Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement; Washington County, Minnesota and St. Croix County, WI

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement; Washington County,

Minnesota and St. Croix County, WI

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 a

supplemental environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared for

a proposed highway project in Washington County, Minnesota and St.

Croix County, Wisconsin.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Martin, Federal Highway

Administration, Galtier Plaza, Box 75, 175 East Fifth Street, Suite

500, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101-2901, Telephone (651) 291-6120; or Adam

Josephson, Project Manager, Minnesota Department of Transportation--

Metro Division, 1500 West County Road B2, Roseville, Minnesota 55113,

Telpehone (651) 582-1320.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Minnesota

Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and Wisconsin Department of

Transportation, will prepare a supplement to the EIS on a proposal for

a replacement river crossing, including the reconstruction of bridge

approach roadways, on Trunk Highway (TH) 36/State Trunk Highway (STH)

64 in the vicinity of Stillwater and Oak Park Heights (Washington

County), Minnesota and Houlton (St. Croix County), Wisconsin. MnDOT

will be the lead State agency. The original EIS for the river crossing

(FHWA-MN-EIS-90-92-F) was approved on April 5, 1995 with a Record of

Decision issued on July 10, 1995.

In 1996, the National Park Service (NPS) evaluated the project

under Section 7(a) of the Federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The

Section 7(a) Evaluation, completed in December 1996, found that the

project, as proposed, would have a direct and adverse effect on the

scenic and recreational values for which the Lower St. Croix River was

included in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. As a result,

the NPS directed that Federal permits not be issued for the project and

it was not allowed to proceed. In April 1998, in response to challenges

to the NPS determination, a U.S. District Court Judge upheld the

findings of the Section 7(a) Evaluation.

In June 1998, a facilitation process was initiated in the hope that

a

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mutually satisfactory solution to the impasse on the river crossing

could be reached. Over a period of four months, an independent review

of the proposed project was performed, including extensive discussions

and meetings with the key individuals and organizations involved and

public meetings with the St. Croix River Crossing Advisory Group. The

Advisory Group was made up of representatives from regulatory agencies,

local units of government, and other interested organizations;

including, environmental groups, historic preservation groups and

Chambers of Commerce. The facilitation process concluded that a new

four-lane bridge was required to satisfy the project need and

recommended a new alignment with less impact on the river.

The proposed improvements consist of a four-lane bridge on a new

alignment approximately 800 meters north of the Final EIS Preferred

Alternative alignment. It is proposed to be constructed using a below

deck arch bridge type. This proposed alternative is the only new

alternative that will be evaluated in the supplemental EIS process.

An Amended Scoping Decision Document will be published in February

1999. A press release will be published to inform the public of the

document's availability. Copies of the Amended Scoping Decision

Document will be distributed to agencies, interested persons and

libraries. No formal scoping meeting is planned.

Coordination has been initiated and will continue with appropriate

Federal, State and local agencies, and private organizations and

citizens who have previously expressed or are known to have an interest

in the proposed action. Public meetings have been held in the past and

will continue to be held, with public notice given for the time and

place of the meetings.

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 EIS should be

directed to the FHWA 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: January 11, 1999.

Stanley M. Graczyk,

Project Development Engineer, Federal Highway Administration.

[FR Doc. 99-1221 Filed 1-19-99; 8:45 am]

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