[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 154 (Friday, August 9, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51923-51924]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-20138]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Brazoria and Galveston Counties, 
TX

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
environmental impact statement will be prepared for a proposed 
transportation project in Brazoria and Galveston Counties, Texas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John Mack, P.E., Federal Highway 
Administration, Texas Division, 826 Federal Bldg., 300 East 8th Street, 
Austin, Texas 78701, Telephone 512-536-5960.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Texas 
Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and The Grand Parkway Association, 
will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for a proposal to 
upgrade the existing road network in Brazoria and Galveston Counties. 
The proposed improvement being considered, as shown in the Region's 
Long-Range Transportation Plan, is a multilane controlled access 
facility in northern Brazoria and Galveston counties which would be 
part of a third circumferential loop (State Highway 99) around Houston. 
The project length will be approximately 25 miles, depending on the 
alignment selected. Improvements in this area would alleviate 
congestion, improve traffic flow in the south and southeast Houston 
metropolitan area, and serve as an emergency (hurricane) evacuation 
route. The EIS will evaluate various transportation alternatives 
between State Highway 288 and Interstate Highway 45 (South). The 
majority of this corridor crosses relatively undeveloped properties in 
Brazoria and Galveston Counties. Alternatives to be studied include 
``No action'' (the no-build alternative), Transportation System 
Management (TSM) alternative, mass transit alternative, and roadway 
build alternatives. Cities and towns in this region include Alvin, 
Manvel, Dickinson, Texas City, Friendswood, Iowa Colony, Santa Fe, 
League City, Liverpool, Pearland, and Houston. This study is authorized 
pursuant to the Texas Transportation Commission Minute Order No. 108543 
issued June 28, 2001.
    A public scoping meeting will be held on Thursday, September 12, 
2002, at Alvin Community College, Nolan Ryan Center Community Room 
(R109), 2925 South Bypass 35, Alvin, Texas 77511, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. 
Large-scale maps of the project area will be displayed at the meeting. 
This will be the first in a series of meetings to solicit public 
comments on the proposed action.
    The EIS will evaluate potential impacts from construction and 
operation of the proposed roadway including, but not limited to, the 
following: transportation impacts (construction detours, construction 
traffic, mobility improvement and evacuation route improvement), air 
and noise impacts from construction equipment and operation of the 
facility, water quality impacts from construction area and roadway 
storm water runoff, impacts to waters of the United States including 
wetlands from right of way encroachment, impacts to historic and 
archaeological resources, impacts to floodplains, and impacts to 
residents and businesses.
    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. 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

[[Page 51924]]

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 governmental consultation on Federal 
programs and activities apply to this program.)

    Issued: August 1, 2002.
John R. Mack,
District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 02-20138 Filed 8-8-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M