[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 246 (Friday, December 22, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 77084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-9779]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Notice To Rescind a Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS); Bannock County, ID

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Rescind Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that the 
Notice of Intent (NOI) published on May 3, 2006 to prepare an EIS for a 
proposed highway project in Bannock County, Idaho is being rescinded.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Edwin B. Johnson, Field Operations 
Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 3050 Lakeharbor Lane, Suite 
126, Boise, Idaho 83703, Telephone: (208) 334-9180, ext. 116, or Mr. 
Dennis Clark, Environmental Section Manager, Headquarters, Idaho 
Transportation Department, P.O. Box 7129, Boise, Idaho 83703-1129, 
Telephone: (208) 334-8203.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FHWA, in cooperation with the Idaho Transportation Department 
(ITD), is rescinding the NOI to prepare an EIS for a project that has 
been proposed to provide a new access point along Interstate 15 (I-15) 
in Bannock County, Idaho. The NOI is being rescinded because ITD and 
FHWA have determined that the project will have no significant impacts 
and an EIS is not necessary or appropriate for the environmental 
evaluation.
    The I-15 Environmental Study began in June 2004. Initial projects 
indicated that an Environmental Assessment (EA) would be an appropriate 
level of documentation for project impacts. Additional environmental 
scans and screening did not reveal significant impacts to support a 
change in the level of documentation. Alternatives were developed and 
advanced into further screening where actual footprints were evaluated 
for impacts within the project limits. One of the alternatives showed 
greater impacts than others being evaluated during the continued 
screening process. In response to that finding it was thought that an 
EIS would be the best method to discuss impacts from this alternative. 
Consequently, an NOI was published on May 3, 2006.
    A public meeting was held on June 22, 2006 to solicit comments from 
the public on alternatives being considered. An additional screening 
analysis was performed in conjunction with the public meeting. Based 
upon the results of that screening analysis and public comments 
received on this analysis, some of the alternatives were dropped from 
further analysis due to potential significant impacts to the built and 
natural environment as well as to traffic operations. At this point in 
the project development process, no significant human or natural 
environmental impacts are evident in the I-15 Environmental Study 
project that would require an EIS. If, at any point in the EA process, 
it is determined that the action is likely to have a significant impact 
on the environment, the preparation of an EIS will be required.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action and all significant issues are identified, comments and 
suggestions are invited from all interested parties regarding this 
action to rescind the NOI published May 3, 2006 for the highway project 
in Bannock County, Idaho. Comments or questions concerning this 
proposed action should be directed to the FHWA or ITD at the addresses 
provided above.

[Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Research, Planning, and Construction. The regulations 
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental 
consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to the 
program.]

    Issued on December 12, 2006.
Stephen A. Moreno,
Division Administrator, Boise, Idaho.
[FR Doc. 06-9779 Filed 12-21-06; 8:45 am]
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