[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 218 (Friday, November 12, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65495-65496]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-25194]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: San Bernardino County, CA

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is republishing this notice to advise the public that 
an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is being prepared for the 
proposed highway project along State Route 18 in San Bernardino County, 
California. It is being republished due to the length of time since the 
original Notice of Intent (NOI) was published, which was August 30, 
1990 (Federal Register, vol. 55, no. 169) and project changes.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Cesar E. Perez, Team Leader--South 
Region, Federal Highway Administration, 650 Capitol Mall, Suite 4-100, 
Sacramento, California 95814, Telephone: (916) 498-5065.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the California 
Department of Transportation, is preparing an EIS for the proposed Big 
Bear Lake Dam Bridge Replacement Project on State Route 18 in San 
Bernardino County, California. The proposed project will facilitate 
completion of the Big Bear Dam spillway project, move vehicular traffic 
off the dam structure, and improve the geometrics of the approach 
roadways. Existing State Route 18, within the project limits (kilo-post 
miles 71.1/71.9 [post miles 44.2/44.7]) has curves where the posted 
speed limit is less than 25 miles per hour. These curves will be 
realigned and the overall roadway brought up to current design 
standards within the project limits. This includes a wider bridge with 
three lanes to accommodate existing and future travel demands within 
the Big Bear Lake area, as well as 10-foot shoulders to accommodate 
nonmotorized travel and better facilitate winter snow removal. The 
original NOI proposed four lanes.
    The U.S. Forest Service is a cooperating agency. Consultation with 
the U.S. Forest Services has been, and will continue to be, undertaken 
to minimize impacts to the surrounding San Bernardino National Forest 
associated with the construction of the proposed project.
    Alternatives currently under consideration are the result of the 
1990 public and agency scoping meetings, as well as comments received 
from multiple public information meetings/open houses held in the Big 
Bear area. These alternatives include: Alternative 1--No Action; 
Alternative 4--construct new bridge upstream of the existing bridge 
crossing over Big Bear Lake; and alternative 5--construct new bridge 
crossing over Bear Creek Canyon downstream of the existing bridge. 
Alternatives 2 and 3 were eliminated after initial scoping due to a 
higher level of anticipated impacts to properties eligible for listing 
on the National Register of Historic Places and a larger impact area 
and subsequent adverse impacts to biological and visual resources. In 
addition, Alternative 2 would have replaced the roadway on the existing 
bridge. Seismic concerns and conflicts with operation of the dam also 
supported the decision to eliminate replacing the roadway on the 
existing bridge as was identified as an alternative in the 1990 NOI.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments were 
previously sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and 
to private organizations and citizens who have expressed, or are known 
to have, an interest in this proposal. A formal agency scoping meeting 
was held June 5, 1990, in the City of Big Bear Lake, California. A 
public scoping meeting was held July 9, 1990, also in the City of Big 
Bear Lake, California. At the request of the Big Bear Kiwanis and Big 
Bear Lions Clubs, the proposed project was presented to the clubs in 
the City of Big Bear Lake, California, on May 15, 1990, and August 16, 
1990, respectively. On August 8, 1997, in the City of Big Bear Lake, 
California, a public participation meeting was held in accordance with 
the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Regulations regarding 
section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act to discuss/
comment on the draft Finding of Effect. Public information meetings/
open houses were held in the City of Big Bear Lake, California, on 
September 30, 1997, and May 3, 2001, to keep the public up to date and 
continue with the public information program. Finally, public agency 
coordination and update meetings were also held on May 2, 2002, and 
August 20, 2003. The public information program will continue 
throughout the environmental process.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed, and all significant issues are identified, 
comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. 
Comments or questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS 
should be directed to the FHWA at the address previously provided in 
this notice. The Draft EIS will be available for public and agency 
review and comment prior

[[Page 65496]]

to the public hearing for the proposed action. It is anticipated that 
the Draft EIS will be available for review in early 2005.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Planning and Construction. The regulation implementing 
Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on 
Federal programs and activities apply to this program)

    Issued on: November 5, 2004.
Mr. John E. Dewar,
Acting Chief Operating Officer, Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. 04-25194 Filed 11-10-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M