[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 93 (Tuesday, May 14, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 34514]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-11943]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Stearns County, MN

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared for proposed 
highway improvements to Trunk Highway (TH) 23 in Paynesville, Stearns 
County, Minnesota.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Martin, Federal Highway 
Administration, Galtier Plaza, 380 Jackson Street, Suite 500, St. Paul, 
Minnesota 55101, Telephone (651) 291-6120; or Lowell Flaten, Pre-Design 
Engineer, Minnesota Department of Transportation--District 8, P.O. Box 
768, 2505 Transportation Road, Willmar, Minnesota 56201. Telephone 
(320) 214-3698; (651) 296-9930 TTY.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Minnesota 
Department of Transportation, will prepare an EIS on a proposal to 
improve TH 23 from the western Stearns County line, to approximately 
1.0 mile (1.6 kilometers) east of the crossing of the North Fork of the 
Crow River, in Stearns County, Minnesota, a distance of approximately 
4.4 miles (7.0 kilometers).
    The proposed action is being considered to address future 
transportation demand, safety problems, access management, 
interregional trade corridor status, and pavement condition. 
Alternatives under consideration include (1) No-Build (2) three 
variations of ``Build'' alternatives involving reconstruction and/or 
realignment and new construction of TH 23 (3) ``Build'' alternative 
involving improvements along the existing alignment of TH 23.
    The ``Trunk Highway 23 Scoping Document/Draft Scoping Decision 
Document'' will be published in the Summer 2002. A press release will 
be published to inform the public of the document's availability. 
Copies of the Scoping Document will be distributed to agencies, 
interested persons and libraries for review to aid in identifying 
issues and analyses to be contained in the EIS. A thirty-day comment 
period for review of the document will be provided to afford an 
opportunity for all interested persons, agencies and groups to comment 
on the proposed action. A public scoping meeting will also be held 
during the comment period. Public notice will be given for the time and 
place of the meeting.
    A Draft EIS will be prepared based on the outcome of the scoping 
process. The Draft EIS will be available for agency and public review 
and comment. In addition, a public hearing will be held following 
completion of the Draft EIS. Public Notice will be given for the time 
and place of the public hearing on the Draft EIS.
    Coordination has been initiated and will continue with appropriate 
Federal, State and local agencies and private organizations and 
citizens who have previously expressed or are known to have an interest 
in the proposed action. To ensure that the full range of issues related 
to this proposed action 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 the FHWA at the address provided above.

    Issued on: May 7, 2002.

(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)

Stanley M. Graczzyk,
Project Development Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, St. Paul, 
Minnesota.
[FR Doc. 02-11943 Filed 5-13-02; 8:45 am]
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