place Southeast to Jones Road.
    No formal scoping period will be held. Letters describing the 
proposed action and soliciting comments will be sent to approximate 
Federal, State, and local agencies, and to private organizations and 
citizens who have previously expressed or are known to have interest in 
this proposal. Subsequent to distribution of the draft supplemental 
EIS, a public hearing will be held during the draft supplemental EIS 
comment period. The location and time of the public hearing will be 
announced in the local news media and through a public mailing when it 
is scheduled. The draft supplemental EIS will be available for public 
and agency review prior to the public hearing. Release of the draft 
supplemental EIS for public comment and the public hearing will also be 
announced in the local news media as these dates are established.
    Comments or questions concerning this proposed action and the 
supplemental EIS should be directed to the FHWA or King County 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 
intergovernment consultation on Federal programs and activities apply 
to this program.)

    Issued on: November 28, 2001.
Elizabeth Healy,
Transportation and Environmental Engineer.
[FR Doc. 01-30167 Filed 12-4-01; 8:45 am]
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