[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 10, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1550-1551]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-296]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Erie County, NY

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), United States Department 
of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Rescinded Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: FHWA is issuing this rescinded notice to advise the public 
that FHWA will not be preparing and issuing a Final Environmental 
Impact Statement for the proposed Peace Bridge Expansion Project in the 
city of Buffalo, Erie County, New York and the town of Fort Erie, 
Ontario Canada (NYSDOT Project Identification Number: 5753.58). The 
Peace Bridge Expansion Project (project) is a proposal for operational 
improvements at the Peace Bridge crossing between the United States and 
Canada. A notice of intent to prepare an EIS was published in the 
Federal Register on October 9, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonathan D. McDade, Division 
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, New York Division, Leo 
W. O'Brien Federal Building, Suite 719, 11A Clinton Avenue, Albany, New 
York 12207. Telephone (518) 431-4127, or Farhan F. Haddad, P.E., Deputy 
Director, Major Projects Office, New York State Department of 
Transportation, 50 Wolf Road, Albany, New York 12232. Telephone (518) 
457-7282.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FHWA in cooperation with the New York State 
Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and the Buffalo-Fort Erie Public 
Bridge Authority (PBA) previously intended to prepare an EIS to 
evaluate the impacts and alternatives to constructing a companion 
bridge to the existing structure and to expand the border crossing 
plaza for Federal inspection agencies with reconstruction, relocation, 
and improvements to connecting roadways as well.
    As the project and environmental documentation developed from the 
original scope, significant spatial challenges resulted from the design 
and operational complexities required to meet the defined objectives 
(security requirements and operational improvements). At this time, the 
significantly large footprint and associated impacts that are required 
for an adequate design to meet the objectives of the project has caused 
the cost to escalate beyond the sponsor's ability to secure sufficient 
funding. This determination was reached as a result of the extensive 
analysis and coordination that has been conducted on this project to 
date. Additionally, as a result of the comprehensive environmental 
review and coordination with Federal and state resource agencies, the 
community and resource agency concerns relating to historic impacts, 
relocations, and other environmental impacts were at this time becoming 
increasingly paramount.
    The project has been envisioned for over two decades and engendered 
controversy since its inception. The analysis and consultation which 
FHWA has conducted with the other lead agencies has established that 
the original purpose of improving operations and security at the border 
can be accomplished without a combined bridge and plaza improvements 
project and addressed by a project of more limited scope. The PBA will 
be evaluating a series of plaza operational improvements and minor 
construction projects and will not be seeking Federal funding for such 
work. In light of this information and funding constraints, FHWA has 
determined that the plaza improvements and bridge construction have 
independent utility with logical termini and do not foreclose future 
improvements or projects with respect to either facility. In light of 
this rescinded notice terminating the project, the actions of

[[Page 1551]]

the PBA comport in all respects with Federal law.

(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; 23 CFR 771.123.

    Issued on: January 4, 2012.
Jonathan D. McDade,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Albany, New 
York.
[FR Doc. 2012-296 Filed 1-9-12; 8:45 am]
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