[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 212 (Monday, November 3, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62342-62343]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-27595]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Chisago County, MN and Polk 
County, WI

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent to terminate EIS.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that the 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process for proposed 
transportation improvements in the Trunk Highway (TH) 8 corridor 
between Interstate 35 (I-35) to the west in Chisago County, Minnesota 
and the TH 8/Highway 35 intersection to the east in Polk County, 
Wisconsin is terminated. The original Notice of Intent for this EIS 
process was published in the Federal Register on May 14, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Martin, Environmental Engineer, 
Federal Highway Administration, Galtier Plaza, Suite 500, 380 Jackson 
Street, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101, Telephone (651) 291-6120; or Tod 
Sherman, Project Manager, Minnesota Department of Transportation--Metro 
Division, Waters Edge Building, 1500 West County Road B-2, Roseville, 
Minnesota 55113, Telephone (651) 582-1548; (651) 296-9930 TTY.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Minnesota 
Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) and the Wisconsin Department of 
Transportation (Wis/DOT), has terminated the EIS process begun in 2002 
to provide safety, operational and capacity improvements to the TH 8 
Corridor from I-35 to the west in Chisago County, Minnesota to the 
intersection of TH 8/Highway 35 to the east in Polk County, Wisconsin. 
The original proposed project could have included capacity expansion on 
sections of TH 8, upgrading existing roadway systems in the Corridor, 
providing geometric/traffic control access improvements along TH 8, and 
providing new roadway facilities including some alternatives that 
utilize the TH 243 bridge crossing over the St. Croix River.
    The ``Trunk Highway 8 Scoping Document/Draft Scoping Decision 
Document'' was published in September 2002, and copies of the document 
were distributed to agencies, interested persons and libraries for 
review to aid in identifying issues and analyses to be contained in the 
EIS. A 45-day comment period for review of the document was provided to 
afford an opportunity for all interest persons, agencies and groups to 
comment on the proposed action. A public Scoping Meeting was also on 
October 21, 2002. Public notice was given for the time and place of the 
meeting, and approximately 400 people were in attendance.
    As a result of the scoping process, including agency and public 
comments, FHWA and Mn/DOT, in consultation with Wis/DOT, Chisago 
County, the TH 8 Task Force and TH 8 Technical Advisory Committee, 
decided to eliminate alternatives that included proposed transportation 
facilities on a new location from further consideration. The proposed 
action has been modified to include only transportation

[[Page 62343]]

improvements along the existing TH 8 alignment. Therefore, the FHWA, in 
cooperation with Mn/DOT, will prepare subsequent environmental 
documents, either at the Environmental Assessment of Categorical 
Exclusion level for projects that will provide safety, operational and 
capacity improvements to the TH 8 Corridor from I-35 to Taylors Falls, 
Chisago County, Minnesota. The proposed improvements could include 
capacity expansion on sections of TH 8, and providing geometric/traffic 
control and access improvements along TH 8. Based on funding 
availability, the proposed improvements along the TH 8 Corridor could 
occur in phases. The environmental documents will define and evaluate 
projects with independent utility.
    Coordination has been initiated and will continue with appropriate 
Federal, State and local agencies and private organizations and 
citizens who have previously expressed or are known to have an interest 
in the proposed action. Public meetings have been held in the past and 
will continue to be held, with public notice given for the time and 
place of the meetings. To ensure that the full range of issues related 
to this proposed action are addressed and all issues identified, 
comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. 
Comments or questions concerning this proposed action and the need for 
an 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: October 21, 2003.
Stanley M. Graczyk,
Project Development Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, St. Paul, 
Minnesota.
[FR Doc. 03-27595 Filed 10-31-03; 8:45 am]
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