[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 217 (Thursday, November 9, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 65877]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-9149]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Multnomah County, Oregon

AGENCIES: Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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

SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is issuing this 
notice of intent to advise agencies and the public that an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared to assess the 
impacts of proposed repair or replacement of the Sellwood Bridge over 
the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon.

DATES: Public and Agency meetings will be advertised and held in 
Portland, Oregon during the development of the EIS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward J. DeCleva, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Federal Highway Administration, The Equitable 
Building, Suite 100, 530 Center Street, NE., Salem, OR 97301, (503) 
587-4710.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Oregon 
Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Multnomah County, will prepare 
an EIS for proposed repair or replacement of the Sellwood Bridge 
Project across the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon. The existing 
Sellwood Bridge has been identified by the ODOT Statewide Bridge 
Inventory as deficient for load and seismic purposes. It has a 
sufficiency rating of 2 out of 100. The sufficiency rating is a measure 
of a bridge's structural integrity and transportation function with 
respect to current design standards. The bridge has narrow travel lanes 
and no shoulders and one narrow sidewalk, with light poles that intrude 
in the travel path of the sidewalk. It is currently load limited to 10 
tons and restricts freight, emergency vehicle, and bus traffic. The 
western terminal of the bridge is located on an active slide area. The 
structure requires ongoing maintenance and repairs. With 30,000 
vehicles per day, it has the highest traffic volumes of any two-lane 
bridge in the state of Oregon.
    The FHWA, ODOT and Multnomah County will evaluate potential 
transportation, environment, social, cultural, and economic impacts of 
a range of alternatives, including a no build alternative. The project 
purpose and need and range of alternatives will be identified through 
consultations with the public, Federal, State and local agencies, and 
interested federally recognized tribes. ODOT and Multnomah County 
solicited public comments on the propose project through a public 
scoping meeting held in Portland, Oregon on October 25, 2006. Federal, 
State and local agencies, and interested federally recognized tribes 
will be invited to attend agency scoping meetings in December 2006. 
Additional public, agency, and tribal meetings will be held during the 
development of the EIA. A public hearing will also be held. In addition 
to mailings, meetings and hearing dates, times and locations will be 
announced on the project Web site accessible at http://www.sellwoodbridge.org/ and in local and regional newspapers. The draft 
EIS will be made available for public, agency and tribal review and 
comment prior to the 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 the FHWA at the address above.

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

    Dated: November 3, 2006.
Edward J. DeCleva,
Environmental Protection Specialist, FHWA Oregon Division.
[FR Doc. 06-9149 Filed 11-8-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M