[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 12, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13273-13274]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-4751]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Wayne County, MI

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) for the Detroit River International Crossing Study and 
notice of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969, the Federal Highway Administration has made available for public 
review and comments a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for 
the Detroit River International Crossing Study. The DEIS describes and 
presents the environmental effects of the No-Build Alternative and nine 
Build Alternatives. Two public hearings will be held to receive 
comments from individuals and organizations on the DEIS.

DATES: The DEIS was made available to the public on February 25, 2008. 
EPA published the Notice of Availability on February 29, 2008. Comment 
and public hearing dates are: (1) March 18, 2008 and (2) March 19, 2008 
(public hearings scheduled); and public comments are due April 29, 
2008.
    The DEIS is available for a 60-day public review period. Comments 
must be e-mailed, faxed, or postmarked on or before April 29, 2008. A 
copy of the complete transcript, including all of the written and 
recorded oral comments received, will be available for public review in 
June 2008 at the listed locations. All submissions from organizations 
or businesses and from individuals identifying themselves as 
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses will be 
made available for public disclosures in their entirety.

ADDRESSES: 1. Document Availability: The document was made available to 
the public on February 25, 2008. Copies of the DEIS are available for 
public inspection and review on the project Web site: http://www.partnershipborderstudy.com and at the following locations:

MDOT Bureau of Transportation Planning, 425 Ottawa St., Lansing
MDOT Metro Region Office, 18101 W. Nine Mile Rd., Southfield
MDOT Detroit Transportation Service Center, 1400 Howard St., Detroit
MDOT Taylor Transportation Service Center, 25185 Goddard, Taylor
Henry Ford Centennial Library, 16301 Michigan Ave., Detroit
Detroit Public Library, 5201 Woodward Ave., Detroit
Bowen Branch of the Detroit Public Library, 3648 W. Vernor, Detroit
Library at Southwestern High School, 6921 W. Fort St., Detroit
Delray Recreation Center, 420 Leigh St., Detroit
Allen Park Library, 8100 Allen Rd., Allen Park
Ecorse Library, 4184 W. Jefferson Ave., Ecorse
Melvindale Library, 18650 Allen Rd., Melvindale
River Rouge Library, 221 Burke St., River Rouge
Kemeny Recreation Center, 2260 S. Fort St., Detroit
Campbell Brand Library, 8733 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit
Neighborhood City Hall Central District, 2 Woodward Ave., Detroit
Neighborhood City Hall Northwestern District, 19180 Grand River Ave., 
Detroit
Neighborhood City Hall Northeastern District, 2328 E. Seven Mile Rd., 
Detroit
Neighborhood City Hall Western District, 18100 Meyers Road, Detroit
Neighborhood City Hall Eastern District, 7737 Kercheval St., Detroit
Neighborhood City Hall Southwestern District, 7744 W. Vernor St., 
Detroit

    Copies of the DEIS may be requested from Bob Parsons (Public 
Involvement and Hearings Officer) at the Michigan Department of 
Transportation, 425 W. Ottawa Street, P.O. Box 30050, Lansing, MI 48909 
or by calling (517) 373-9534.
    2. Comments: Send comments on the DEIS to Michigan Department of 
Transportation, c/o Bob Parsons (Public Involvement and Hearings 
Officer), 425 W. Ottawa Street, P.O. Box 30050, Lansing, MI 48909; Fax: 
(517) 373-9255; or e-mail: [email protected].
    3. Public Hearing: The March 18, 2008, public hearing will be held 
at Southwestern High School, 6921 W. Fort St., Detroit, and the March 
19, 2008, public hearing will be held at LA SED Gymnasium, 7150 W. 
Vernor, Detroit. Each hearing will be held from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., 
with a formal presentation at 6:30 p.m. followed by an opportunity for 
public comments and questions. Persons needing special assistance to 
attend and participate in the public hearing should contact Bob Parsons 
(Public Involvement and Hearings Officer) at (517) 373-9534 as soon as 
possible. In order to allow sufficient time to process requests, please 
call no later than one week before the public hearing. Information 
regarding this proposed action is available in alternative formats upon 
request.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ryan Rizzo, Major Project Manager, 
FHWA Michigan Division, (517) 702-1833; David Williams, Environmental 
Program Manager, FHWA Michigan Division, (517) 702-1820.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Detroit River International Crossing 
(DRIC) Study is a binational effort to complete the environmental study 
processes related to a new crossing for the United States, Michigan, 
Canada and Ontario governments. The Border Transportation Partnership 
(The Partnership) leads this study. It is formed of the following 
agencies: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Michigan Department of 
Transportation (MDOT), Transport Canada (TC) and Ontario Ministry of 
Transportation (MTO). The DRIC Study identifies solutions that support 
the region, state, provincial and national economies while addressing 
the civil and national defense and homeland security needs of the 
busiest trade corridor between the United States and

[[Page 13274]]

Canada. The Detroit River, which separates the U.S. and Canada, 
currently has border crossings at the Ambassador Bridge (four lanes), 
the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel (two lanes), the Detroit-Canada Rail 
Tunnels, and the Detroit-Windsor Truck Ferry. These multi-modal 
transportation links provide the connections for freight and passenger 
movements between the two countries. The DRIC Study includes 
transportation alternatives that improve border-crossing facilities, 
operations, and connections to meet existing and future mobility and 
security needs.
    Purpose and Need for the Project: The purpose of the DRIC Study is 
to provide safe, efficient and secure movement of people and goods 
across the U.S.-Canadian border in the Detroit River area to support 
the economies of Michigan, Ontario, Canada and the United States, and 
to support the mobility needs of national and civil defense to protect 
the homeland.
    To address future border crossing mobility requirements through 
2035, there is a need to:
--Provide new border-crossing capacity to meet increased long-term 
demand;
--Improve system connectivity to enhance the seamless flow of people 
and goods;
--Improve operations and processing capability in accommodating the 
flow of people and goods; and
--Provide reasonable and secure crossing options (i.e., redundancy) in 
the event of incidents, maintenance, congestion, or other disruptions.
    Alternatives Evaluated: The DEIS evaluates nine Build Alternatives 
in addition to a No-Build Alternative. The nine Build Alternatives each 
include an interchange plaza, a customs inspection plaza, and a bridge 
from the plaza that spans the Detroit River. The DEIS analyzes the 
issues/impacts on the United State's side of the proposed new border 
crossing. A Canadian-produced set of documents analyzes the issues/
impacts on the Canadian side.
    The No-Build Alternative would not result in a new international 
border crossing system in the Detroit-Windsor area. Only the existing 
crossings, plazas and freeway connections, including the Gateway 
connection currently under construction, would continue operations. A 
second privately-owned bridge has been proposed by the Detroit 
International Bridge Company in the Ambassador Bridge Enhancement 
Environmental Assessment and was included in the No-Build Alternative.

    Issued on: March 5, 2008.
James J. Steele,
Division Administrator, Lansing, Michigan.
[FR Doc. E8-4751 Filed 3-11-08; 8:45 am]
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