[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 52 (Wednesday, March 17, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12730-12731]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-6027]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Washington, DC

AGENCIES: Federal Highway Administration, District of Columbia 
Division; District of Columbia, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement.

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[[Page 12731]]

SUMMARY: The U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in coordination 
with the District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT) in 
Washington, DC is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared to assess the 
potential effects of the proposed action to reopen Klingle Road, NW., 
to vehicular access in Washington, DC. To ensure that all significant 
issues related to the proposed action are identified, DDOT will conduct 
a public scoping meeting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Federal Highway Administration, 
District of Columbia Division: Mr. Michael Hicks, Environmental/Urban 
Engineer, 1990 K Street, NW., Suite 510, Washington, DC 20006-1103, 
(202) 219-3536; or Maurice Keys, District of Columbia, Department of 
Transportation, (202) 671-2740.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Klingle Road is located in northwest 
Washington, DC and runs northeast to west from Beach Drive in Rock 
Creek Park to the Washington National Cathedral. The segment of Klingle 
Road between Porter Street, NW. and Cortland Place, NW. (approximate 
designations) was closed to traffic in 1991 due to deterioration of the 
roadway related to drainage failure. The Council of the District of 
Columbia never officially closed this segment of Klingle Road through a 
legislative action, however [this portion of the road remains closed to 
traffic. Failure of the drainage system has resulted in severe 
deterioration of the roadway, headwalls, and underlying stormwater 
system. At a minimum the no-action alternative would include repairing 
the retaining walls to better manage stormwater run-off in the study 
area. The purpose of the proposed action is to provide an east-west 
connection through Rock Creek Park in the District of Columbia by 
reopening Klingle Road to vehicular access. The Klingle Road 
Restoration Act of 2003, Bill B15-0061, was introduced by the 
Council of the District of Columbia in January 2003 and was enacted in 
March 2003. Section 3 of the bill specifically states ``The portion of 
Klingle Road, NW., between Porter Street, NW., on the east to Cortland 
Place, NW., on the west, shall be repaired and re-opened to the public 
for vehicular traffic and recreational uses.'' The directive to repair 
Klingle Road was codified in to law as part of the Fiscal Year 2004 
Budget Support Act of 2003, effective November 13, 2003 (D.C. Law 15-
39; D.C. Official Code Sec.  9-115.11). According to this Act: The 
portion of Klingle Road, NW., between Porter Street, NW., on the east 
to Cortland Place, NW., on the west shall be re-opened to the public 
for motor vehicle traffic, with the repair and reconstruction of 
Klingle Road, which shall include the establishment of a District 
Department of Transportation storm water management plan, to commence 
no later than 180 days following November 13, 2003.'
    The environmental review of the vehicular use alternatives will be 
conducted in accordance with the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4371, et 
seq.), Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (40 CFR parts 
1500-1508), FHWA Code of Federal Regulations (CFR 23 part 771.101-
771.137 et seq.), and all applicable Federal, state, and local 
government laws, regulations, and policies.
    Public Scoping Meeting: DDOT will solicit public comments for 
consideration and possible incorporation in the Draft EIS through 
public scoping, including a scoping meeting, on the proposed action. To 
ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed action 
are addressed and all significant issues are identified early in the 
process, comments and suggestions are invited from all interested and/
or potentially affected parties. These individuals or groups are 
invited to attend the public scoping. The meeting location and time 
will be publicized in local newspapers and elsewhere. Written comments 
will be accepted throughout this process and can be forwarded to 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: March 12, 2004.
Gary L. Henderson,
Division Administrator, District of Columbia Division, Federal Highway 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 04-6027 Filed 3-16-04; 8:45 am]
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