[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 93 (Monday, May 15, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28075-28076]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-4496]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Kandiyohi County, MN

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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

SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared for proposed 
highway improvements to Trunk Highway (TH) 71 and TH 23 from the 
Willmar Bypass to the north junction of TH 71 and TH 23, located 
northeast of the City of Willmar in Dovre Township, a distance of 
approximately 3.5 miles, in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Martin, Federal Highway 
Administration, Galtier Plaza, Suite 500,

[[Page 28076]]

380 Jackson Street, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101, Telephone (651) 291-
6120; or Lowell Flaten, Project Manager, Minnesota Department of 
Transportation--District 8, 2505 Transportation Road, Willmar, 
Minnesota 56201, Telephone (320) 214-3698; (800) 627-3529 TTY.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Minnesota 
Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT), will prepare an EIS to improve 
safety on the shared alignment section of TH 71 and TH 23 in Dovre 
Township, northeast of the City of Willmar, a distance of approximately 
3.5 miles, in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. This segment of highway is a 
rural four-lane divided facility with at-grade intersections at public 
roadways. The proposed action includes the construction of highway 
access modifications, new bridges and ramps for grade-separated highway 
crossings, frontage road extensions and local roadway connections 
between the existing TH 71/TH 23 highway slit on the north and TH 71/TH 
23 at TH 294 (Business 71) on the south. Improvements to the corridor 
are being considered to improve safety and mobility. Improvements will 
also assist in managing additional traffic growth that will occur with 
local and regional planned commercial and residential developments.
    The EIS will evaluate the social, economic, transportation and 
environmental impacts of alternatives, including: (1) No-Build and (2) 
``Build'' alternatives with variations in design and interchange 
locations along the existing highway corridor, including design 
variations of grade and alignment. 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 in the project area 
from summer 2006 to early 2008. The ``Trunk Highway 71/23 Improvement 
Project Scoping Document/Draft Scoping Decision Document'' will be 
published in early summer 2006. A press release will be published to 
inform the public of the document's availability. Copies of the scoping 
document will be distributed to agencies, interested persons and 
libraries for review to aid in identifying issues and analyses for 
review to aid in identifying issues and analyses to be contained in the 
EIS. A thirty-day comment period for review of the document will be 
provided to afford an opportunity for all interested persons, agencies 
and groups to comment on the proposed action. A public scoping meeting 
will also be held during the comment period. Public notice will be 
given for the time and place of the meeting. A Draft EIS will be 
prepared based on the outcome of the scoping process. The Draft EIS 
will be available for agency and public review and comment. In 
addition, a public hearing will be held following completion of the 
Draft EIS. Public Notice will be given for the time and place of the 
public hearing on the Draft EIS. 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 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.)
    Dated: Issued on: May 8, 2006.
Cheryl B. Martin,
Environmental Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, St. Paul, 
Minnesota.
[FR Doc. 06-4496 Filed 5-12-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M