[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 75 (Tuesday, April 19, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23313-23314]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-08270]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Mendocino, California

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

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS).

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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 DEIS and Section 4(f) evaluation will be prepared for the Albion 
River Bridge Replacement/Rehabilitation Project (Project) on State 
Route (SR) 1, in Mendocino County, California, from post mile 43.3 to 
post mile 44.2.

DATES: This notice will be accompanied by a 30-day public scoping 
comment period from April 15, 2022, to May 16, 2022. The deadline for 
public comments is Monday, May 16, 2022.
    Virtual Scoping Meeting: The virtual scoping meeting will be held 
on Thursday, May 5, 2022, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. via WebEx by 
accessing the following online meeting information below: To attend the 
Virtual Public Scoping Meeting online, enter this WebEx address into 
your web browser:

 bit.ly/Albion_Public_Meeting and enter this password: 
albionriver1

    To attend the Virtual Public Scoping Meeting by phone, call this 
WebEx dial-in phone number:

 +1-408-418-9388 and enter this meeting code at the prompt: 
2484 877 6866


ADDRESSES:  To submit comments on the NOI, please submit them by one of 
the following means to ensure you do not duplicate your submissions:
     Mail: California Department of Transportation, Attention: 
Liza Walker, Caltrans District 1, 1656 Union Street, Eureka, CA 95501.
     Email: [email protected].
    The comments received during this 30-day comment period will be 
published in the DEIS without change, including any personal 
information provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Liza Walker, Environmental Branch 
Chief, Caltrans District 1, 1656 Union Street, Eureka, CA 95501, 
telephone (707) 441-5672 or email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Effective July 1, 2007, the FHWA assigned, 
and Caltrans assumed, environmental responsibilities for this project 
pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327. Caltrans as the assigned National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) agency, will prepare a DEIS and Section 
(4f) evaluation on a proposal for a bridge replacement/rehabilitation 
project in Mendocino County, California. The proposed project would 
involve either the replacement or rehabilitation of the existing 
bridge, as well as a no-action alternative, on SR 1 between post mile 
43.3 to post mile 44.2.
    Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action: The purpose of this 
Project is to either replace or rehabilitate the seismically and 
structurally deficient Albion River Bridge with a structure that would 
ensure the safety and reliability of this critical link on SR 1 of the 
state highway system. The Project is needed to address several critical 
deficiencies associated with the existing bridge. Correcting these 
deficiencies would improve safety for all users and reduce the chance 
of catastrophic bridge failure.

[[Page 23314]]

    Preliminary Description of the Proposed Action and Alternatives: A 
reasonable range of alternatives for detailed study in the DEIS is 
currently being considered and will be refined in consideration of 
agency and public comments received during the 30-day NOI comment 
period. In addition to the No Action Alternative, potential project 
alternatives include bridge replacement and bridge rehabilitation. A 
preliminary description of these potential alternatives is provided 
below.
    The No Action Alternative assumes no improvements other than those 
implemented as part of routine maintenance. The Bridge Replacement 
Alternatives would replace the existing Albion River Bridge with a new 
bridge. Various bridge replacement concepts will be considered during 
the scoping process, including a west alignment constructed to the west 
of the existing bridge, an east alignment constructed to the east of 
the existing bridge, and on-alignment constructed slightly west of the 
existing alignment. The Bridge Rehabilitation Alternatives would 
require major work to extend the service life of the existing Albion 
River Bridge. The Bridge Rehabilitation Alternatives would include 
rehabilitation of the bridge for motor vehicle use by widening the 
bridge and upgrading the bridge rails, or rehabilitation of the bridge 
as a pedestrian-only bridge alongside one of the bridge replacement 
alternatives. The operability of the bridge would need to be maintained 
while addressing structural deficiencies, geometric deficiencies, and 
operational reliability of the bridge.
    Summary of Expected Impacts: The DEIS will include an evaluation of 
the potential social, economic, and environmental effects resulting 
from the implementation of the Project. Based on preliminary review of 
existing conditions within and in proximity to the Project location, 
the implementation of the Project could result in effects to cultural 
and historic resources; community resources; parks and recreational 
areas; threatened and endangered species; wetlands; coastal resources; 
navigable waters; hazardous waste and contaminated materials; 
floodplains; noise; air quality; and visual resources. The analyses and 
evaluations conducted for the DEIS will identify the potential for 
effects; whether the anticipated effects would be adverse; and 
mitigation measures for adverse effects. Evaluations under Section 4(f) 
of the USDOT Act of 1966, 23 CFR part 774, will be prepared, and 
consultation under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation 
Act of 1966, 54 U.S.C. 300101-307108, will be undertaken concurrently 
with the NEPA/CEQA environmental review processes.
    Anticipated Permits and Other Authorizations: Potential permits and 
approvals for the Project include: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) 
permits under section 404 of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1344, and 
section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, 33 U.S.C. 403, for 
construction in the Albion River and potential wetland impacts; U.S. 
Coast Guard (USCG) Bridge Permit, which establishes allowable 
clearances for bridges over navigable waterways such as the Albion 
River; National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) section 7 Endangered 
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1536, NMFS Essential Fish Habitat Consultation 
for potential impacts to species due to construction in the Albion 
River, consultation for potential impacts on threatened and/or 
endangered species; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) section 7 
Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1536, consultation for potential 
impacts to federally-listed threatened species; as well as any other 
relevant California State and Local Agency permits and authorizations.
    Schedule for the Decision-Making Process: The Project schedule will 
be established as part of the requirements of the environmental review 
process under 23 U.S.C. 139 Efficient environmental reviews for project 
decision-making.
    The anticipated project schedule is outlined below:

 Public Scoping Meetings (May 2022)
 Scoping Report Publication (June 2022)
 Notice of Availability of the DEIS (May 2023)
 Public Hearing (June 2023)
 End of DEIS Comment Period (July 2023)
 Publish Single Final EIS (FEIS)/ROD (March 2024)

    A Description of the Public Scoping Process: Public and agency 
outreach will include a formal Public Scoping Meeting scheduled in May 
2022. Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments 
will be sent to appropriate Federal, State, Native American Tribes and 
local agencies, and to private organizations and citizens who have 
previously expressed or are known to have interest in this proposal. A 
Public Hearing on the DEIS will also be scheduled during circulation of 
the environmental document.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments, 
and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or 
questions concerning this proposed action and the DEIS 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.)

    Dated: April 12, 2022.
Christina Leach,
Acting Director, Planning, Environment and Right of Way, Federal 
Highway Administration, California Division.
[FR Doc. 2022-08270 Filed 4-18-22; 8:45 am]
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