[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 205 (Monday, October 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65775-65776]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27359]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Harris County, Texas

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI).

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to 40 CFR 1508.22 and 43 TAC Sec.  2.5(e)(2), the 
FHWA and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) are issuing 
this notice to advise the public that an environmental impact statement 
(EIS) will be prepared for the proposed North Houston Highway 
Improvement Project, in Harris County, Texas. The proposed project and 
study limits begin at interchange of United States Highway (US) 59 and 
State Highway (SH) 288 and follow northward along IH 45 to the 
interchange of IH 45 and Beltway 8 North, a distance of approximately 
16 miles. The proposed project area also includes portions of IH 10, IH 
610, US 59, SH 288 near the downtown area, and the Hardy Toll Road 
located north of downtown Houston. The proposed project will be 
developed in compliance with Section 6002 of the Safe, Accountable, 
Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users 
(SAFETEA-LU) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregory Punske, P.E., District 
Engineer, Federal Highway Administration--Texas Division, 300 East 8th 
Street, Room 826, Austin, Texas 78701. Telephone: 512-536-5960.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The North-Hardy Planning Studies: 
Alternative Analysis Report (Highway Component) was completed in 
November 2005. The report evaluated the alternatives for transportation 
improvements within the study corridor and recommended a locally 
preferred alternative to meet the corridor's highway transportation 
needs, while minimizing impacts to the surrounding environment.
    Projected increases in population and employment in the Houston 
metropolitan area will contribute to additional IH 45 congestion, which 
is already serious to severe. The proposed project is needed to address 
the serious to severe congestion and to accommodate existing and 
anticipated future traffic. Additionally the project is needed to bring 
the roadway up to current design standards, which would improve safety 
and provide for more efficient movement of people and goods. Additional 
efficiency is also needed to aid in evacuation events. The purpose of 
the proposed project is to manage the traffic congestion in the IH 45 
corridor, improve mobility, provide expanded transit and carpool 
opportunities, bring the roadway facility up to current design 
standards to improve safety and operations, and expand capacity for 
emergency evacuations.
    The EIS will evaluate potential impacts from construction as well 
as routine operations of the proposed project, including, but not 
limited to the following: Impacts or potential displacements to 
residents and businesses; impacts to air and noise; impacts to water 
quality; impacts to waters of the United States; impacts to historic 
and archeological resources; impacts to hazardous materials; impacts to 
floodplains; impacts to socio-economic resources (including 
environmental justice and limited English proficiency populations); 
indirect impacts; cumulative impacts; impacts to land use; impacts to 
vegetation; and impacts to wildlife.
    A Project Coordination Plan will be provided in accordance with 
Public Law 109-59, Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient 
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), Title VI, 
Subsection 6002, Efficient Environmental Reviews for Project Decision 
Making, August 10, 2005, to facilitate and document the lead agencies, 
structure interaction with the public and other agencies, and to inform 
the public and other agencies of how the coordination will be 
accomplished. The Project Coordination Plan will promote early and 
continuous involvement from stakeholders, agencies, and the public as 
well as describe the proposed project, the roles of the agencies and 
the public, the project need and purpose, schedule, level of detail for 
alternatives analysis, methods to be used in the environmental 
analysis, and the proposed process for coordination and communication.
    The Project Coordination Plan is designed to be part of a flexible 
and adaptable process. The Project Coordination Plan will be available 
for public review, input, and comment at public meetings, including 
scoping meetings and hearings, held in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) through the evaluation process. 
Pursuant to 23 U.S.C. Chapter 1, Subchapter 1, Section 139 of SAFETEA-
LU, cooperating agencies, participating agencies and the public will be 
given an opportunity for input in the development of the project. The 
first of a series of public scoping meetings, conducted in an open 
house format, is planned to be held in the fall of 2011. As part of the 
NEPA process, this meeting will be the first in a series of meetings to 
solicit public comments throughout the planning process.
    A scoping meeting is an opportunity for participating agencies, 
cooperating agencies and the public to be involved

[[Page 65776]]

in defining the need for and purpose of the proposed project, to assist 
in determining the range of alternatives considered in the draft EIS, 
and to comment on methods to evaluate alternatives. Public scoping 
meetings and a public hearing will be held during appropriate phases of 
the project development process. Public notices will be published in 
general circulation newspapers in the project area at least 30 days 
prior to the meeting, and again approximately 10 days prior to the 
meeting. The notices will be published in English and Spanish stating 
the date, time, and location of each. The Draft EIS will be available 
for public and agency review and comment prior to a 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 FHWA at the address provided.

(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: October 13, 2011.
Gregory S. Punske,
District Engineer, Austin, Texas.
[FR Doc. 2011-27359 Filed 10-21-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P