[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 173 (Friday, September 7, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51487-51488]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-4375]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: El Paso County, TX

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration is issuing this notice to 
advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be 
prepared for the proposed Loop 375 Cesar Chavez Highway (Border Highway 
West Extension) in El Paso, Texas, to include the Texas, New Mexico, 
and Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua Mexico border region. The proposed project 
is part of an alternate route to provide congestion relief for 
Interstate 10 (I-10), an east-west facility north of the proposed 
project. The project is a key element in the Gateway 2030 Metropolitan 
Transportation Plan (MTP) prepared by the El Paso Metropolitan Planning 
Organization (MPO).
    The proposed Border Highway West Extension would extend 
approximately 13.8 miles and would provide a continuous route from I-10 
east of State Highway (SH) 20 (Mesa Street) to Sunland Park Drive 
continuing on Loop 375 to end at Untied States Highway (US) 54.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Donald Davis, District Engineer 
(South), Federal Highway Administration, Texas Division, 300 East 8th 
Street, Room 826, Austin, Texas 78701; Telephone (512) 536-5960.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The current facility exists as follows:
     Six-lane expressway from I-10 to Sunland Park.
     Four-lane facility along US 85 from New Mexico Route 273 
to US 62 (Paisano Drive).
     Four-lane boulevard from Paisano Drive to Santa Fe Street.
     Four six-lane boulevard transitioning to a six-lane 
barrier separated controlled access facility from Santa Fe Street to US 
54.

The proposed project would add capacity and upgrade the existing 
facility to a controlled access facility through the addition of two to 
four through-lanes (one to two lanes in each direction).
    The Border Highway West Extension EIS will evaluate build and no-
build alternatives. In addition to the build and no-build/no-action 
alternatives, Transportation System Management (TSM)/Transportation 
Demand Management (TDM), mass transit, and tolled and non-tolled 
alternatives will be examined. Also, the EIS will study potential 
impacts from construction and operation of the proposed roadway 
including, but not limited to, the following: transportation impacts 
(construction detours, construction traffic, mobility improvements), 
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, impacts to 
historic and archeological resources, impacts to floodplain, socio-
economic resources (including Environmental Justice and Limited English 
Proficiency population) indirect and cumulative impacts, land use, 
vegetation, wildlife, impacts to and/or potential displacement of 
residences and businesses, and aesthetic and visual resources. 
Anticipated federal permits, pending selection of alternatives and 
field surveys may include, but are not limited to, the following: 
Section 106 (National Historic Preservation Act), Section 401/404 
(Clean Water Act), and Section 7 (Endangered Species Act). A Project 
Coordination Plan will be provided in accordance with Public Law 109-
59, Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A 
Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), Title VI, Section 6002, Efficient 
Environmental Reviews for Project Decision Making, August 10, 2005, to 
facilitate and document the lead agencies; structured interaction with 
the public and other agencies and to inform the public and other 
agencies of how the coordination will be accomplished. The Project 
Coordination Plan will promote early and continuous involvement from 
stakeholders, agencies, and the public as well as described the 
proposed project, the roles of the agencies and the public, the project 
need and purpose, schedule, level of detail for alternatives analysis, 
methodologies to be used in the environmental analysis, and the 
proposed process for coordination and communication.
    This Project Coordination Plan is designed to be part of a flexible 
and adaptable process. The Plan will be available for public review, 
inputs, and comments at public meetings, including scoping meetings and 
hearings held throughout the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
evaluation process, and upon request at the TxDOT El Paso District. 
Pursuant to 23 U.S.C. Chapter 1 Subchapter 1 Section 139 of SAFETEA-LU, 
cooperating agencies, participating agencies and the public will be 
given an opportunity for input in the development of the project. Two 
public scoping meetings, conducted in an open house format, are planned 
to be held in October 2007. These will be the first in a series of 
meetings to solicit public comments throughout the planning process on 
the proposed action as part of the national Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) process.
    The scoping meetings will provide opportunities for participating 
agencies, cooperating agencies, and the public to be involved in 
defining the need and purpose for the proposed project, and to assist 
in determining the range of alternatives for consideration in the EIS 
and alternative evaluation methodologies. Notices of the public scoping 
meetings will be published in newspapers of general circulation in the 
project area at least 30 days prior to the meetings, and again 
approximately 10 days prior to the meetings. In addition to the public 
scoping meetings, correspondence describing the proposed action and 
soliciting comments to be considered during the scoping process will be 
sent to the appropriate federal, state, and local agencies, and to 
organizations and individuals who have previously expressed or are 
known to have an interest in the project. Public scoping meetings and 
public hearings will be held during appropriate phases of the project 
development process. Public notices will be given stating the date, 
time and location of each and will be published in English as well as 
Spanish. 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

[[Page 51488]]

proposed action and the EIS should be directed to FHWA at the address 
provided.
    A proposed schedule for completion of the environmental review 
process is not available at this time; however, will become accessible 
for public review at a futures date.

(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.)

Donald Davis,
District Engineer, FHWA texas Division.
[FR Doc. 07-4375 Filed 9-6-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M