[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 131 (Monday, July 9, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 40406]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-16640]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Cancellation of Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement 
(SEIS); Travis County, TX

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Cancellation of Notice of Intent to Prepare a SEIS.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Texas Department 
of Transportation (TxDOT) are issuing this notice to advise the public 
that the Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a Supplemental Environmental 
Impact Statement (SEIS) for proposed improvements to U.S. Highway 290 
(US 290)/State Highway (SH) 71 West through Oak Hill, in Travis County, 
Texas, is being rescinded.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Salvador Deocampo, District 
Engineer, District A, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Texas 
Division, 300 East 8th Street, Rm 826, Austin, Texas 78701, Telephone 
512-536-5950.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 15, 2008, TxDOT, in cooperation 
with the FHWA, announced its intent to prepare a limited-scope SEIS 
pursuant to 40 CFR 1508.22 and 43 TAC Sec. 2.5(e)(2) for proposed 
improvement of US 290/SH 71 West through Oak Hill, in Travis County, 
Texas. The improvements proposed between Ranch-to-Market Road (RM) 1826 
and Joe Tanner Lane were originally considered in a Final Environmental 
Impact Statement (FEIS) covering improvements to SH 71/US 290 from 
Ranch-to-Market Road (RM) 1826 to FM 973. A Record of Decision (ROD) 
was issued by FHWA on August 22, 1988. The mid-section of the original 
project limits, between Joe Tanner Lane and Riverside Drive, has been 
constructed. The limited-scope SEIS would have evaluated potential 
impacts resulting from changes in funding mechanisms, changes in 
adjacent land use, State and Federal listing of the Barton Springs 
salamander as endangered, public input, and proposed design 
modifications since the issuance of the SH 71/US 290 ROD along the 
unconstructed western portion of the original FEIS, between RM 1826 and 
Joe Tanner Lane.
    TxDOT and FHWA have decided to rescind the NOI to prepare a SEIS 
for US 290/SH 71 West through Oak Hill from RM 1826 to Joe Tanner Lane. 
The project was placed on hold in 2008 due to the limited availability 
of funds and local planning priorities. The SEIS was in the preliminary 
stages of development. Recently, the FHWA has determined that a SEIS 
would no longer be applicable to the project and a full environmental 
impact statement (EIS) would be required to evaluate potential impacts. 
Therefore, the decision to rescind the NOI was due to limited 
availability of funds, local planning priorities and the determination 
that an EIS would be required.

    Issued on: June 25, 2012.
Salvador Deocampo,
District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 2012-16640 Filed 7-6-12; 8:45 am]
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