[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 42 (Monday, March 3, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11458-11459]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-3981]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Tooele County, UT

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS)

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[[Page 11459]]

SUMMARY: FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared for proposed 
transportation improvements in the Tooele Valley area of Tooele County, 
Utah.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Sarhan, Area Engineer, Federal 
Highway Administration, 2520 West 4700 South, Suite 9A, Salt Lake City, 
UT 84118, Telephone: (801) 963-0182; or Daniel Young, Utah Department 
of Transportation (UDOT) Region 2 Project Manager, 2010 South 2760 
West, Salt Lake City, UT 84104. Telephone: (801) 975-4819.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with UDOT and 
Tooele County, will prepare an EIS on a proposal to address current and 
projected north-south traffic demand in the Tooele Valley area of 
Tooele County. The proposed project study area is bounded by Sheep Lane 
to the west, SR-36 to the east, the Tooele Army Depot (TEAD), SR-112, 
and Tooele City to the south, and I-80 to the north.
    FHWA, UDOT, and Tooele County implemented an Environmental 
Assessment (EA), in May of 2007, in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). During the EA, it was determined by 
the Joint-Lead Agencies to up-scope the study to an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS).
    The EIS will conform to the environmental review process 
established in Section 6002 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, 
Efficient Transportation Equity Act: a Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). 
The Section 6002 environmental review process requires the following 
activities: the identification and invitation of cooperating and 
participating agencies; the establishment of a coordination plan; and 
opportunities for additional agency and public comment on the project's 
purpose and need, alternatives and methodologies for determining 
impacts. Additionally, a public hearing following the release of the 
draft EIS will also be provided. Public notice advertisements and 
direct mailings will notify interested parties of the time and place of 
public meetings and the public hearing.
    The EIS will take into account all aspects of the study previously 
completed during the Environmental Assessment process. Scoping letters 
describing the proposed action and soliciting comments were sent to 
appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and to organizations 
and citizens who have previously expressed, or who are known to have, 
an interest in this proposal. A public scoping meeting to which 
agencies and the public were invited was held on June 13, 2007 in 
Tooele County. The public, as well as Federal, State, and local 
agencies, were invited to participate in a project scoping process. 
From this participation a number of alternatives were developed and 
environmental issues and resources identified.
    FHWA will continue to study and consider a reasonable range of 
alternatives which meet the project purpose and needs. These 
alternatives include (1) Taking no action; (2) Using alternative travel 
modes; (3) Upgrading and adding lanes to the existing roadway network 
including SR-36; and (4) Constructing a highway/expressway on a new 
location through the project study area.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed and all significant issues are identified, 
comments and suggestions are invited from all interested agencies and 
parties. Cooperating and participating agency invitation letters will 
be sent out following the publication of the Notice of Intent. Comments 
and suggestions concerning this proposed action and the EIS should be 
directed to FHWA at the address provided above.

(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.)

    Issued on: February 26, 2008.
Edward T. Woolford,
Environmental Program Manager, FHWA--Utah Division.
[FR Doc. E8-3981 Filed 2-29-08; 8:45 am]
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