[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 179 (Monday, September 16, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58441-58442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-23485]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Fort Bend County, TX

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 a proposed 
transportation project in Fort Bend County, Texas.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Texas 
Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and Fort Bend County, will prepare 
an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposal to upgrade the 
existing transportation network in Fort Bend County. The proposed 
project would be for the development of Segment B of State Highway 122 
(Fort Bend Parkway) from State Highway 6 to--segment C of SH 99 (the 
Grand Parkway) in Fort Bend County, Texas. The proposed action would be 
a multilane, possibly tolled, facility, approximately 13 miles in 
length, built within a corridor with the above limits. The majority of 
this corridor crosses relatively undeveloped properties in Fort Bend 
County. Cities and towns in the region include Pearland, Arcola, 
Missouri City and Thompsons.
    Fort Bend County proposes to build a facility to provide improved 
transportation characteristics in the region.
    Alternatives to be studied include ``no-action'' (the no-build 
alternative), Transportation System Management (TSM)/Transportation 
Demand Management (TDM) alternative, mass transit alternative and 
roadway build alternatives.
    Potential impacts caused by the construction and operation of the 
facility will vary for each reasonable alternative alignment 
considered. Generally, impacts would include the following: 
transportation impacts (construction detours, construction traffic and 
mobility 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, impacts to residents and businesses caused by potential 
displacements and impacts to vegetation that may provide potential 
habitat to wildlife or other biological resources.
    Letters describing the proposed action soliciting comments will be 
sent to appropriate Federal, State, local agencies, and to private 
organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are known 
to have interest in this proposal. Two simultaneous public scoping 
meetings will be held on October 15th, 2002, one at Manford Williams 
Elementary School, 1.5 miles west of Crabb-River Rd. on FM 762 and the 
other at Sienna Crossing Elementary School, 0.5 miles east of Sienna 
Parkway on Steep Bank Trace. Both meetings will be at 7 P.M. Public 
comments on the proposed action and alternatives will be requested. 
This will be the first of a series of meetings to evaluate the study 
area, corridor alternatives and design alternative alignments. A public 
hearing will be held at a later time, with copies of the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) available for public and agency

[[Page 58442]]

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 Environmental Impact 
Statement 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 on: September 4, 2002.
John R. Mack,
District Engineer, FHWA Texas Division.
[FR Doc. 02-23485 Filed 9-13-02; 8:45 am]
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