[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 129 (Friday, July 5, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 44922]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-16877]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Shasta and Trinity Counties, CA

AGENCY: Federal Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is issuing this 
notice to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) will be prepared for a proposed State Route 299 (SR 299) project 
in Shasta and Trinity Counties, California.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Harry Khani, Transportation Engineer, 
Federal Highway Administration, 980 Ninth Street, Suite 400, 
Sacramento, California 95814, telephone: (916) 498-5056, e-mail: 
[email protected]. Chris Cummings, California Department of 
Transportation Project Manager, 1657 Riverside Drive, Redding, CA 
96049, telephone: (530) 225-3495, e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the California 
Department of Transportation (Caltrans), will prepare an EIS for a 
proposed highway improvement project of SR 299 in Shasta and Trinity 
Counties, California.
    SR 299 is the principal arterial between Interstate 5 and Highway 
101 and is designated as a high emphasis route in he Interregional 
Roadway System. SR 299 is of economic importance to the region as it 
provides access to a vast recreational area and links the upper 
Sacramento Valley with the deepwater port in Eureka. The project 
portion of the highway, the Buckhorn Grade, represents the only 
obstacle preventing interstate trucks and oversize permit loads from 
utilizing this direct access to the coast.
    The proposed project limits extends approximately 7.5 miles from 
the boundary of the Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area 
to west of the Shasta-Trinity-County line. the existing SR 299 corridor 
within these limits consists of a two-lane highway with limited passing 
lanes at various locations. The road closely follows the extremely 
rugged terrain forming a steep, twisted alignment with a design speed 
of 25 mph.
    The proposed project would construct a new two-lane alignment, with 
truck climbing lanes, standard shoulders, 50 mph design speed, and 
maximum 7% grade. Possible alignment variations includes bridges, 
viaducts, and a possible tunnel at the Buckhorn Summit. The replaced SR 
299 alignment would be relinquished or reclaimed (all or part).
    Caltrans has been investigating Buckhorn Grade realignment designs 
of over 40 years. Since the early 1990's four Project Study Reports 
have been completed. Since 2000, Caltrans has conducted over 11 
meetings with the public, with local governmental officials, and with 
jurisdictional agencies.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and to 
private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are 
known to have interest in this proposal. In addition, a public workshop 
will be held, with public notice given of the time and location. The 
draft EIS will be available for public and agency review and comment 
prior to the public workshop.
    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.

(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 2, 2002.
David Nicol,
Assistant Division Administrator-California Division, Federal Highway 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 02-16877 Filed 7-3-02; 8:45 am]
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