[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 127 (Monday, July 2, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 39322]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-16112]



[[Page 39322]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Notice to Rescind the Notice of Intent to Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Kootenai County, ID

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration.

ACTION: Rescind Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that the 
Notice of Intent published on May 27, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 102) to 
prepare an EIS for a proposed highway project in Kootenai County, Idaho 
is being rescinded.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John Perry, Field Operations 
Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 3050 Lakeharbor Lane, Suite 
126, Boise, Idaho 83703, Telephone: (208) 334-9180, or Mr. Michael 
Hartz, Sr. Environmental Planner, Idaho Transportation Department 
District 1, 600 W. Prairie Ave, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83815-8764, 
Telephone: (208) 772-8018.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), 
in cooperation with Idaho Transportation Department (ITD), published a 
Notice of Intent (NOI) on May 27, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 102) to 
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposal to 
improve Interstate 90 (I-90) in Kootenai County, Idaho. The proposed 
improvements involved access and mobility enhancements on I-90 between 
the Spokane Street interchange to the west at approximately milepost 
(MP 4.3) and State Highway (SH) 41 interchange (approximately MP 7.6) 
to the east for a distance of about three (3) miles. The purpose of 
this project was to provide transportation system solutions on the I-90 
corridor, from the Spokane Street Interchange through the SH 41 
Interchange, that would enhance access and cross-freeway mobility, 
improve traffic operations within the corridor, and provide safe and 
efficient movement of people, goods and services, while giving full 
consideration to local roads as primary transportation corridors. This 
project was needed because congestion and safety concerns were rising 
within the project corridor and travel times for local and through 
traffic had been increasing. These conditions arose from increased and 
projected increased regional travel demand due to planned community 
growth, limited local city street connectivity to and across I-90, and 
mobility limitations at existing interchanges. Ten alternatives 
considered included (a) taking no action, (b) applying enhanced 
Transportation Systems and Transportation Demand Management methods on 
existing transportation systems, (c) Transit, and (d) seven 
combinations of actions that included some or all of the following: 
interchange modifications at the Spokane Street Interchange, 
interchange modifications at the SH 41 Interchange, expansion of SH 41 
to six lanes; interchange modifications at the Seltice Way Interchange, 
a new interchange or an I-90 grade separation at Greensferry Road, an 
I-90 grade separation at Syringa Street, applying access management on 
Seltice Way, and auxiliary lanes and/or collector distributor roads on 
I-90 from the Spokane Street Interchange to the SH 41 Interchange.
    A Draft EIS was published, and a Public Hearing was held on Oct, 
29, 2008. A preferred alternative was identified that consisted of a 
combination of several improvements at the SH 41 Interchange, Spokane 
St. Interchange, as well as a new Greensferry Interchange, combined 
with removal of the half interchange at Seltice. Impacts to the social, 
economic, and natural environment were minimal. After receiving minor 
comments during the public review period, work on the Final EIS 
commenced, along with preparation of the Interchange Justification 
Report (IJR). At that point in the project, an update to the regional 
traffic model was released. The updated regional traffic model showed a 
significant drop in the projected traffic volumes and congestion within 
the project corridor that has resulted in the project's purpose and 
need being satisfied with minor safety and congestion improvements 
which may include improvements to existing interchanges and local 
intersections to meet the future needs of the corridor. These safety 
and congestion improvements are not anticipated to result in 
significant impacts on the human or natural environment. The NOI is 
being rescinded due to the significant decrease in the project scope 
and the low potential for significant impacts from the alternatives 
being considered.
    If, at a future time, FHWA determines that the proposed 
improvements are likely to have a significant impact on the 
environment, a new NOI to prepare an EIS will be published.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related are identified, 
comments or questions regarding this action to rescind the NOI are 
invited from all interested parties. These comments or questions should 
be directed to FHWA or ITD at the addresses provided above.

    Authority: 23 CFR 771.123.

     Dated: June 26, 2012.
Peter J. Hartman,
Division Administrator, FHWA Idaho Division.
[FR Doc. 2012-16112 Filed 6-29-12; 8:45 am]
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