[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 103 (Monday, June 1, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26271-26272]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-12639]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Polk County, IA

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT, Polk County.

SUMMARY: The FHWA and Iowa DOT are issuing this notice to advise the 
public a tiered EIS will be prepared for a proposed roadway project in 
Polk County, Iowa. This is a change from a standard EIS to a tiered 
EIS. The Notice of Intent for the original EIS was published on July 
21, 2005. The planned tiered EIS will evaluate potential transportation 
improvement alternatives for serving northeast Des Moines and its 
neighboring communities between I-80/US65 west of Altoona to US69/NE 
126 Avenue north of Ankeny.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael La Pietra, Environment and 
Realty Manager, FHWA Iowa Division Office, 105 Sixth Street, Ames, IA 
50010, Phone 515-233-7302; or James P. Rost, Director, Office of 
Location and Environment, Iowa Department of Transportation, 800 
Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50010, Phone 515-239-1798.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    An electronic copy of this document is available for free download 
from the Federal Bulletin Board (FBB). The FBB is a free electronic 
bulletin board service of the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. 
Government Printing Office (GPO).
    The FBB may be accessed in four ways: (1) Via telephone in dial-up 
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    For Internet access a user needs Internet connectivity. Users can 
telnet or FTP to: http://fedbbs.access.gpo.gov">fedbbs.access.gpo.gov. Users can access the FBB via 
the World Wide Web at http://fedbbs.access.gpo.gov.
    User assistance for the FBB is available from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m., 
Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except federal holidays) by 
calling the GPO Office of Electronic Information Dissemination Services 
at 202-512-1530, toll-free at 888-293-6498; sending an e-mail to 
[email protected]; or sending a fax to 202-512-1262.
    Access to this notice is also available to Internet users through 
the Federal Register's home page at http://www.nara.gov/fedreg.

Background

    The FHWA, in coordination with the Iowa Department of 
Transportation and Polk County will prepare a Tiered EIS for the 
proposed Northeast Beltway study. The proposed project would include 
roadway improvements to provide a high-speed connection from I-80 near 
Altoona to U.S. 69 north of Ankeny.
    The purpose of the Northeast Polk County Beltway is to prepare for 
increased travel demand in and around Ankeny and its neighboring 
communities. Traffic congestion on I-35 between Des Moines and Ankeny 
would be alleviated, and traffic would be reduced on the Northeast 
systems interchange (35/80/235).
    Alternatives under consideration include: (1) Taking no action; (2) 
widening existing roadways; and (3) constructing a roadway in a new 
location. The build alternative will include consideration of various 
alignments and grades.
    The Northeast Beltway will be reclassified from an EIS to a tiered 
EIS. A tiered EIS is more appropriate for the Northeast Beltway project 
due to funding constraints and construction scheduling. Decisions made 
in the first tier document will include build or no build, project 
corridor, and logical termini for project segmentation. A specific 
alignment within the corridor would be identified in the Tier Two 
documents.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and to 
private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are 
known to have interest in this proposal. A series of public meetings 
will be held in 2009 and 2010. In addition, a public hearing will be

[[Page 26272]]

held upon completion of the draft EIS. Public notice will be given of 
the time and place of the public meetings and public hearing. The draft 
EIS will be available for public and agency review and comment prior to 
the public hearing.
    Another public information meeting will be held to identify 
significant issues to be addressed in the tiered environmental impact 
statement. The date and location of the meeting have not yet been 
determined but will be advertised in various local media.
    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 parties. 
Comments or questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS 
should be directed to the FHWA or Iowa Department of Transportation at 
the address provided in the caption FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

(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.)

(Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 49 CFR 1.48)

    Dated: May 26, 2009.
Lubin M. Quinones,
Division Administrator, FHWA, Iowa Division.
 [FR Doc. E9-12639 Filed 5-29-09; 8:45 am]
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