[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 56 (Monday, March 24, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14271-14272]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-6927]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Wayne County, MI

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 proposed 
international border crossing improvements in Wayne County, Michigan, 
including improvements to existing infrastructure, new border 
crossing(s) and new or expanded border processing facilities. The study 
is being undertaken in partnership with Transport Canada, the Michigan 
Department of Transportation, and the Ontario Ministry of 
Transportation referred to below as the Border Partnership.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: In the United States, James A. 
Kirschensteiner, Assistant Division Administrator, Federal Highway 
Administration, 315 West Allegan Street, Room 207, Lansing, Michigan 
48933, Telephone: (517) 702-1835, Fax: (517) 377-1804, email: 
[email protected]. Or, Margaret Barondess, Manager, 
Environmental Section, Michigan Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 
30050, Lansing, Michigan 48909, Telephone: (517) 335-2621, Fax: (517) 
373-9255, email: [email protected].
    In Canada, James Lothrop, Manager Highway Programs, Transport 
Canada, Tower C, Place de Ville 18th Floor, 330 Sparks Street, Ottawa, 
ON K1A ON5, Telephone: (613) 998-1902, Fax: (613) 990-9636, email: 
[email protected]. Or, Fred Leech, Project Coordinator Ontario Ministry 
of Transportation (MTO), MTO Head Office, Garden City Tower, 4th Floor 
301 St. Paul Street, St. Catherines, Ontario, L2R 7R4, Telephone: (905) 
704-2218, Fax: (905) 704-2007, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, as a member of the Bi-National 
Border Partnership, will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
a proposal to develop transportation improvements to alleviate traffic 
congestion and address future travel demand and capacity between 
southeast Michigan and southwest Ontario as identified in a Planning 
Needs and Feasibility study. The project would identify the purpose and 
evaluate needs, potential improvements to existing infrastructure, 
including new crossings, the potential for expansion or implementation 
of all modes of transportation (rail, highway, marine, etc.) and the 
need for new or improved border processing facilities to improve the 
safe and secure flow of people, goods, and services across the 
international border. Improvements are considered necessary to provide 
for increased international movement efficiencies both regionally and 
nationally.
    The existing geographical international ways and means in Southeast 
Michigan and Southwest Ontario include the Blue Water bridges, the 
Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, the Ambassador Bridge, and railroad tunnels 
between Windsor and Detroit and Port Huron, Michigan, and Sarnia, 
Ontario, as well as a ferry that operates on the Detroit River.

[[Page 14272]]

    Alternatives under consideration include: (1) Taking no action; (2) 
improving existing facilities to increase their capacity to move goods, 
services, and people; (3) construction of a new crossing or crossings 
to increase capacity and provide redundancy; (4) expansion or 
implementation of non-highway modes of transportation (rail, marine, 
etc.); or (5) some combination of (2), (3), and (4). As part of the 
EIS, an Enhanced Scoping Information Package will be prepared. The 
Scoping Information Package will describe alternative locations for 
improving international crossing activity in southeast Michigan; 
inventory and map known resources; identify and map social, economic, 
and environmental constraints; and select practical alternatives. 
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, an interest in this proposal. Cooperating Federal agencies 
will be solicited.
    A series of public meetings were held in Detroit, Michigan, 
Windsor, Ontario, and Sarnia, Ontario, on November 12-14, 2002. Other 
public meetings are planned as is a formal public hearing for the draft 
environmental impact statement. Public notice will be given of the time 
and place of the meetings and hearing. Meetings to review the enhanced 
Scoping Information Package will be held on dates yet to be determined.
    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 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 of 
Federal programs and activities apply to this program).


    Issued on: March 14, 2003.
James J. Steele,
Division Administrator, Lansing, Michigan.
[FR Doc. 03-6927 Filed 3-21-03; 8:45 am]
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