[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 120 (Friday, June 21, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 37652]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14563]



[[Page 37652]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Kenosha, Racine, Milwaukee, 
Waukesha, Washington, Dodge, Fond Du Lac, Winnebago, Outagamie and 
Brown Counties, Wisconsin

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of 
Transportation.

ACTION: Revised Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this revised notice to advise the public 
that FHWA and Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) will not 
prepare a Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed 
Interstate conversion of U.S. Highway 41 in Milwaukee, Waukesha, 
Washington, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Winnebago, Outagamie, and Brown 
Counties, Wisconsin. A Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS was published 
in the Federal Register on July 26, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tracey Blankenship, Major Projects 
Program Manager, Federal Highway Administration, 525 Junction Road, 
Suite 8000, Madison, WI 53717; Telephone: (608) 829-7500. You may also 
contact Tammy Rabe, Wisconsin Department of Transportation, 944 
Vanderperren Way, Green Bay, WI 54324; Telephone: 920-492-5661.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with WisDOT, will 
not prepare an EIS as previously intended on a proposal to convert U.S. 
Highway 41 to an Interstate in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington, Dodge, 
Fond du Lac, Winnebago, Outagamie, and Brown Counties, Wisconsin. Under 
Sections 1304(b) and (c) of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, 
Transportation Equity Act--A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) the 142-mile 
U.S. Highway 41 corridor between Milwaukee and Green Bay was designated 
as a High Priority Corridor on the National Highway System and as a 
future part of the Interstate System.
    FHWA and WisDOT selected a tiered EIS as the project's document 
type because of uncertainty about the project's level of controversy 
and potentially significant impacts caused by the Interstate's more 
restrictive oversize and overweight regulations, more restrictive off-
property outdoor advertising regulations, the change in route number, 
and potential future improvements required to bring U.S. Highway 41 to 
Interstate standards. Input received from participating agencies, 
cooperating agencies, the public, the business community, trucking 
industry and outdoor advertising industry, throughout the project as 
well as at 6 public information meetings held in May 2012, has shown 
support for the project and a lack of controversy. Impacts of 
installing Interstate signs and future improvements related to the 
Interstate conversion were analyzed to determine impacts on 
socioeconomic and natural resources as well as the trucking and outdoor 
advertising industries. As a result of this analysis, FHWA and WisDOT 
determined that Interstate conversion meets the definition of a 
categorical exclusion as described in 23 CFR 771.117 and 40 CFR 1508.4, 
and based on past experience with similar actions, does not have 
significant environmental impacts. FHWA and WisDOT will complete an 
Environmental Report to document environmental analyses, impacts of the 
proposed project, and the detailed basis for the determination that the 
project meets the definition of a categorical exclusion. At a February 
2013 meeting, Participating and Cooperating Agencies, including USEPA, 
Wisconsin DNR, and USACE, concurred with FHWA's and WisDOT's proposal. 
FHWA and WisDOT will continue agency coordination and public 
involvement activities with the change in document type.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing 
Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on 
Federal programs and activities apply to this program.)

Electronic Access

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded from the 
Government Printing Office's Electronic Bulletin Board Service at (202) 
512-1661 by using a computer modem and suitable communications 
software. Internet users may reach the Office of Federal Register's 
home page at: http://www.archives.gov/ and the Government Printing 
Office's database at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.

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

    Issued on: June 13, 2013.
George R. Poirier,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Madison, 
Wisconsin.
[FR Doc. 2013-14563 Filed 6-20-13; 8:45 am]
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