[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 93 (Tuesday, May 14, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 34513]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-11944]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Chisago County, Minnesota and 
Polk County, Wisconsin

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 
transportation improvements in the Trunk Highway (TH) 8 corridor 
between Interstate 35 (I-35) to the west in Chisago County, Minnesota 
and the TH 8/Highway 35 intersection to the east in Polk County, 
Wisconsin.

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 Stan Thompson, Project 
Manager, Minnesota Department of Transportation--Metro Division, Waters 
Edge Building, 1500 West County Road B-2, Roseville, Minnesota 55113, 
Telephone (651) 582-1307; (651) 296-9930 TTY.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Minnesota 
Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) and the Wisconsin Department of 
Transportation (Wis/DOT), will prepare an EIS on a proposal to provide 
safety, operational and capacity improvements to the TH 8 Corridor from 
I-35 to the west in Chisago County, Minnesota to the intersection of TH 
8/Highway 35 to the east in Polk County, Wisconsin.
    The proposed improvements could include capacity expansion on 
sections of TH 8, upgrading existing roadway systems in the Corridor, 
providing geometic/traffic control and access improvements along TH 8, 
and providing new roadway facilities including some alternatives that 
utilize the TH 243 bridge crossing over the St. Croix River.
    The EIS will evaluate the social, economic, transportation and 
environmental impacts of alternatives, including: (1) No-Build (2) 
Improvements within the existing TH 8 Alignment (3) Improvements on a 
new location.
    The ``Trunk Highway 8 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 know to have an interest 
in the proposed action. The TH 8 Task Force made up of local agencies 
and citizens and a Technical Advisory Committee made up of Federal, 
State, and local officials has been established and has provided input 
in the development and refinement of alternatives and impact evaluation 
activities.
    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.

(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).

    Issued on: May 7, 2002.
Stanley M. Graczyk,
Project Development Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, St. Paul, 
Minnesota.
[FR Doc. 02-11944 Filed 5-13-02; 8:45 am]
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