[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 106 (Monday, June 3, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38310-38311]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-13744]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: San Joaquin and Stanislaus 
Counties, CA

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 a proposal 
highway project in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties, California.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maiser Khaled, Team Leader, Federal 
Highway Administration, 980 Ninth St., Suite 400, Sacramento, 
California 95809, Telephone: (916) 498-5008.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with California 
Department of Transportation (Caltrans), will prepare an EIS on a 
proposal to improve State Route 132 from the State Route 132/33 (SR132/
33) Separation Overhead (Bridge 29-167L) in San Joaquin County to 0.16 
km (0.1 m) west of the San Joaquin Bridge (Bridge 38-45) in Stanislaus 
County. The project is approximately 5.63 km (3.5m) in length. It is 
anticipated that these improvements improve traffic safety and 
operations by reducing congestion and accidents.
    A larger geographic area from Interstate 580 (I-580) to Dakota 
Avenue west of the City of Modesto will be examined to evaluate 
indirect and cumulative impacts, and ensure full consideration of 
alternatives for the corridor. Alternatives under consideration include 
(1) taking no action; (2) using the existing two-lane highway as two 
westbound lanes and constructing two new eastbound lanes as a divided, 
four-lane expressway with limited access; (3) constructing a divided, 
four-lane expressway with limited access on new alignment; and (4) 
constructing a divided, four-lane freeway with controlled access on new 
alignment. Incorporated into and studied with the various build 
alternatives will be design variations of the existing SR132/33 
interchange.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to the appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and to 
private organizations and citizens who have expressed or are known to 
have interest in this proposal. Scoping meetings with local officials, 
State and Federal resource agencies will be held during the summer of 
2002. Public participation for this study also includes community 
information meetings and a formal Public Hearing. The draft EIS will be 
available for public and agency review and comment prior to the public 
hearing Public notice will be given of the time and place for all 
meetings and hearings.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action is 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

[[Page 38311]]

directed to the FHWA 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 intergovernmental 
consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this 
program)

    Issued on: May 20, 2002.
Maiser A. Khaled,
Chief, District Operations--North, Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. 02-13744 Filed 5-31-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M