[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 28 (Friday, February 10, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7110-7111]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-1239]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Montgomery, Harris, Liberty, and 
Chambers Counties, TX

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), TxDOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent, Grand Parkway Segments H and I-1 EIS.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for a proposed 
State Highway (SH) 99 (Grand Parkway Segments H and H-1) connecting US 
59 (N) to IH 10 (E) in Montgomery, Harris, Liberty, and Chambers 
Counties, Texas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Gary Johnson, P.E., Federal 
Highway Administration, Texas Division, 300 East 8th Street, Room 826, 
Austin, Texas 78701, Telephone (512) 536-5960.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), 
in cooperation with TxDOT and the Grand Parkway Association, will 
prepare an EIS for transportation alternatives included in Segments H 
and I-1 of the proposed Grand Parkway. Segments H and I-1 are located 
on the northeast side of the greater Houston metropolitan area and span 
the area from US 59 (N) to IH 10 (E) generally between FM 2100 and SH 
146 in Montgomery, Harris, Liberty, and Chambers Counties, a distance 
of approximately 36 miles.
    The proposed Grand Parkway is planned as a 182-mile circumferential 
highway facility around the greater Houston metropolitan area. It would 
provide access to radial freeways and would serve as a third loop 
around the City of Houston. The Grand Parkway has been divided into 11 
segments of independent utility. Currently, Segment D (US 59 S to IH 10 
W) of the Grand Parkway is open to the traveling public. Segment D is 
19 miles long and is located on the southwest side of the greater 
Houston metropolitan area. The remaining Segments A (SH 146 to IH 45 
S), B (IH 45 S to SH 288), C (US 59 S to SH 288), E (IH 10 W to US 
290), F1 (US 290 to SH 249), F2 (SH 249 to IH 45 N), G (IH 45 N to US 
59 N), and I-2 (IH 10 E to SH 146) are in various stages of project 
development. Segments H and I-1 are planned as a four-lane, limited 
access, toll facility within a 400-foot wide right-of-way.
    The Grand Parkway (SH 99) is a key element of the 2025 Regional 
Transportation Plan, a transportation program developed by the Houston-
Galveston Area Council. The project is proposed as a toll facility in 
the 2025 regional plan.
    The EIS will include a preferred alternative alignment, number of 
lanes, roadway configuration, and operational characteristics of the 
proposed roadway. Alternatives to be studied include ``no-action'' (the 
no-build alternative), Transportation System Management (TSM)/
Transportation Demand Management (TDM) alternative; mass transit 
alternative and roadway build alternatives. The EIS will evaluate 
potential impacts from construction and operation of the proposed 
roadway including, but not limited to, the following: transportation 
impacts (construction detours, construction traffic, mobility 
improvement and evacuation improvement), air, and noise impacts from 
construction equipment and operation of the facilities, water quality 
impacts from construction area and roadway storm water runoff, impacts 
to waters of the United States including wetlands from right-of-way 
encroachment, impacts to historic and archeological resources, impacts 
of floodplains, and impacts and/or potential displacements to residents 
and businesses.
    Correspondence describing the proposed project and soliciting 
comments has been sent to appropriate Federal, state, regional, and 
local agencies, and to organizations and persons who have previously 
expressed an interest or are known to have an interest in this project.
    TxDOT and the Grand Parkway Association will conduct a series of 
public scoping meetings in March 2006 held in two separate locations. 
The public scoping meetings will be conducted in an open house format 
with no formal presentation and both meetings will present the same 
information. At least 30 days and 10 days prior to the public scoping 
meetings, notices will be published in newspapers having general 
circulation in the project area. These will be the first in a series of 
meetings to solicit public comments on the proposed action as part of 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process.
    Persons who have special communication, access, or accommodation 
needs should contact TxDOT's public information office at (713) 802-
5072 at least two working days prior to the meeting. TxDOT offices are 
open Monday-Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding national holidays. 
The public meetings will be conducted in English. Requests for language 
interpreters should also be

[[Page 7111]]

made at least two working days in advance of the meeting/hearing/
workshop. TxDOT will make all reasonable efforts to accommodate these 
needs.
    Public involvement will occur throughout the planning process. 
Public notice will be given stating the time and place of future public 
meetings and hearings. The Draft EIS will be available for public and 
agency review and comment prior to a public hearing.
    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 EIS should be 
directed to FHWA at the address provided.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205 
Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing 
Executive Order 12372 regarding governmental consultation on federal 
programs and activities apply to this program.)
Gary N. Johnson,
Acting District Engineer, FHWA Texas Division.
[FR Doc. 06-1239 Filed 2-9-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M