[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 217 (Friday, November 8, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 68225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-28406]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; City of Kokomo, Howard County, 
Tipton County, IN

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 highway 
improvements on U.S. Route 31 corridor in the City of Kokomo, Howard 
County, and Tipton County, Indiana.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Dirks, Environmental 
Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, Room 254, Federal Office 
Building, 575 North Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204, 
telephone (317) 226-7492, or email [email protected]; or Mr. 
James Juricic, Manager of the Environmental Assessment Section, Indiana 
Department of Transportation, Room N848, 100 N. Senate Avenue, 
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204, telephone (317) 232-5305, or email 
[email protected]. Please refer to Project Designation Number 
0200094 in any correspondence.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Indiana 
Department of Transportation (INDOT), will prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) to identify and evaluate alternatives for 
improvements to the U.S. Route 31 corridor in the City of Kokomo, 
Howard County, and the northern end of Tipton County, Indiana. The 
project's logical termini, or the rational end points for the 
sufficient review of environmental impacts, are located approximately 
two miles south of State Road 26 at the southern end of the project and 
one mile north of U.S. Route 35 at the northern end of the project, a 
distance of approximately 12 miles. The proposed project is part of the 
state's effort to provide a Statewide Mobility Corridor between I-465 
North Leg in Indianapolis and US 20 in South Bend. Preparation of the 
EIS follows the completion of the U.S. Route 31 Howard County Major 
Investment Study (MIS) in May of 1995.
    Early Coordination Letters will be distributed with initial project 
information to the appropriate federal, state, and local agencies. 
Section 106 Consulting Parties will also be identified and contacted 
for participation in the project. Following early coordination, the 
project's purpose and need will be determined and documented based on 
existing and future traffic congestion, safety, and local and statewide 
planning.
    The range of alternatives under consideration include the no-action 
alternative; alternatives that use other transportation modes; 
alternatives that maximize the efficiency of the present transportation 
system; alternatives that reduce highway capacity needs by reducing 
travel demand; and different build alternatives that would increase the 
capacity of U.S. Route 31, including adding lanes to the existing U.S. 
Route 31 facility; upgrading U.S. Route 31 to a fully access-
controlled, multilane highway; and possible relocations of the existing 
U.S. Route 31 facility. A preliminary alternatives' screening process 
will be conducted to determine which alternatives will be carried 
forward for more detailed analysis in the Draft EIS.
    The public involvement program for the project will consist of the 
establishment of a project web site; distribution of three project 
newsletters; two public meetings; three citizen advisory group 
meetings, and one public hearing following the distribution of the 
Draft EIS.
    Three interagency review meetings will be held at project 
milestones in order to provide project information to the appropriate 
Federal, State, and local agencies and to obtain their input and 
comments. Meetings and coordination with the Section 106 Consulting 
Parties will be conducted.
    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 
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 intergovernmental consultation on 
federal programs and activities apply to this program.)


    Issued on: November 1, 2002.
Robert Dirks,
Environmental Engineer, FHWA, Indianapolis, Indiana.
[FR Doc. 02-28406 Filed 11-7-02; 8:45 am]
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