[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 159 (Friday, August 15, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48008-48009]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-18956]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement: Travis County, TX

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to 40 CFR 1508.22 and 43 TAC Sec.  2.5(e)(2), the 
FHWA and Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) are issuing this 
notice to advise the public that a limited-scope supplemental 
environmental impact statement (SEIS) will be prepared for a 
transportation project in Travis County, Texas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Salvador Deocampo, District 
Engineer, District A, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Texas 
Division, 300 East 8th Street, Rm 826, Austin, Texas 78701, Telephone 
512-536-5950.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA in cooperation with TxDOT will 
prepare a limited-scope SEIS for the proposed improvement of U.S. 290 
from Ranch-to-Market Road (RM) 1826 to east of Williamson Creek, in 
Travis County, Texas. The limited scope SEIS will also include 
improvements to SH 71 from

[[Page 48009]]

Silvermine Drive to U.S. 290 in Travis County. The proposed 
improvements were originally considered in a Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS) covering improvements to U.S. 290/SH 71 from RM 1826 
to Farm to Market (FM) 973. A Record of Decision (ROD) was issued by 
FHWA on August 22, 1988. The mid-section of the original project 
limits, between east of Williamson Creek and Riverside Drive, has been 
constructed. Since the issuance of the U.S. 290/SH 71 ROD, the proposed 
design concept for the current project has changed as a result of 
changes in adjacent land use, State and federal listing of the Barton 
Springs salamander as endangered, changes in funding mechanisms to 
include tolling, a proposed shift in the alignment, and public input. 
The original FEIS will be supplemented to evaluate the changes in 
potential impacts from the proposed improvements. The proposed project 
limits of the U.S. 290/SH 71 limited scope SEIS would extend beyond the 
limits of the original FEIS to allow for a transition back to existing 
U.S. 290 west of Scenic Brook Drive and along SH 71 at Silvermine 
Drive. The proposed project limits, including transitional area, cover 
approximately 3.6 miles along U.S. 290 and 1.2 miles along SH 71.
    The project is listed in the Capital Area Metro Planning 
Organization (CAMPO) Mobility 2030 Plan, as amended, (the long-range 
transportation plan) as a six-lane tolled freeway west of Scenic Brook 
to east of Williamson Creek. The proposed action would include 
continuous non-tolled frontage roads with two to three lanes in each 
direction. The need for the proposed project, as stated in the 1988 
FEIS, stems from congestion and low travel speeds caused by rapid 
population growth in the Austin metropolitan area. Crash data have also 
indicated safety concerns as a primary need for this project. 
Additionally, the economic growth of the U.S. 290/SH 71 corridor is 
dependent on the ability of the roadway network to accommodate both 
local trips created by recent nearby development as well as regional 
through traffic. In order to address these needs, the purpose of the 
proposed project is to increase traffic flow capacities and improve 
mobility in the roadway corridor while enhancing safety and system 
interconnectivity, in compliance with the adopted CAMPO Mobility 2030 
Plan.
    The SEIS will evaluate potential impacts from construction and 
operation of the proposed roadway including, but not limited to, the 
following: Transportation impacts (construction detours, construction 
traffic, and mobility improvement), air quality and noise impacts from 
construction equipment and operation of the facilities, water quality 
impacts from construction area and roadway storm water runoff, impacts 
to waters of the United States including wetlands from right-of-way 
encroachment, impacts to historic and archaeological resources, impacts 
to floodplains, and impacts and/or displacements to residents and 
businesses, land use, vegetation, wildlife, aesthetic and visual 
resources, socioeconomic resources, and cumulative and indirect 
impacts.
    Public involvement is a critical component of the project 
development process and will occur throughout the planning and study 
phases. A public scoping meeting is planned, but has not yet been 
scheduled. The purpose of the public scoping meeting is to solicit 
public comments on the proposed action as part of the National 
Environmental Policy Act process. Opportunities for public involvement 
would also exist during public meetings and public review of the draft 
SEIS.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to the appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and 
private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are 
known to have interest in this proposal. To ensure that the full range 
of issues related to this proposed action is addressed and all 
significant issues are identified, comments and suggestions are invited 
from all interested parties. Comments or questions concerning this 
proposed action and the SEIS should be directed to FHWA at the address 
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 August 6, 2008.
Salvador Deocampo,
District Engineer.
[FR Doc. E8-18956 Filed 8-14-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P