[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 11, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70247-70248]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-24480]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
a Proposed Highway Project in Los Angeles County, California

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA, on behalf of the California Department of 
Transportation (Caltrans), is issuing this notice to advise the public 
that a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for 
proposed highway improvements on Interstate 605 (I-605) and State Route 
60 (SR-60). The limits of the Interstate 605 (I-605) and State Route 60 
(SR-60) Improvement Project (Project) will traverse the cities of 
Baldwin Park, El Monte, City of Industry, Pico Rivera, South El Monte, 
Whittier, and unincorporated Los Angeles County. Improvements on I-605 
are proposed from south of Slauson Avenue to the I-605/Interstate 10 
(I-10) Interchange, and improvements on SR-60 are proposed from Santa 
Anita Avenue to east of Turnbull Canyon Road. A Project Study Report-
Project Development Study (PSR-PDS) for the Project was approved in 
December 2015 (not attached).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ronald Kosinski, Deputy District 
Director, Division of Environmental Planning, District 7, 100 South 
Main Street, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA 90012, (213) 897-0703.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Effective July 1, 2007, the FHWA assigned, 
and Caltrans assumed, environmental responsibilities for this Project 
pursuant to 23 United States Code (U.S.C.) 327.
    Caltrans will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for 
the proposed Project. The purpose of the Project is to reduce 
congestion, improve freeway operations, improve and enhance safety, and 
improve local and system interchange operations. The Project proposes 
widening along southbound and northbound I-605 and the addition of one 
mixed flow lane (a standard freeway lane where vehicles with any number 
of occupants can drive anytime) along westbound SR-60 within the 
Project limits. The Project will also include the addition of auxiliary 
lanes, where necessary (lanes used to separate entering, exiting, or 
weaving traffic from through traffic). Improvements to local streets 
and interchanges would be required as part of the Project. Interchanges 
that would be affected include the I-605/Slauson Avenue Interchange, I-
605/Washington Boulevard Interchange, I-605/Whittier Boulevard 
Interchange, I-605/Beverly Boulevard Interchange, I-605/Rose Hills Road 
Interchange, I-605/Peck Road Interchange, I-605/SR 60 Interchange, I-
605/Valley Boulevard Interchange, and SR 60/Peck Road Interchange.
    The following five Project alternatives are under consideration.

Alternative 1: No Build Alternative

    In this alternative, there would be no reconstruction or 
improvements to I-605 or SR-60. I-605 within the Project limits would 
continue to have four mixed flow lanes that are 11-feet wide, with 2-
foot-wide median shoulders, plus one high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane 
and a 1-foot-wide HOV buffer.

Alternative 2: Standard Alternative (Lane/Shoulder Widths)

    Alternative 2 would meet Caltrans' Highway Design Manual standards 
for travel lanes and shoulders. This alternative includes adding one 
mixed flow lane on southbound and northbound I-605 and widening all 
lanes to 12 feet, for a total of five, 12-foot-wide mixed flow lanes. 
The 2-foot-wide median shoulders would be widened to 10 feet, and the 
1-foot-wide HOV buffer would be widened to four feet. One 12-foot-wide 
mixed flow lane would also be added on westbound SR-60. Right-of-Way 
(ROW) acquisitions would be required to accommodate the proposed 
improvements and to meet Caltrans' Highway Design Manual standards.

Alternative 3: Reduced Standard Alternative (Lane/Shoulder Widths)

    Alternative 3 includes many of the design elements identified in 
Alternative 2; however, this alternative includes features that do not 
meet Caltrans' Highway Design Manual standards to reduce ROW 
acquisitions. On I-605, only two of the five mixed flow lanes would be 
12-feet wide, as the remaining three lanes would be 11-feet wide. The 
2-foot-wide median shoulders would be widened to 10 feet, and the 1-
foot-wide HOV buffer would be widened to two feet.

Alternative 4: Hybrid Alternative

    Alternative 4 includes many of the same design elements identified 
in Alternative 2; however, this alternative includes features that do 
not meet Caltrans' Highway Design Manual standards to reduce ROW 
acquisitions. Like Alternative 2, this alternative includes five mixed 
flow lanes on I-605, but only one mixed flow lane would be 12-feet 
wide, which is added to the outside travel lane. The remaining portion 
of the highway, consisting of the four 11-foot-wide mixed flow lanes, 
the 2-foot-wide median shoulders, and 1-foot-wide HOV buffer, would not 
be improved as part of this alternative.

Alternative 5: Transportation Systems Management/Transportation Demand 
Management (TSM/TDM)

    The TSM/TDM Alternative would add transportation system and demand 
management techniques to existing features within the Project limits. 
Improvements that may be included as part of this alternative are 
additional ramp metering, improved signal timing, increased transit 
service, improved signage, development of rideshare/carpool programs, 
and installation of intelligent transportation systems.
    Build Alternatives 2 through 4 may include may include additional 
design variations, which provide optional lane use (general purpose, 
HOV), optional on and off ramp modifications, and other operational 
improvements. Build

[[Page 70248]]

alternatives proposed may be refined or be removed from further 
consideration, as engineering and environmental analysis is conducted 
for the Project.
    Analysis supporting the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will 
determine the improvements necessary to meet the existing and future 
transportation needs in the corridor.
    The following permits/approvals may be required to construct the 
Project:

 33 U.S.C. 408 Section 408 Permit (United States (U.S.) Army 
Corps of Engineers)
 Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 Permit (U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers)
 Section 1602 Agreement (California Department of Fish and 
Wildlife)
 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit
 Caltrans Statewide Permit and Construction General Permit
 CWA Section 401 Water Quality Certification and/or Waste 
Discharge Requirement (WDR) (Regional Water Quality Control Board)
 South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rules 
403, 1403, and 1166
 Clean Air Act, Transportation Conformity Determination (FHWA; 
Caltrans)
 Section 106 Compliance with National Historic Preservation Act
 Section 7 Consultation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 
the event that Federally-listed species are affected
 Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) Memorandum of Agreement
 Various City Encroachment Permits

    Caltrans will be holding public scoping meetings to provide an 
overview of the Project, summarize the environmental process, and 
receive input regarding the environmental issues and the suggested 
scope and content of the EIS. These meetings will include separate 
agency and public scoping. One round of three meetings will be held on 
November 1st through November 3rd. Please refer to the table below for 
meeting details:

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               City                        Date                      Time                       Location
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City of Industry.................  Tuesday, Nov. 1,     6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m............  Public Scoping Meeting,
                                    2016.                                                Industry Hills Expo
                                                                                         Center, 16200 Temple
                                                                                         Avenue, City of
                                                                                         Industry, CA 91744.
South El Monte...................  Wednesday, Nov. 2,   6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m............  Public Scoping Meeting,
                                    2016.                                                South El Monte Senior
                                                                                         Center, 1556 Central
                                                                                         Ave., South El Monte,
                                                                                         CA 91733.
Whittier.........................  Thursday, Nov. 3,    6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m............  Public Scoping Meeting,
                                    2016.                                                Palm Park, Palm A-B
                                                                                         Room, 5703 Palm Ave.,
                                                                                         Whittier, CA 90601.
Whittier.........................  Thursday, Nov. 3,    3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m............  Agency Scoping Meeting,
                                    2016.                                                Palm Park, Palm A-B
                                                                                         Room, 5703 Palm Ave.,
                                                                                         Whittier, CA 90601.
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    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and Participating Agencies; 
tribal governments and local agencies and private organizations and 
citizens who have previously expressed or are known to have interest in 
this proposal. The Draft EIS is anticipated to be available for public 
and agency review and comment in mid-2019. Public meetings will be held 
in study area communities during the public and agency review and 
comment period. In addition, public hearings will be held for the 
Project. Public notice will be given for the time and place of the 
public meetings and hearings. The Draft EIS will be available for 
public and agency review and comment prior to the public hearings.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action is addressed and all significant concerns are identified, 
comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. 
Comments or questions about this proposed action and the EIS should be 
directed to Caltrans at the address provided above. (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.)

    Issued on: October 3, 2016.
Josue M. Yambo,
Senior Transportation Engineer, Project Delivery Division, Federal 
Highway Administration, Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. 2016-24480 Filed 10-7-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-22-P