[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 9, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27272-27273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-11145]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Hamilton and Clermont Counties, 
OH

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a 
Tier 2 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for 
proposed highway and light rail improvements in the SR 32 corridor 
between US 50 and IR 275 in Hamilton and Clermont Counties, Ohio.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark L. Vonder Embse, Major Projects 
Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 200 North High Street, Room 
328, Columbus, Ohio 43215, Telephone: (614) 280-6854.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Ohio 
Department of Transportation (ODOT), will prepare a Tier 2 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for proposed improvements to SR 32 
from US 50 in Hamilton County east to IR 275 in Clermont County. The 
broader study area in the Tier 1 documentation was referred to as the 
Eastern Corridor. This notice applies only to the project identified as 
Segments II-III of the proposed new highway and Segment 3 of the 
proposed Oasis Rail Line which would share the right-of-way with 
relocated SR-32.
    Tier 1 of the Eastern Corridor evaluated transportation needs and 
focused on broad issues such as mode choice, general location, 
preliminary costs, benefits and impacts within a study area extending 
from downtown Cincinnati to western Clermont County. The analysis and 
input was summarized in a Tier 1 Final Environmental Impact Statement 
(FEIS) (FHWA-OH-EIS-04-02-F) dated September 30, 2005. A Tier 1 Record 
of Decision issued on June 2, 2006 identified feasible multi-modal 
components to be advanced by mode and segment into Tier 2 NEPA 
analyses, including a new rail transit corridor composed of four 
implementation segments, improved bus transit, various local network 
improvements, and a new highway capacity corridor composed of five 
implementation segments. In the interim, new information came to light 
regarding the archaeological resources present in connection with the 
Hahn Archaeological District. The discovery of this information 
prompted a re-evaluation of the Tier 1 ROD to determine if the decision 
contained there-in remained valid and if a Supplemental EIS should be 
prepared prior to moving into a Tier 2 EIS. On February 9, 2012 FHWA 
recommended advancing the project into a Tier 2 EIS as the appropriate 
level of study and analysis to determine the significance of impacts to 
archaeological sites. This Tier 2 EIS for the proposed Segments II-III 
SR 32 project and proposed Oasis Rail Line Segment 3 will involve more 
detailed engineering and environmental studies to address project-
specific impacts, costs and mitigation measures, and will follow a 
framework for integrating land use, economic development, and 
environmental stewardship established during Tier 1.
    The purpose and need for highway capacity improvements as 
established in Tier 1 is to reduce congestion, improve safety and 
efficiency, provide operational capacity for bus transit, accommodate 
bike and pedestrian ways, and support economic development and 
community revitalization consistent with the regional land use vision 
plan. The purpose and need for rail transit investments is to provide a 
regional transportation alternative to driving, increase mobility for 
non-drivers, support an expanded bus network, establish stations that 
effectively link to bus, bike, pedestrian, and roadway systems, connect 
downtown Cincinnati with outlying areas of population and employment, 
support neighborhood development and revitalization consistent with the 
land use vision plan, and reduce demand for new highway capacity while 
providing a way to meet the future travel demand. Proposed improvements 
identified during Tier 1 involve: relocation of SR 32, a new 
interchange at US 50/Red Bank Road/SR 32, and planning for 
(coordination with) associated Eastern Corridor multi-modal 
improvements, including the proposed Oasis rail transit (a portion of 
which parallels the Segment II-III corridor), a

[[Page 27273]]

multi-modal clear-span crossing of the Little Miami River (including 
roadway, rail transit and bikeway) and multi-modal transit hubs at US 
50 and Newtown Road. Total length is about six miles. Alternatives to 
be further evaluated in Tier 2 include (1) taking no action; (2) 
various interchange configuration options for US 50/Red Bank Road/SR 
32; and (3) several alternatives and combinations of alternatives 
through the Little Miami River floodplain and Newtown.
    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 previously expressed or are known to 
have an interest in the project. Public meetings and a public hearing 
will be held in the project area. Public notice will be given of the 
time and place of the meetings and hearing. A draft of the Tier 2 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 is identified and addressed, comments and suggestions are 
invited from all interested parties. Comments and questions concerning 
the proposed action should be directed to the FHWA at the address 
provided above.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number and Title: FHWA 20.205 
Highway Planning and Construction (A, B)


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

    Issued on: April 30, 2012.
Laura S. Leffler,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Columbus, Ohio.
[FR Doc. 2012-11145 Filed 5-8-12; 8:45 am]
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