[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 247 (Thursday, December 27, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73420-73421]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-25023]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Deschutes County, OR

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is issuing this 
notice of intent to advise agencies and the public than an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared to assess the 
impacts of proposed modifications to U.S. 97 in Deschutes County, 
Oregon.

DATES: A public scoping meeting will be held Thursday, January 24, 
2008, at the Sky View Middle School Commons 63555 18th Street, Bend, 
Oregon 97701. The public scoping meeting will include an informational 
presentation from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. The informational presentation will 
be followed by a question and answer period and a general open house 
from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. An agency scoping meeting will be held on 
January 10, 2008, at ODOT Region 4, Construction Office Conference 
Room, 63030 O.B. Riley Road, Bend, Oregon 97701. The agency scoping 
meeting will be from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

FOR FUTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Michelle Eraut, Environmental 
Program Manager, Federal Highway Administration, 530 Center Street, 
NE., Suite 100, Salem, Oregon 97301; telephone 503-587-4716.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Oregon 
Department of Transportation (ODOT), will prepare an EIS for the 
proposed modifications to U.S. 97 in Deschutes County, Oregon. The 
proposed improvements may involve the reconstruction or realignment of 
the existing U.S. 97 roadway between the Bend Parkway/Empire Avenue and 
Deschutes Market Road-Tumalo Junction interchanges.
    Improvements to the corridor are considered necessary to meet the 
mobility standards and facility management goals consistent with U.S. 
97's designation as a statewide expressway, address current and future 
transportation demand, and improve safety along the corridor including 
the intersections of U.S. 97 with Cooley and Robal Roads. Current 
traffic volumes exceed roadway capacity. Traffic is expected to 
increase 20 to 40% by 2032. The intersections of U.S. 97 with Cooley 
and Robal Roads are in the top 5 percent of crash locations on state 
highways within Oregon.
    The northern portion of the project is located in a predominately 
rural area. Lands on the eastern side of the highway are being 
considered for inclusion into the City of Bend's Urban Growth Boundary. 
The middle portion of the project begins the transition from rural to 
urban uses, with the number of accesses increasing. Access to rural 
residential uses are located on the west side of the highway and access 
to two mobile home parks are located on the eastern side of the 
highway. The

[[Page 73421]]

southern portion of the project is within a high-growth urban 
commercial setting with regional big box retail uses and a large retail 
mall on the west side of the highway. Smaller regional and local retail 
and manufacturing businesses are on the east side of the highway.
    The EIS will identify transportation needs and deficiencies in the 
project study area, including safety, mobility, access, safety, system 
linkages and continuity. The range of alternatives evaluated in the EIS 
will be developed to meet the identified purpose and need. Potential 
alternatives and combinations thereof may include, but are not limited 
to: (1) No action; (2) reroute U.S. 97 on a westerly alignment; and (3) 
reroute U.S. 973 on an easterly alignment. Design variations of 
potential alternatives will also be studied, as appropriate. A 
refinement plan for U.S. 97 & U.S. 20 was completed in May 2007. 
Information from the refinement plan may be utilized as appropriate in 
the development of this EIS.
    The EIS will be initiated with a scoping process. The scoping 
process will include a program of public outreach and agency 
coordination conducted over the next several months to elicit input of 
project purpose and need, potential alternatives, significant and 
insignificant issues, and collaborative methods of analyzing 
transportation alternatives and environmental impacts.
    A series of public, agency and tribal meetings will be held in 
early 2008 and continue throughout the development of the EIS. The 
public outreach program will include multiple public meetings conducted 
by ODOT as well as coordination with the Technical Management Team, the 
Citizens Advisory Committee and the Project Steering Team. The 
Technical Management Team is comprised of technical representatives 
from ODOT, the City of Bend, Deschutes County and the Oregon Department 
of Land Conservation and Development. The Citizens Advisory Committee 
is comprised of the public representing neighborhood and business 
interests in the project areas. The Project Steering Team is comprised 
of policy representatives from ODOT, the City of Bend and Deschutes 
County.
    A public hearing will be held in connection with the release of the 
draft EIS. Public notice will be given regarding the time and place of 
the public meetings and hearings. An internet website has been 
established at: http://www.US97solutions.org and will be operational 
beginning January 10, 2008. This website and other communication media 
will be utilized throughout the process to provide public information 
and to receive comments. All comments and input received during the EIS 
process will be considered and documented.
    The FHWA and ODOT will evaluate significant transportation, 
environmental, social and economic impacts of the project alternatives. 
Potential areas of impact include: neighborhoods, businesses, natural 
resources and environmental justice. Measures to avoid, minimize and 
mitigate any significant adverse impacts will be developed.
    Comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties, 
to ensure that the full range of issues related to this project are 
addressed and all significant issues are identified. Comments or 
questions regarding the proposed action and the EIS should be directed 
to the FHWA at the address provided above.

    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315.

    Issued on: December 18, 2007.
Michelle Eraut,
Environmental Program Manager, Salem, Oregon.
 [FR Doc. E7-25023 Filed 12-26-07; 8:45 am]
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