[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 21, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 54256]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-21214]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Pottawattamie County, IA, Douglas 
County, NE

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 will be prepared for improving the 
freeway system for Interstate-80 (I-80), I-29, and I-480 in the City of 
Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, and the City of Omaha, 
Douglas County, Nebraska.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rebecca Hiatt, Operations Engineer, 
FHWA, 105 6th Street, Ames, IA 50010-6337, (515) 233-7321. James P. 
Rost, Director, Office of Location and Environment, Iowa Department of 
Transportation, 800 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50010, (515) 239-1798.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded using a modem 
and suitable communications software from the Government Printing 
Office's Electronic Bulletin Board Service at (202) 512-1661. Internet 
users may reach the Federal Register's home page at: http://www.nara.gov/fedreg and the Government Printing Office's database at: 
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.

Background

    The FHWA, in cooperation with the Iowa Department of 
Transportation, will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) 
for the proposed Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvement Project 
including improvements to I-80, I-29, and I-480. The system 
deficiencies noted in an earlier needs study (conducted by the 
Metropolitan Planning Organization and the City of Council Bluffs in 
April 1999) included deteriorated roadways and bridges, reduced travel 
efficiency, substandard roadway geometry, and safety issues. The 
proposed system improvements include approximately 18 mainline-miles of 
interstate, and 16 interchanges (3 system, 13 service). The project 
area includes Interstate 80 from near the 24th Street interchange in 
the City of Omaha, Nebraska, east to U.S. Hwy 6 (Kanesville Blvd) just 
northeast of the City of Council Bluffs, Iowa. The project also 
includes: Interstate 29, from just south of Iowa Hwy 92 and U.S. Hwy 
275 south of Council Bluffs, and north to Iowa Hwy 192 (16th Street) 
just north of Council Bluffs; Interstate 480 from the Missouri River 
Bridge (on the Nebraska side) to Interstate 29 at the Broadway 
interchange in Council Bluffs; studies of the Missouri River crossings; 
and an underpass of the Union Pacific mainline.
    Due to the size of the system and the multi-year/multi-project 
approach, a tiered EIS process will be conducted. A Tier 1 EIS will be 
prepared to determine the preferred set of long-range improvements for 
the I-80, I-29, and I-480 freeway system. The EIS will consider a broad 
range of alternatives including no action, reconstruction of the 
existing alignment, and improvements to transportation system 
management, transportation demand management, transit, and cross-town 
corridors. Following the conclusion of the Tier 1 EIS, preliminary 
engineering, in-depth environmental studies, and Tier 2 environmental 
documents (EIS, environmental assessment (EA), or categorical exclusion 
(CE)) will be completed for individual projects as appropriate.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments have 
been sent to appropriate federal, state, and local agencies, and to 
private organizations and citizens who are known to be interested in 
this proposed project.
    A scoping meeting for identifying significant issues to be 
addressed in the environmental impact statement will be held on 
September 12, 2002 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Best Western Crossroads of 
the Bluffs at 2216 27th Avenue (I-80 and 24th Street), Council Bluffs, 
Iowa.
    In addition to the scoping meeting, a series of public meetings and 
a public hearing on the draft EIS will be held in the City of Council 
Bluffs, Iowa, during 2002, 2003 and 2004. Public notice will be given 
of the time and place of the public meetings and public hearing. The 
draft EIS will be available for public and agency review and comment 
prior to the public hearing.
    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 Iowa Department of Transportation or FHWA at the 
address provided under the caption FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing 
Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation of 
Federal programs and activities apply to this program.)

(Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 49 CFR 1.48)

Bobby W. Blackmon,
Division Administrator.
[FR Doc. 02-21214 Filed 8-20-02; 8:45 am]
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