[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 202 (Wednesday, October 19, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72148-72150]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25216]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Los Angeles County, California

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Amended notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA, on behalf of the California Department of 
Transportation (Caltrans), is issuing this amended notice to advise the 
public that a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be 
prepared for proposed highway improvements on Interstate 605 (I-605). 
The I-605 Corridor Improvement Project (Project) will consist of 
improvements on the I-605 corridor from the Interstate 10 (I-10) 
Interchange to the Interstate 105 (I-105) Interchange. The proposed 
Project also includes improvements along State Route 60 (SR-60) from 
Santa Anita Avenue to east of Turnbull Canyon Road, and on Interstate 5 
(I-5) from Florence Avenue to Paramount Boulevard in the cities of 
Baldwin Park, El Monte, City of Industry, Pico Rivera, South El Monte, 
Whittier, Downey, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, and unincorporated Los 
Angeles County. The Project limits include the I-605/I-5 and I-605/SR-
60 corridors. These corridors were previously analyzed as separate 
projects; however, the Project limits along these corridors are being 
combined to connect logical termini. A Project Study Report-Project 
Development Support Study (PSR-PDS) for the I-605/I-5 corridor was 
approved in July 2014, and a PSR-PDS for the I-605/SR-60 corridor 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.

Project Description

    The Project proposes widening along the southbound and northbound 
I-605 corridor from the I-10 Interchange to the I-105 Interchange. The 
proposed Project includes improvements along SR-60 from Santa Anita 
Avenue to east of Turnbull Canyon Road, and on I-5 from Florence Avenue 
to Paramount Boulevard. The study area includes the cities of Baldwin 
Park, El Monte, City of Industry, Pico Rivera, South El Monte, 
Whittier, Downey, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, and unincorporated Los 
Angeles County. Improvements to local streets and interchanges may be 
required as part of the Project including the following interchanges 
that would be affected: I-605/Imperial Highway, I-605/Firestone 
Boulevard, I-605/Telegraph Road, I-605/Slauson Avenue, I-605/Florence 
Ave., I-605/Washington Boulevard, I-605/Whittier Boulevard, I-605/
Beverly Boulevard, I-605/Rose Hills Road, I-605/Peck Road, I-605/SR-60, 
I-605/Valley Boulevard, SR-60/Peck Road, SR-60/7th Ave., I-5/Florence 
Ave., I-5/Lakewood Boulevard, I-5/Paramount Blvd., and I-605/I-5 
Interchanges.
    The following Project alternatives are under consideration.

Alternative 1: No Build Alternative

    In this alternative, there would be no reconstruction or 
improvements to the

[[Page 72149]]

I-605 corridor. Within the Project limits, I-605 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)

    This alternative includes adding mixed flow or HOV lanes as well as 
auxiliary lanes where additional capacity is required on southbound and 
northbound I-605 from I-10 to I-105, and along SR-60 from Santa Anita 
Avenue to east of Turnbull Canyon Road. This Project will also be 
adding one HOV lane in each direction along I-5 from Florence Avenue to 
Paramount Boulevard and auxiliary lanes where necessary. These 
improvements would implement standard lane widths and shoulders, 
consistent with the Caltrans Highway Design Manual for the mainline 
freeway, connectors, and ramps. Right-of-way (ROW) acquisitions would 
be necessary to accommodate these improvements.
    This alternative will have additional design variations, which 
would provide optional lane use (general purpose, HOV, on and off ramp 
modifications, and other operational improvements.

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

    Alternative 3 includes many of the design elements identified in 
Alternative 2 on I-605, SR-60, and I-5 with design variations, which 
would provide optimal lane use to reduced ROW impacts. This alternative 
includes adding mixed flow or HOV lanes as well as auxiliary lanes, 
where additional capacity is required, on southbound and northbound I-
605 from I-10 to I-105. The Project also includes adding mixed flow and 
auxiliary lanes, where additional capacity is required, along SR-60 
from Santa Anita Avenue to east of Turnbull Canyon Road and adding one 
HOV lane in each direction on I-5 from Florence Avenue to Paramount 
Boulevard.
    This alternative will have additional design variations, which 
provide optional lane use such as general purpose, HOV, optional on and 
off ramp modifications, and other operational improvements. These 
alternatives may be refined or be removed from further consideration, 
as engineering and environmental analysis is conducted for the Project.

Alternative 4: 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.
    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. Please refer to the table below for meeting 
dates and locations:

                                           Scoping and Agency Meetings
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                City                          Date                    Time                     Location
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Downey.............................  Monday, Oct. 24, 2016.  6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m....  Public Scoping Meeting,
                                                                                      Embassy Suites Los Angeles-
                                                                                      Downey, Diplomat/Consulate
                                                                                      Room, 8425 Firestone
                                                                                      Blvd., Downey, CA 90241.
Santa Fe Springs...................  Wednesday, Oct. 26,     3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m....  Agency Scoping Meeting, Gus
                                      2016.                                           Velasco Neighborhood
                                                                                      Center, 9255 South Pioneer
                                                                                      Blvd., Santa Fe Springs,
                                                                                      CA 90670.
Santa Fe Springs...................  Wednesday, Oct. 26,     6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m....  Public Scoping Meeting, Gus
                                      2016.                                           Velasco Neighborhood
                                                                                      Center, 9255 South Pioneer
                                                                                      Blvd., Santa Fe Springs,
                                                                                      CA 90670.
Norwalk............................  Thursday, Oct. 27,      6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m....  Public Scoping Meeting,
                                      2016.                                           Norwalk Assembly of God
                                                                                      Church, 11129 Pioneer
                                                                                      Blvd., Norwalk, CA 90650.
City of Industry...................  Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016.  6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m....  Public Scoping Meeting,
                                                                                      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, 2016  6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m....  Public Scoping Meeting,
                                                                                      Palm Park, Palm A-B Room,
                                                                                      5703 Palm Ave., Whittier,
                                                                                      CA 90601.
Whittier...........................  Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016  3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m....  Agency Scoping Meeting,
                                                                                      Palm Park, Palm A-B Room,
                                                                                      5703 Palm Ave., Whittier,
                                                                                      CA 90601.
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[[Page 72150]]

    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 11, 2016.
Josu[eacute] M. Yamb[oacute],
Senior Transportation Engineer, Project Delivery Division, Federal 
Highway Administration, Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. 2016-25216 Filed 10-18-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-22-P