[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 222 (Thursday, November 18, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67618-67619]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-25544]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Woodbury County, IA

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 of its 
intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a 
proposed Interstate 29 corridor study in Sioux City, Iowa from the 
Sioux Gateway Airport/Sergeant Bluff Interchange to the South Dakota 
State border.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa Rold, Transportation Engineer, 
FHWA Iowa Division Office, 105 Sixth Street, Ames, IA, Ph. (515) 233-
7307; or James P. Rost, Director, Office of Location and Environment, 
Iowa Department of Transportation, 800 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50010, Ph. 
(515) 239-1225.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

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[email protected]; or sending a fax to (202) 512-1262.
    Access to this notice is also available to Internet users through 
the Federal Register's home page at http://www.nara.gov/fedreg.

Background

    The FHWA, in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Transportation 
(Iowa DOT), will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for 
improvements proposed to Interstate 29 (I-29) from Sioux Gateway 
Airport/Sergeant Bluff Interchange to the South Dakota State border.
    As part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, 
FHWA will be preparing an EIS to assess the social, economic, and 
environmental impacts of the proposed project. The EIS will include a 
reasonable range of alternatives that will address the purpose and need 
of the project as well as a no-build alternative.
    A Public Involvement Plan will be established and will facilitate 
public involvement through the project development process. The 
resource agencies will be solicited for their input throughout the life 
of this project. Throughout the development process, advance notice of 
the time and place of public meetings and/or hearings will be given in 
order to provide an opportunity for citizen attendance and comments.
    The Siouxland Interstate Metropolitan Planning Council (SIMPCO), 
along with Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), and the City of 
Sioux City conducted a multiphase study to determine the existing 
conditions and to develop improvement alternatives. The reports that 
were generated as a result of this study include Evaluation of Existing 
Conditions, I-29 Corridor Study, Sioux Gateway Interchange to South 
Dakota Border, February 1993, Development of Alternative Improvement 
Schemes, I-29 Corridor Study, Sioux Gateway Airport to South Dakota 
Border, June 1996, Refinement of Selected Improvement Concepts, I-29 
Corridor Study, Sioux Gateway Interchange to South Dakota Border, 
January 1997, and Refinement of Selected Improvement Concepts, I-29 
Corridor Study, Sioux Gateway

[[Page 67619]]

Interchange to South Dakota Border, July 1997.
    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 series of public meetings 
will be held throughout the study process. In addition, a public 
hearing will be held. Public notice will be given of the time and place 
of the meetings and hearing. The draft EIS will be available for public 
and agency review and comment prior to the public hearing. A formal 
scoping meeting with resource agencies will be scheduled. Resource 
agencies will be notified 30 days prior to the meeting date.
    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 project and EIS should be directed 
to the FHWA or Iowa Department of Transportation at the address 
provided in the caption FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

(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)

(Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 49 CFR 1.48)

    Dated: November 10, 2004.
Phil Barnes,
Division Administrator, FHWA Iowa Division.
[FR Doc. 04-25544 Filed 11-17-04; 8:45 am]
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