[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 2 (Thursday, January 3, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 537-538]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-25164]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Grays Harbor County, WA

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is issuing this 
notice to advise the public, affected Indian tribes and agencies that 
an environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared for the 
proposed development of a site to build pontoons that would be used to 
restore the function of the existing SR 520 Evergreen Point Bridge in 
case of catastrophic failure. The Washington State Department of 
Transportation (WSDOT) is a co-lead agency on the EIS. FHWA and WSDOT 
will prepare the EIS in accordance with the provisions of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, 
Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), 
and with Washington's State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen Boch, Federal Highway 
Administration, 915 2nd Avenue, Room 3142, Seattle, Washington, 98174, 
Telephone: (206) 220-7536; Jenifer Young, Washington State Department 
of Transportation, SR 520 Project Office, Seattle, Washington, 
Telephone: (206) 770-3522.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the project is to expedite 
construction of pontoons to be used to restore the existing SR 520 
Evergreen Point Bridge in the event of a catastrophic failure. To meet 
this purpose, the proposed action being evaluated in the EIS is to 
develop a facility to build pontoons that would be of appropriate size 
and type to restore the function of the existing floating bridge, and 
to store these pontoons until needed at open-water moorage locations or 
onsite. Other potential uses of the pontoons are to support future 
planned replacement of the Evergreen Point Bridge if the pontoons are 
not needed for emergency use, or support emergency replacement or 
repair of other WSDOT floating bridges.
    WSDOT and FHWA, as lead agencies, have identified an underlying 
need of timely availability of new pontoons. (1) The SR 520 Evergreen 
Point Bridge is vulnerable to catastrophic failure; severe winter 
storms have damaged the 44-year-old bridge and rendered it increasingly 
vulnerable to windstorms and earthquakes. (2) The SR 520 Evergreen 
Point Bridge is a key regional transportation link. There is no 
available detour designed for, or capable of, accommodating the 
vehicles that cross the bridge each day at equivalent speeds or travel 
times. (3) It will take several years to produce SR 520 Evergreen Point 
Bridge pontoons. Currently, no existing facility in Washington has the 
capacity to quickly produce the number and size of pontoons that would 
be needed to replace the SR 520 bridge in the event of catastrophic 
failure. FHWA and WSDOT are seeking comment on the proposed purpose and 
need for the project, as required by SAFETEA-LU. Information on public 
and agency scoping meetings and address to send written comments to is 
provided below.
    The proposed location for construction of pontoons is a 45 acre 
property in the City of Hoquiam, Grays Harbor County. Alternatives 
under initial consideration include: (1) Constructing a casting basin 
facility; (2) constructing a barge launch facility; (3) constructing a 
barge slip facility; and (4) No Build. Each ``build'' alternative will 
also include: improvements to the existing shoreline earthen berm and 
additional ancillary facilities, including a concrete batch plant, 
office space, parking area, access roads, rail spur, laydown area, and 
water treatment area. The EIS will evaluate potential effects on the 
physical, human, and natural environments. Areas of investigation 
include, but are not limited to: ecosystems, including threatened and 
endangered species, archaeological and historic resources, social and 
economic factors, land use, transportation, noise and vibration, air 
quality, soils and geology, hazardous materials, visual and aesthetic 
qualities, and public services and utilities.
    The purpose of the Notice of Intent is to invite participation in 
the EIS process and comment from interested agencies, organizations, 
and citizens. In accordance with SAFETEA-LU, FHWA extended invitation 
to other Federal and non-Federal agencies and Indian tribes that may 
have an interest in being a ``cooperating agency'' or ``participating 
agency'' in December 2007. A public, agency and tribal coordination 
plan is being prepared. Agency and public scoping meetings will be held 
in January 2008. Scoping meetings are scheduled for the following date 
and times:
     Agency and Tribal Scoping Meeting: January 17, 2008, 10 
a.m. to 12 p.m., Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Old 
Capital Building, Room 430, 600 South Washington, Olympia Washington.
     Public Scoping Meeting: January 17, 2008, 5:30 p.m. to 8 
p.m., Hoquiam High School Cafeteria, 501 West Emerson Avenue, Hoquiam, 
Washington. A court reporter will be available to record oral comments.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to the proposed 
action are addressed, and all significant issues are identified, 
comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. 
Comments on the proposed purpose and need and the scope of alternatives 
and impacts to be considered are requested by February 1, 2008 and 
should be sent to: Jenifer Young, WSDOT-SR 520 Project Office, 600 
Stewart Street, Suite 520, Seattle, WA, 98101; fax number (206) 770-
3569; or e-mail to [email protected].

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program 20.205, Highway 
Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing 
Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation of

[[Page 538]]

federal programs and activities apply to this program.)

    Dated: December 20, 2007.
Stephen Boch,
Major Project Oversight Manager, Olympia, WA.
[FR Doc. E7-25164 Filed 1-2-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P