[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 247 (Thursday, December 27, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73419-73420]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-25027]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Chautauqua County, NY

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 the proposed 
Millennium Parkway project in Chautauqua County, New York, Project 
Identification Number (PIN) 5757.55.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Jeffrey W. Kolb, P.E., Division Administrator, Federal Highway 
Administration, New York Division, Leo W. O'Brien Federal Building, 7th 
Floor, Clinton Avenue and North Pearl Street, Albany, New York 12207, 
Telephone: (518) 431-4127; or
    Alan E. Taylor, P.E., Regional Director, NYSDOT Region 5; 100 
Seneca Street, Buffalo NY 14203, Telephone: (716) 847-3238; or
    George E. Spanos, P.E., Director, CCDPF, 454 North Work Street, 
Falconer, New York 14733, Telephone: (716) 661-8400.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the New York 
State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and the Chautauqua County 
Department of Public Facilities (CCDPF), will prepare an EIS on a 
proposal to construct the Millennium Parkway in Chautauqua County, New 
York.
    An industrial corridor, including industrial districts located 
along Werle Road, Harrington Road, Progress Drive, and County Route 
(CR) 82 (Middle Road), is being developed to provide further economic 
opportunities within the surrounding communities. This industrial 
corridor includes the Chadwick Bay Industrial Park, located to the east 
of the City of Dunkirk in the Town of Sheridan. Although directly 
adjacent to air and rail facilities, tractor-trailer truck traffic 
access to the industrial corridor is currently not adequate.
    The purpose of the Millennium Parkway Project is to improve 
tractor-trailer truck traffic access to the industrial corridor, 
including the Chadwick Bay Industrial Park, from New York (NY) Route 60 
(Bennett Road). Objectives to be met with the construction of the 
Millennium Parkway are to: Improve tractor-trailer truck-oriented 
infrastructure to the industrial corridor; improve vehicular and

[[Page 73420]]

pedestrian safety along the existing truck route; and reduce travel 
time from NY Route 60 to the industrial corridor.
    The reasonable range of alternatives will include a No-Build 
Alternative and three Build Alternatives, which are briefly described 
below. Additional input from Participating and Cooperating Agencies, 
and from the public, will be necessary before a final decision will be 
made regarding the full range of alternatives to be studied.
     The No-Build Alternative would utilize the existing truck 
route in its current condition. This alternative would maintain the 
existing truck route along NY Route 60 to NY Route 5 (Lakeshore Drive) 
to CR 82 in its present state with only routine maintenance to keep the 
existing truck route open to traffic.
     The Build Alternatives are: Improving the existing truck 
route; improving other existing routes; or constructing a new urban 
collector on new alignment by utilizing existing and/or new roads. 
Incorporated into and studied with the various build alternatives will 
be design variations of grade and alignment.
    The purpose of the Millennium Parkway Project is to improve 
tractor-trailer truck traffic access to the industrial corridor, 
including the Chadwick Bay Industrial Park, from NY Route 60. In order 
to meet this purpose, the project limits have been sufficiently 
delineated to include the industrial corridor. The western boundary of 
the Project Limits has been established as the existing truck route 
along NY Route 60, since the tractor-trailer truck traffic currently 
passing through the City of Dunkirk utilizes this route. The northern 
boundary of the project limits has been established as the remaining 
portion of the existing truck route along NY Route 5 and CR 82 as well 
as the CSX Transportation (CSXT) Railroad, to avoid any additional 
railroad crossings. The eastern boundary of the project limits has been 
established as Harrington Road, CR 82, and Cook Road to avoid conflicts 
with the Dunkirk Airport. Finally, the southern boundary of the project 
limits has been established as Interstate 90 (I-90) to avoid conflicts 
with this route (I-90).
    The limits considered to define the bounds of the affected 
environment for the environmental assessment of the Build Alternatives, 
which vary slightly from the Project Limits, are generally as follows: 
northwest along NY Route 60 from the intersection with I-90, 
Interchange 59; east then north along the City of Dunkirk city limit 
line; northeast along the CSXT Railroad; south along the existing 
alignments of Harrington Road, CR 82, and Cook Road; then southwest 
along the existing alignment of I-90.
    The anticipated length of the proposed roadway will be determined 
based on the preferred alternative. The highway's southern terminus 
would be located at NY Route 60, north of I-90, Interchange 59, and its 
northern terminus would be located in the vicinity of the industrial 
corridor.
    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. As part of the formal scoping 
process for this project, a series of public meetings will be held in 
the towns of Dunkirk and Sheridan this fall. Public notice will be 
given regarding the time and place of the meetings. The draft EIS will 
be available for public and agency reviews and comment prior to a 
public hearing. The draft EIS is expected to be completed in the spring 
of 2009.
    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, NYSDOT, or CCDPF at the addresses provided 
earlier.

(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.)

    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 23 CFR 771.123.

    Issued on: December 19, 2007.
Jeffrey W. Kolb,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Albany, New 
York.
[FR Doc. E7-25027 Filed 12-26-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P