[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 20, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49234-49235]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-19247]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Los Angeles County, California

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA, on behalf of the California Department of 
Transportation (Caltrans), is issuing this notice to advise the public 
that a Draft Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared for a 
proposed highway improvement project on Interstate 710 (Ocean Boulevard 
to State Route 60--a distance of approximately 18 miles) in Los Angeles 
County, California.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ronald Kosinski, Deputy District 
Director, Division of Environmental Planning, District 7, 100 South 
Main Street, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA 90012, (213) 897-0703.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Effective July 1, 2007, the Federal Highway 
Administration (FHWA) assigned, and the California Department of 
Transportation (Caltrans) assumed environmental responsibilities for 
this project pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327. Caltrans will prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposal to for constructing 
freeway improvements to Interstate 710 (I-710) from Ocean Boulevard to 
State Route 60 in Los Angeles County, California. The project consists 
of improving I-710 to accommodate a freight movement corridor and/or 
general purpose lanes. Depending on the alternative selected, the 
project may also include modifications to the I-405, State Route 91, I-
105, State Route 60, and I-5 interchanges. A Major Corridor Study (MCS) 
for the project was completed in March 2005. It identified ten general 
purpose lanes next to a separated four-lane freight movement facility 
as the Locally Preferred Strategy (LPS).
    The purpose of the proposed project is to (1) Improve air quality 
and public health, (2) improve traffic safety, (3) address design 
deficiencies, (4) address projected traffic volumes, (5) address 
projected growth in population, employment, and economic activities 
related to goods movement.
    Alternatives under consideration include:
     No Build.
     Transportation Systems Management/Transportation Demand 
Management (TSM/TDM) and Transit--may include up to eight new ramp 
meters, improved signage, parking

[[Page 49235]]

restrictions on major arterials, empty container management through 
policies and incentives, implementation of truck emission/safety 
enforcement facilities, expanded public transportation, and an expanded 
Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) to include entire study area.
     Alternative Goods Movement Technology.
     Arterial Highway and I-710 Congestion Relief Improvements.
     I-710 Mainline Improvements.
    [cir] Option A--10 general-purpose lanes with no carpool lanes.
    [cir] Option B--eight general-purpose lanes with one carpool lane 
in each direction (total of 10).
     Locally Preferred Strategy Hybrid Design (I-710 Mainline 
Improvements with the addition of a separated four lane freight 
movement facility)--Includes ten general purpose lanes next to a 
separated four lane freight movement facility from the Ports of Los 
Angeles and Long Beach (Ocean Boulevard) to the UP and BNSF intermodal 
yards southeast of the I-710/I-5 interchange. This alternative is a 
community-based recommendation from the previous I-710 Major Corridor 
Study: Major Opportunity /Strategy Recommendations and Conditions.
    These basic alternatives will have additional design variations, 
which provide optional lane use (general purpose, High Occupancy 
Vehicle, Transportation Systems Management), optional on and off ramp 
modifications, and other engineering details. These alternatives may be 
refined, combined with various different alternatives, or be removed 
from further consideration, as more analysis is conducted on the 
project alternatives.
    Analysis supporting the EIS will determine the type of facility 
necessary to meet the existing and future transportation needs in the 
corridor.
    The following permits may be required to construct the proposed 
project:
     U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 404 permit.
     Section 401 Water Quality Certification from the 
California Regional Water Quality Control Board.
     1602 Streambed Alteration Agreement from the California 
Department of Fish and Game.
     Incidental take permit from the United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service (USFWS).
     Incidental take permit from the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries.
     State Coastal Development Permit.
     Federal Coastal Zone Management Act Consistency 
Determination.
     Encroachment permits from the various cities in which 
project construction would occur.
    Caltrans is holding public scoping meetings to provide an overview 
of the project, summary of the environmental process and issues 
addressed, and receive input regarding environmental issues and the 
suggested scope and content of the EIR. An Agency Scoping Meeting will 
be held on September 10, 2008 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., followed by a 
Public Scoping Meeting from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Progress Park in 
the City of Paramount. Two additional Public Scoping Meetings will be 
held on September 9, 2008 at Rowen Elementary School in East L.A. and 
September 11, 2008 at Cabrillo High School in Long Beach from 6:30 to 
8:30 p.m.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, Participating Agencies, tribal 
governments and local agencies, and to private organizations and 
citizens who have previously expressed or are known to have interest in 
this proposal. It is anticipated that the Draft EIS will be available 
for public and agency review and comment in mid-2010. Public meetings 
will be held in study area communities in the summer of 2010. In 
addition, public hearings will be held. Public notice will be given for 
the time and place of the public meetings and hearings. The EIS will be 
available for public and agency review and comment prior to the public 
hearing.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action is addressed and all significant concerns are identified, 
comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. 
Comments or questions about this proposed action and the EIS should be 
directed to Caltrans 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.)

Nancy E. Bobb,
Director, State Programs, Federal Highway Administration, Sacramento, 
California.
[FR Doc. E8-19247 Filed 8-19-08; 8:45 am]
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