[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 87 (Monday, May 6, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26416-26417]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-10660]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: City of Buffalo, Erie County, New 
York

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 an 
environmental impact statement will be prepared for a proposed highway 
project in the City of Buffalo, Erie County, New York.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonathan D. McDade, Division 
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, New York Division, Leo 
O'Brien Federal Building, 11A Clinton Avenue, Suite 719, Albany New 
York 12207, Telephone: (518) 431-4127.

Or

    Darrell F. Kaminski, Regional Director, NYSDOT Region 5; 100 Seneca 
Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, Telephone (716) 847-3238.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the New York 
State Department of Transportation, will prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) on a proposal to provide improved access to and from 
the US Border Port of Entry/Peace Bridge Plaza (Plaza), in the City of 
Buffalo, Erie County, New York. The primary need of the project is to 
address the limited direct access between the Plaza and Interstate 190. 
Existing direct access is limited and requires regional and 
international traffic to use the local street system. This limited 
access adds additional commercial traffic to the local streets which 
were originally designed to only meet the needs of local traffic. The 
purpose of the Project is to reduce the use of the local streets by 
interstate traffic and provide access to the existing Plaza at its 
current location. The primary objectives of the project are to address 
the need for direct access from the Plaza to the northbound lanes of 
Interstate 190, to redirect through traffic from Front Park, and to 
remove Baird Drive. Alternatives under consideration include: (1) The 
no-build alternative; and (2) an alternative to construct a new ramp 
from the Plaza to the northbound lanes of Interstate 190, to remove 
Baird Drive, and to provide alternate access from Porter Avenue to the 
Plaza.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to the appropriate Cooperating and

[[Page 26417]]

Participating Agencies and to private organizations and citizens that 
have expressed an interest in this action. Public and agency outreach 
will consist of: (1) A formal public Scoping meeting to be held Buffalo 
NY in June 2013, (2) a public hearing, (3) meetings with the applicable 
Cooperating and Participating Agencies, (4) a meeting with the Section 
106 Consulting Parties including federally recognized Indian tribes. 
Public notice will be given of the date, time and place of the meetings 
and hearing. The draft EIS will be available for public and agency 
review and comment prior to the public hearing.
    To ensure that a full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed and all significant issues are identified, 
comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. 
Comments or questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS 
should be directed to the FHWA or NYSDOT at the addresses provided 
above.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 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: April 30, 2013.
Jonathan D. McDade,
Division Administrator, New York Division, Federal Highway 
Administration, Albany, NY.
[FR Doc. 2013-10660 Filed 5-3-13; 8:45 am]
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