[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 250 (Wednesday, December 31, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75713-75714]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-32159]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Chittenden County, Vermont

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 a 
new supplement to a final environmental impact statement will be 
prepared for a proposed highway project in Chittenden County, Vermont, 
and that a 1984 supplement to the final environmental impact statement 
will not be completed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rob Sikora, Environmental Program 
Manager, Federal Highway Administration, P.O. Box 568, Montpelier, 
Vermont 05601. Telephone: 802-828-4433.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Vermont 
Agency of Transportation (VTrans) and the City of Burlington, will 
prepare a supplement to the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
on a proposal to construct a new highway known as the Southern 
Connector/Champlain Parkway in the City of Burlington, Chittenden 
County, Vermont. The original EIS for the Southern Connector (FHWA-VT-
EIS-77-02-F) was approved on July 3, 1979. As described in the 1979 
EIS, the proposed improvements provide an undivided four-lane, limited 
access highway on new location, commencing at the interchange of I-189 
with Shelburne Street (U.S. Route 7) and extending westerly and 
northerly to the intersection of Battery and King Streets in the 
Burlington Central Business District for a distance of about 2.5 miles.
    A portion of the proposed project has been constructed. Preliminary 
design and right-of-way acquisition for an additional portion has been 
completed. The remaining segment has been delayed due to the fact that 
it traverses an EPA Superfund Site.
    On August 29, 1984, FHWA issued a Notice of Intent to prepare a 
Supplemental EIS to address any additional environmental impacts caused 
by constructing the new

[[Page 75714]]

highway in a wetland contaminated by hazardous waste from a coal 
gasification plant. A draft Supplemental EIS was approved by FHWA on 
December 6, 1984, and circulated for public and agency review and 
comment. Resolution of issues could not be reached and therefore a 
final Supplemental EIS has not been issued.
    A Supplemental EIS (FHWA-VT-EIS-77-02-FS) was approved on February 
18, 1997, that provided for the construction of a temporary detour 
around the Superfund Site along a combination of existing streets and 
new roadway. The detour was intended to allow interim operation of the 
Southern Connector/Champlain Parkway pending the resolution of issues 
related to the Superfund Site and completion of the 1984 Supplemental 
EIS. The temporary detour has not been constructed.
    A new Supplemental EIS is being initiated because FHWA, VTrans, and 
the City of Burlington are now restudying the portion of the Southern 
Connector/Champlain Parkway between Lakeside Avenue and the 
intersection of Battery and King Streets to determine if permanently 
avoiding the Superfund Site would be appropriate. As a result, it is 
unnecessary to complete the Supplemental EIS initiated in 1984. In 
addition to impacts associated with avoiding the Superfund Site, the 
new Supplemental EIS will also evaluate the impacts of reducing the 
proposed highway to a two-lane facility.
    Alternatives under consideration include (1) taking no action; (2) 
constructing through the Superfund Site on the approved location; and 
(3) a range of alternatives for permanently voiding the Superfund Site 
using a combination of existing streets and new location roadways.
    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 public hearing will be held 
in Burlington. Public notice will be given of the time and place of the 
hearing. The draft Supplemental EIS will be available for public and 
agency review and comment prior to the public hearing. No formal 
scoping meeting is planned at this time.
    To ensure that a 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 Supplemental 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 intergovernmental consultation on 
Federal programs and activities apply to this program.)

    Issued on: December 23, 2003.
Kenneth R. Sikora, Jr.,
Environmental Program Manager, Montpelier, Vermont.
[FR Doc. 03-32159 Filed 12-30-03; 8:45 am]
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