[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 168 (Tuesday, September 1, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45275-45276]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-21040]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Orange County, CA

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

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 (EIS) will be prepared for 
a proposed highway project in Orange County, California.

DATES: The public scoping meetings will be held on the following dates:
    (1) Tuesday, September 22, 2009, 6 PM-8 PM, Fountain Valley.
    (2) Wednesday, September 23, 2009, 6 PM-8 PM, Huntington Beach.
    (3) Wednesday, September 30, 2009, 6 PM-8 PM, Westminster.
    (4) Thursday, October 01, 2009, 6 PM-8 PM, Rossmoor.
The final day to submit comments is October 8, 2009.

ADDRESSES: The four public scoping meetings will be held at the 
following locations.
    (1) Fountain Valley Senior and Community Center, 17967 Bushard St., 
Fountain Valley, CA 92708.
    (2) Huntington Beach Library, 7111 Talbert Avenue, Huntington 
Beach, CA 92648.
    (3) Westminster Community Center--A/B Room, 8200 Westminster 
Avenue, Westminster, CA 92683.
    (4) Rush Park Auditorium, 3021 Blume Drive, Rossmoor, CA 90720.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Smita Deshpande, Branch Chief, 
Caltrans-District 12, ``Attn: 405 Scoping,'' 2201 Dupont Drive, Suite 
200, Irvine, CA 92612; Tel: 949.724.2000. 
[email protected].

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, as the delegated 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) agency, in cooperation with 
the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), will prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposal for a highway 
improvement project in Orange County, California. The proposed project 
covers approximately 14 miles and is located between State Route (SR) 
73 and Interstate 605 (I-605) on Interstate 405 (I-405). The purpose of 
the project, as currently defined, is to increase capacity, improve 
traffic and interchange operations, and enhance safety on I-405 between 
SR-73 and I-605. Currently, the following alternatives are being 
considered:
     Baseline/No Build Alternative; taking no action.

[[Page 45276]]

     Build Alternative 1; adding one general purpose lane in 
each direction.
     Build Alternative 2; adding two general purpose lanes in 
each direction.
     Build Alternative 3; adding one toll lane to the existing 
carpool lane in each direction that will be managed together (Federal 
Highway Administration tolling authority required); also adding one 
general purpose lane in each direction north of Euclid Street to I-605.
     Build Alternative 4; on I-405 from Euclid Street to I-605, 
providing additional general purpose lane at various locations and 
improving various interchanges.
     Transportation Systems Management (TSM)/Transportation 
Demand Management (TDM)/Mass Transit Alternative; making only low-cost 
operational improvements, rather than major capital projects, to 
maximize the efficiency of the present highway system and expand 
travelers' transportation choices.

Based on a Preliminary Environmental Analysis Report (PEAR) for the I-
405 Improvement Project, it is anticipated that the project may require 
the following Federal permits: Section 404 Permit for filling/dredging 
waters of the United States and Section 401 Water Quality 
Certification. The environmental document will analyze factors that 
include, but are not limited to, the following: Aesthetics, cultural 
resources, biological resources, hazardous wastes and materials, public 
services and facilities, water quality, floodplain, noise, air quality, 
recreation, community impacts, and transportation/traffic. Some of 
these alternatives may have impacts on the above mentioned resources, 
as well as on water quality, cultural resources, parks/recreation 
facilities, and community character and cohesion; the environmental 
documentation process will assess for potential impacts and suggest 
ways to reduce or mitigate them.
    This document is available at http://www.octa.net/405improvement 
and http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist12/405/index.htm.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, Participating Agencies, various 
Tribal governments, and local agencies, and to private organizations 
and citizens who have previously expressed or are known to have 
interest in this proposal. The environmental review process will begin 
in Fall 2009. Public scoping meetings will be held in Fountain Valley, 
Huntington Beach, Westminster, and Rossmoor, California, on September 
22, 23, 30, and October 01, respectively. In addition, a public hearing 
will be held. Public notice will be given of the time and place of the 
meeting and hearing. The draft 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 are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments, 
and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or 
questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS should be 
directed to Ms. Deshpande at Caltrans at the address provided above.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations 
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental 
consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this 
program.)

    Issued on: August 26, 2009.
Cindy Vigue,
Director, State Programs, Federal Highway Administration, Sacramento, 
California.
[FR Doc. E9-21040 Filed 8-31-09; 8:45 am]
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