[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 53 (Thursday, March 18, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12893-12894]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-6114]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement; Washington County, 
MN, and St. Croix, County, WI

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION:  Revised notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this revised notice to advise the public 
that a supplemental environmental impact statement (EIS) will be 
prepared for a proposed highway project on Minnesota Trunk Highway (TH) 
36 and Wisconsin State Trunk Highway (STH) 64, including a new crossing 
of the St. Croix River in Washington County, Minnesota and St. Croix 
County, Wisconsin. The project extends from TH 5 in Oak Park Heights, 
Minnesota to approximately 150th Avenue in Houlton, Wisconsin.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Martin, Federal Highway 
Administration, Galtier Plaza, 380 Jackson Street, Suite 500, St. Paul, 
Minnesota 55101, Telephone (651) 291-6120; Todd Clarkowski, Area 
Engineer, Minnesota Department of Transportation, 1500 West County Road 
B2, MS 050, Roseville, Minnesota 55113, Telephone (651) 582-1169; or 
Terry Pederson, District Planning Projects Engineer, Wisconsin 
Department of Transportation, 718 West Clairemont Avenue, Eau Claire, 
Wisconsin 54701, Telephone (800) 991-5285 or (715) 836-2857.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Minnesota 
Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) and Wisconsin Department of 
Transportation, will prepare a supplement to the EIS on a proposal for 
a new river crossing, including the reconstruction of bridge approach 
roadways, on TH 36/STH 64 from TH 5 in Oak Park Heights, Washington 
County, Minnesota to approximately 150th Avenue on STH 35/64 in 
Houlton, St. Croix County, Wisconsin. Mn/DOT is the lead State agency.
    The original EIS for the river crossing (FHWA-MN-EIS-90-92-F) was 
approved on April 5, 1995 with a Board of Decision issued on July 10, 
1995. In 1996, the National Park Service issued an adverse effect 
finding for the project under section 7(a) of the Federal Wild and 
Scenic Rivers Act. Therefore, resource agency permits were unable to be 
issued for the project.
    In June 2003, discussion regarding scoping alternatives was 
reinitiated as part of a Stakeholder Resolution Process. The 
Stakeholder Group includes Federal, State and Local agencies, 
environmental groups, historic preservation groups, and other 
interested organizations. At the Stakeholder Group meetings, all 
alternatives previously studied, as well as new alternatives, were 
reconsidered. Through the Stakeholder Resolution Process, five 
alternatives were identified as having the best potential for meeting 
the project's transportation needs and environmental and historical 
impact concerns. A ``2003 Amended Scoping Document and 2003 Amended 
Draft Scoping Decision Document'' were released in November 2003. 
Public scoping meetings were held in December 2003. Based on public, 
agency and Stakeholder Group comments on the document, four 
alternatives, in addition to the No-Build alternative, have been 
identified for study in the supplemental Draft EIS.

[[Page 12894]]

Therefore, the supplemental EIS will evaluate the social, economic, 
transportation an environmental impacts of alternatives, including: (1) 
No-Build, (2) Alternative B--construction of a new four-lane bridge 
(two through-traffic lanes in each direction) located approximately 
6,500 feet south of the existing lift bridge (South Ravine Option), (3) 
Alternative C--construction of a new four-lane bridge (two through-
traffic lanes in each direction) located approximately 3,900 feet south 
of the existing lift bridge, (4) Alternative D-- construction of a new 
four-lane bridge (two through-traffic lanes in each direction) located 
approximately 700 feet south of the existing lift bridge on the 
Minnesota shore and meeting the Wisconsin bluff near the existing lift 
bridge crossing, and (5) Alternative E--construction of a new two-lane 
bridge (two through-traffic lanes for eastbound traffic) located 
approximately 500-700 feet south of the existing lift bridge on the 
Minnesota shore and meeting the Wisconsin bluff near the existing lift 
bridge crossing. The existing lift bridge would be used as a two-lane 
roadway for westbound traffic.
    It is anticipated that the final ``2003 Amended Scoping Decision 
Document'' will be published in March 2004. 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. 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 supplemental 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: March 8, 2004.
Stanley M. Graczyk,
Project Development Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, St. Paul, 
Minnesota.
[FR Doc. 04-6114 Filed 3-17-04; 8:45 am]
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