[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 137 (Tuesday, July 19, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 41425]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-14116]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Reconstruction of BIA Route 4 on the Crow Creek 
Reservation, South Dakota

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has reconsidered the 
Finding of No Significant Impact signed on March 24, 2004, for the 
proposed reconstruction of BIA Route 4 near Fort Thompson, South 
Dakota. This notice advises the public that the BIA intends to gather 
the information necessary to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the reconstruction project. The purpose of the proposed 
action is to improve the roadway to modern safety standards. This 
notice also announces two public scoping meetings to identify potential 
issues, concerns and alternatives to be considered in the EIS.

DATES: Written comments on the scope and implementation of this 
proposal must arrive by September 2, 2005. The public scoping meetings 
will be held August 23 and 25, 2005, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., or until 
the last public comment is received.

ADDRESSES: You may mail or hand carry written comments to Marilyn 
Bercier, 115 4th Avenue SE., Aberdeen, South Dakota 57401.
    The August 23, 2005, public scoping meeting will be held in the 
casino at the Lodestar Casino and Hotel, Fort Thompson, South Dakota. 
The August 25, 2005, public scoping meeting will be held at the Four 
Bears Casino and Lodge, New Town, North Dakota.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marilyn Bercier, (605) 226-7645.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BIA proposes to acquire rights-of-way 
and provide funding for the reconstruction of BIA Route 4 on the Crow 
Creek Reservation, as proposed by the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe. From Fort 
Thompson, South Dakota, BIA Route 4 runs about 8 miles south and east 
to its intersection with State Highway 50. BIA Route 4 is located in 
Township 106 & 107 North and Range 71 & 72 West in Buffalo County, 
South Dakota.
    Part of the Lewis and Clark scenic byway system, the highway poses 
safety risks to members of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe and the general 
traveling public. In addition to surface distress and deterioration 
throughout its length, the existing roadway has numerous other safety 
deficiencies, including steep side slopes, abrupt vertical and 
horizontal curvature, a narrow roadway surface, steep in- and back-
slopes, protruding pipes, improper sight distances, and roadside 
obstructions. The BIA proposes that Route 4 be reconstructed to current 
safety guidelines.
    The BIA will serve as the Lead Agency for compliance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act. The Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, the 
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the Mandan, Hidatsa and 
Arikara Nation have been invited to participate as cooperating agencies 
in the preparation of the EIS.
    The EIS will assess the potential effects to the human environment 
from the reconstruction of Route 4. Areas of concern include socio-
economics, transportation, groundwater and surface water, wildlife and 
their habitats, cultural resources, aesthetics, land uses, health and 
safety, and threatened, endangered, or special-status species. The list 
of issues to be addressed may expand after scoping comments are 
received.

Public Comment Availability

    Comments, including names and addresses of respondents, will be 
available for public review at the mailing address shown in the 
ADDRESSES section during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except holidays. Individual respondents may 
request confidentiality. If you wish us to withhold your name and/or 
address from public review or from disclosure under the Freedom of 
Information Act, you must state this prominently at the beginning of 
your written comment. Such requests will be honored to the extent 
allowed by law. We will not, however, consider anonymous comments. All 
submissions from organizations or businesses and from individuals 
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations 
or businesses will be made available for public inspection in their 
entirety.

Authority

    This notice is published in accordance with section 1503.1 of the 
Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 
1508) implementing the procedural requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), 
and the Department of Interior Manual (516 DM 1-6), and is in the 
exercise of authority delegated to the Principal Deputy Assistant 
Secretary--Indian Affairs by 209 DM 8.1.

    Dated: June 16, 2005.
Debbie L. Clark,
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 05-14116 Filed 7-18-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-W7-P