[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 95 (Thursday, May 15, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28184-28185]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-10734]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Clark County, WA

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), USDOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS).

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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration is issuing this notice to 
advise the public and Indian Tribes that an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) will be prepared for the proposed SR 502 Corridor 
Widening Project in Clark County, Washington.

DATES: Written comments on the purpose and need, scope of alternatives, 
and impacts to be considered in the EIS must be received no later than 
June 10, 2008 and must be sent to the Washington State Department of 
Transportation (WSDOT) at the address indicated below.
    Scoping Meeting Date: One public information meeting will be held 
on May 20, 2008, 4 p.m.-7 p.m. at the Cherry Grove Friends Church, 9100 
NE 219th Street, Battle Ground, Washington.
    Oral and written comments may be given at the public meeting. This 
and all other public meetings will be accessible to persons with 
disabilities who may also request this information be prepared and 
supplied in alternate formats by calling Chris Tams at (360) 759-1310 
or 1 (866) 279-0730 at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting for 
WSDOT to make the necessary arrangements. Persons who are deaf or hard 
of hearing may access Washington State Telecommunications Relay Service 
by dialing 7-1-1 and asking to be connected to (360) 759-1310.

ADDRESSES: Comments or questions concerning this proposal will be 
accepted at the public meeting or can be sent to Chris Tams, Area 
Engineer, Washington State Department of Transportation Southwest 
Region, P.O. Box 1709, Vancouver, WA 98668-1709; by Fax at (360) 905-
2062; or by e-mail to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dean Moberg, Federal Highway 
Administration, 711 S. Capitol Way, Suite 501, Olympia, WA 98501, 
Telephone: (360) 534-9344 (direct) or (360) 753-9480 (general). 
Additional information on the SR 502 Corridor Widening Project can be 
found on the project Web site at: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR502/Widening/.

 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

[[Page 28185]]

Proposed Action Background

    The FHWA and WSDOT will prepare an EIS on the proposed widening of 
the SR 502 Corridor (NE 219th Street) in north Clark County from a two-
lane roadway to a four lane roadway with a median barrier separating 
westbound and eastbound travel. The SR 502 Corridor Widening is 
proposed between NE 15th Avenue and NE 102nd Avenue, for a length of 
approximately 5 miles. The project also proposes to construct paved 
shoulders for pedestrian and bicycle use, stormwater facilities, and 
three new signalized intersections on SR 502 at NE 29th Avenue, NE 50th 
Avenue, and NE 92nd Avenue in addition to the existing signalized 
intersection on SR 502 at NE 72nd Avenue (Dollars Corner). These 
improvements are proposed to address the current and future 
deficiencies related to mobility and safety on the SR 502 corridor.
    The SR 502 Corridor Widening Project began as an Environmental 
Assessment (EA) in early 2007. One agency scoping meeting and one 
public scoping meeting were held on February 22, 2007 to identify 
issues and concerns as well as provide input into establishing a range 
of alternatives for the project. A wide range of alternatives were 
considered between February and September 2007. Six ``on-corridor'' 
alternatives, including widening the existing facility directly to 
either the north or south of the existing facility, or equally on both 
sides from the centerline, were studied. Additionally, two ``off-
corridor'' alternatives, which considered constructing a new roadway 
for SR 502 further north or south of the existing corridor, were 
studied. Four public open house meetings were held to gather public 
input on the range of alternatives being considered for the project on: 
March 27, 2007; May 9, 2007; June 14, 2007; and September 27, 2007. 
These public meetings resulted in strong public support for one ``on-
corridor'' alternative, which was forwarded for further detailed 
environmental study along with the no action alternative. As draft 
environmental discipline studies of the possible effects of the 
potential alternatives were conducted, it was determined that the 
widening of the SR 502 corridor may substantially affect the quality of 
the human and natural environment and may benefit from a more detailed 
analysis. Therefore, the FHWA and WSDOT elected to prepare an EIS.

Alternatives

    The ETS will address, at a minimum, the no action alternative and 
the following action alternative:
    On-corridor Widening Alternative: This alternative would widen the 
existing SR 502 facility to four general purpose travel lanes from just 
west of NE 15th Avenue to NE 102nd Avenue. Along the entire SR 502 
corridor, two lanes would be constructed in each direction with a 
median barrier separating westbound and eastbound travel between the 
four signalized intersections at NE 29th Avenue, NE 50th Avenue, NE 
72nd Avenue (Dollars Corner), and NE 92nd Avenue. Paved shoulders that 
could be used by pedestrians and bicyclists would also be constructed 
the length of the corridor. Curb and sidewalk would accommodate 
additional pedestrian travel through the Dollars Corner rural 
commercial center between roughly NE 67th Avenue and the 7600 block of 
SR 502. Except at the four signalized intersections, turns to and from 
SR 502 would be restricted to right-in/right-out turning movements. 
Stormwater treatment facilities would collect, detain, treat, and 
discharge stormwater runoff from new impervious surface that results 
from the roadway widening.

Probable Effects

    The FHWA and WSDOT will evaluate all transportation, environmental, 
social, and economic effects of the alternatives. Potential areas of 
impact include: Natural and cultural resources; land use; social and 
economic elements; and, traffic and noise. All effects will be 
evaluated for both the construction period and the long-term period of 
operation. Indirect and cumulative impacts will also be evaluated. 
Measures to avoid, minimize, and mitigate any significant effects will 
be developed.

Scoping

    Agency Coordination: The project sponsors are working with the 
local, state and federal resource agencies to implement regular 
opportunities for coordination during the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) process. This process will comply with SAFETEA-LU section 
6002.
    Tribal Coordination: The formal Tribal government consultation will 
occur through government-to-government collaboration.
    The date and address of the public scoping meeting is given in the 
DATES section above. The WSDOT assures full compliance with Title VI of 
the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by prohibiting discrimination based on 
race, color, national origin and sex in the provision of benefits and 
services. For language interpretation services please contact Chris 
Tams at (360) 759-1310 or 1 (866) 279-0730. For information on the 
WSDOT Title VI Program, please contact the Title VI Coordinator at 
(360) 705-7098.
    To ensure that a full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments 
and suggestions are invited from interested parties. Comments or 
questions concerning this proposal will be accepted at the public 
meeting or may be sent to the Washington State Department of 
Transportation Southwest Region 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: May 7, 2008.
Dean Moberg,
FHW Area Engineer, Olympia.
 [FR Doc. E8-10734 Filed 5-14-08; 8:45 am]
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