[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 191 (Thursday, October 2, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56862-56863]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-25008]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Montgomery and Grimes Counties, 
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 Montgomery and Grimes Counties, Texas.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Texas 
Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will prepare an environmental 
impact statement (EIS) for improvements in the SH 249 corridor within 
Montgomery and Grimes Counties, Texas. The project study area is 
approximately 15 miles in length from FM 149 in Montgomery County to FM 
1774 in Grimes County. Cities within the study area include Pinehurst, 
Magnolia, and Todd Mission.
    A Major Investment Study (MIS) for the project was completed in 
2002. The MIS evaluated modal, configuration, and route corridor 
alternatives within the overall study area and recommended an 
alternative which was the most feasible modal, configuration, and route 
corridor that met the regions transportation needs, while minimizing 
impacts to the surrounding environment. The most feasible corridor 
alternative studied in the MIS was selected based on the detailed 
evaluation of the viable alternatives, as well as public input. This 
alternative encompasses two (2) general-purpose lanes in each 
direction, including auxiliary lanes between on-ramps and off-ramps 
where appropriate. The EIS will study in detail the preferred route 
corridor that was selected in the MIS and recommend a preferred 
alternative alignment within this corridor. The EIS is authorized 
pursuant to the Texas Transportation Commission Minute

[[Page 56863]]

Order No. 104908 issued January 26, 1995.
    A public scoping meeting will be held in the fall of 2003. The 
purpose of the public scoping meeting is to request comments and 
identify issues that will be considered during the evaluation of 
alignment alternatives and preparation of the EIS. All interested 
citizens are encouraged to attend these meetings. Large-scale maps of 
the project area will be displayed at the meeting. This will be the 
first in a series of meetings to solicit public comments on the 
proposed action. In addition, a public hearing will be held.
    The EIS will evaluate potential impacts from construction and 
operation of the proposed roadway including, but not limited to, the 
following: transportation impacts (construction detours, construction 
traffic, mobility improvement and evacuation improvement), air, and 
noise impacts from construction equipment and operation of the 
facilities, water quality impacts from construction area and roadway 
storm water runoff, impacts to water of the United States including 
wetlands from right-of-way encroachment, impacts to historic and 
archaeological resources, impacts to floodplains, and impacts and/or 
potential displacements to residents and businesses.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State and Local agencies, and private 
organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are known 
to have interest in this proposal. 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 FHWA at the address 
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.)

John R. Mack,
District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 03-25008 Filed 10-1-03; 8:45 am]
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