[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 13 (Tuesday, January 21, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2813-2814]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-1193]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Mills County, IA; Sarpy 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 a proposed bridge 
and roadway improvement project in Sarpy County, Nebraska, and in Mills 
County, Iowa.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa Rold, Transportation Engineer, 
FHWA Iowa Division Office, 105 Sixth Street, Ames, IA 50010, Ph. 515-
233-7307; or James P. Rost, Director, Office of Location and 
Environment, Iowa Department of Transportation, 800 Lincoln Way, Ames, 
IA 50010, Ph. 515-239-1798.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    An electronic copy of this document is available for free download 
from the Federal Bulletin Board (FBB). The FBB is a free electronic 
bulletin board service of the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. 
Government Printing Office (GPO).
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telnet or FTP to: http://fedbbs.access.gpo.gov">fedbbs.access.gpo.gov. Users can access the FBB via 
the World Wide Web at http://fedbbs.access.gpo.gov.
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Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except federal holidays) by 
calling the GPO Office of Electronic Information Dissemination Services 
at 202-512-1530, toll-free at 888-293-6498; sending an e-mail to 
[email protected]; or sending a fax to 202-512-1262.
    Access to this notice is also available to Internet users through 
the Federal Register's home page at http://www.nara.gov/fedreg.

Background

    The FHWA, in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Transportation 
(Iowa DOT) and Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR), will prepare an EIS 
for the proposed Bellevue Bridge Study. In addition to a new bridge 
over the Missouri River, the proposed project would also include 
roadway improvements to provide a high-speed connection from US 75 in 
Sarpy County, Nebraska to Interstate 29 in Mills County, Iowa.
    The existing two-lane toll bridge over the Missouri River at 
Bellevue on Nebraska Highway 370 is both functionally and structurally 
obsolete. The bridge has a narrow 20-foot wide driving surface and is 
in poor structural condition. The proposed bridge and roadway 
improvements will improve safety, traffic flow, and commerce between 
western Iowa and eastern Nebraska.
    Alternatives under consideration include: (1) Taking no action; (2) 
rehabilitating and widening the existing two-lane bridge; and (3) 
constructing a roadway on a new location (including near the existing 
bridge). The build alternative will include consideration of various 
alignments and grades.
    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. A series of public meetings 
will be held in 2003 and 2004. In addition, a public hearing will be 
held upon completion of the draft EIS. 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.
    A scoping meeting (the initial public meeting) will be held for 
identifying significant issues to be addressed in the environmental 
impact statement. The date and location of the scoping meeting have not 
yet been determined but will be advertised in various local media.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed and all significant issues are 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 or Iowa Department of Transportation at 
the address provided in 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 on 
Federal programs and activities apply to this program.)

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



[[Page 2814]]


    Dated: January 13, 2003.
Bobby W. Blackmon,
Division Administrator, FHWA, Iowa Division.
[FR Doc. 03-1193 Filed 1-17-03; 8:45 am]
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