[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 48 (Monday, March 12, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14586-14587]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-5865]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement; Kittitas County, WA

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a 
limited scope supplemental environmental impact statement (EIS) will be 
prepared for a proposed design change to an interstate highway 
improvement project in western Kittitas County, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Liana Liu, Area Engineer, South 
Central Region, Federal Highway Administration, 711 South Capital Way, 
Suite 501, Olympia, WA 98501-0943, telephone: (360) 753-9553; or Jason 
Smith, Environmental Manager, South Central Region, Washington State 
Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 12560, Yakima, WA 98909, 
telephone: (509) 577-1750.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FHWA, in cooperation with the Washington 
State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), prepared a Draft EIS (FHWA-
WA-EIS-05-01-D approved May 23, 2005) and Final EIS (FHWA-WA-EIS-05-01-
F approved July 31, 2008) for proposed improvements to a 15 mile 
portion of Interstate 90 (I-90) immediately east of Snoqualmie Pass in 
the Cascade Mountains, from Hyak at Milepost 55.1 (MP 55.1) to Easton 
Hill at MP 70.3. Consistent with National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) regulations, the Forest Service (Department of Agriculture) and 
Bureau of Reclamation (Department of Interior) were cooperating 
agencies in preparing the EISs. Following the Record of Decision by 
FHWA and the cooperating agencies, WSDOT designed a series of 
construction projects which start at Hyak and proceed eastward.
    The contractor selected to construct the portion of the project 
from MP 57.34 to MP 60.23 along Keechelus Lake proposes a design change 
that meets the purpose and need for the highway improvements while 
reducing maintenance and operation costs. FHWA and WSDOT re-evaluated 
the NEPA analysis and documents for the I-90 improvements and 
determined that a Supplemental EIS (SEIS) is needed for this proposed 
change. The cooperating

[[Page 14587]]

agencies concurred with this conclusion, and they will cooperate in 
preparing the SEIS.
    The scope of the SEIS is limited to the social, economic, and 
environmental effects of constructing and operating a bridge instead of 
a snowshed at MP 58.15 to meet avalanche protection and control needs 
in an area where I-90 currently experiences road closures in winter for 
avalanche control. Since issues and concerns related to the I-90 
improvements are well known from the extensive public involvement 
previously conducted as part of the original Draft and Final EIS, 
formal scoping will not be conducted.
    The proposed design change and associated SEIS will be incorporated 
into the ongoing series of communications and meetings that keep 
agencies, tribes, organizations, and individuals informed on the I-90 
improvements. Written and verbal comments on the Draft SEIS will be 
taken by mail, on the project Web site, and at hearings. Public notice 
will be given on the time and place of the future open houses.
    Questions concerning this proposed design change and the SEIS 
should be directed to both Liana Liu (FHWA) and Jason Smith (WSDOT) at 
the addresses or phone numbers provided above.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 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: March 6, 2012.
Daniel Mathis,
Division Administrator, Olympia, Washington.
[FR Doc. 2012-5865 Filed 3-9-12; 8:45 am]
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