[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 210 (Thursday, October 30, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61856-61857]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-27364]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Harris and Brazoria Counties, TX

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), TxDOT.

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 highway 
project to improve State Highway 35 in Harris and Brazoria Counties, 
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), will prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposal for transportation improvements 
within the State Highway 35 corridor from Bellfort Road in Harris 
County to Farm-to-Market Road 1462 in Brazoria County. The EIS will be 
conducted concurrently with a Major Corridor Feasibility Study (MCFS) 
that will examine and evaluate all reasonable and feasible modal 
alternatives for transportation improvements within the State Highway 
35 corridor from Interstate Highway 45 to State Highway 288 in 
Angleton. The proposed action could include a combination of highway, 
toll, and transit components for the facility of approximately 22 miles 
in length, built on a new location within the above limits. The 
majority of the corridor crosses heavily urbanized regions of Harris 
and Brazoria Counties. Cities and towns in the region include the 
cities of Houston, Brookside Village, Pearland, and Alvin.
    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. The EIS will evaluate

[[Page 61857]]

potential impacts from construction and operation of the proposed 
transportation improvements including, but not limited to, the 
following: transportation impacts (construction detours, construction 
traffic, mobility improvement and evacuation route improvements), 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 
archeological 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 to 
private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are 
known to have interest in this proposal. Public meetings will be held 
on dates to be determined at a later time. A formal scoping meeting 
will be held in January 2004. In addition, a public hearing will be 
held. Public notice will be given of the time and place of the meetings 
and hearing. A copy of the Draft EIS will be made available for public 
review 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 EIS should be directed to 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.)
John R. Mack,
District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 03-27364 Filed 10-22-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M