Environmental Impact Statement: Clear Creek County, Colorado

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

Environmental Impact Statement: Clear Creek County, Colorado

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent and public scoping meetings.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public than an

Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared for the proposed

transportation project for transportation improvements and alternatives

analysis of Interstate 70 (I-70) from Empire Junction to the top of

Floyd Hill at the Highland Hills Interchange in Clear Creek County,

Colorado.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Scott Sands, FHWA Colorado

Division, 555 Zang Street, Room 250, Denver, CO 80228, Telephone: 303/

969-6730, extension 362.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Title 23, Code of Federal

Regulations, Part 771, Environmental Impact and Related Procedures (40

CFR 1501.7), the FHWA, in cooperation with the Colorado Department of

Transportation (CDOT), will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

(EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

for proposed transportation improvements and alternatives analysis of

I-70 from Empire Junction to the top of Floyd Hill in Clear Creek

County, Colorado. The proposed improvement would involve the

reconstruction of all or parts of the existing I-70 corridor (as

described above) for a distance of approximately sixteen miles. The EIS

will evaluate the No-Action and Build alternatives(s) on this I-70

corridor and determine the estimated costs and potential impacts

associated with each.

A Major Investment Study (MIS) was performed by CDOT in 1998 to

evaluate solutions for the mobility and congestion problems in the I-70

corridor from the interchange of I-70 and C-470 in Jefferson County,

Colorado, west bound to Glenwood Springs, Colorado. The MIS recommended

a vision incorporating futuristic thinking over a fifty-year planning

horizon. In order to minimize highway improvements, the vision

emphasizes changing travel behavior and preservation of the

environmental character of the corridor. This EIS is a direct result of

the recommendations detailed in the MIS.

The proposed improvements resulting from the MIS are considered

necessary to provide for increased safety, existing traffic demand, and

projected future travel demand. Alternatives which may be evaluated

include: (1) improved four lane roadway typical sections, (2) standard

six lane roadway section, (3) non-standard six lane roadway section,

(4) Twin Tunnel (MP 242) modifications, (5) interchange improvements,

(6) an envelope for the preservation of Fixed Guideway Transit (FGT)

system, (7) intermodal transfer center(s), (8) Transportation System

Management (TSM) measures, (9) curve smoothing to increase the

interstate design geometrics, and (10) No-Action.

To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed

action are addressed and all significant issues identified, written

comments, suggestions or questions should be directed to the FHWA at

the address provided above or directed to: Ms. Cecelia Joy, Planning

and Environmental Manager, Colorado Department of Transportation-Region

1, 18500 East Colfax Avenue, Aurora, Colorado 80011, Telephone: 303/

757-9112.

All significant social, economic, and environmental impacts of the

proposed alternatives carried through the EIS process will be

evaluated. Depending upon the alternatives under study, impacts to be

evaluated may include safety and mobility, visual, social, historic,

cultural and archaeological resources, local economy, Section 4(f) and

Section 6(f) issues, noise, wetlands, threatened and endangered

wildlife species, animal migration, water resources, floodplains,

hydrology, geology, air quality, and potential contaminant sources

(hazardous wastes). Depending upon the preferred alternative and the

associated impacts of that alternative, construction-related impacts

and secondary and cumulative impacts may also be evaluated.

Subsequently, mitigation of any significant adverse impacts would be

developed in the EIS for that alternative.

[[Page 29080]]

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the Draft

EIS will be prepared with required engineering design and environmental

studies. These studies are necessary to propose a preferred alternative

and to complete the document. After its publication, the Draft EIS will

be available for public and agency review and comments, and a public

hearing will be held. On the basis of the Draft EIS and the comments

received, a preferred alternative will be selected and preparation of

the Final EIS and Record of Decision will proceed.

FHWA, CDOT and other local agencies invite interested individuals,

organizations, and federal, state and local agencies to participate in

defining the alternatives to be evaluated in the EIS and identifying

any significant social, economic, or environmental issues related to

the proposed alternatives. Information describing the purpose of the

project, the proposed alternatives, the areas to be evaluated, the

citizen involvement program, and the preliminary project schedule will

be available. These scoping materials may be requested by contacting

Ms. Cecelia Joy at the address and phone number above. Scoping comments

may be made verbally or in writing to Ms. Joy and at future public

meetings. Refinements to scoping will continue through coordination

with affected parties, organizations, federal, state and local agencies

and one-on-one meetings.

Information describing the status of the project and soliciting

comments will be sent to appropriate Federal, State, local agencies,

and to private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed

or are known to have an interest in this proposal.

The public will receive notices on location and time of future

meetings and public hearings through newspaper advertisements and other

means.

To ensure that a full range of issues related to this proposed

action are addressed and all significant issues are identified,

comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. If

you wish to be placed on the mailing list to receive further

information as the project develops, contact Ms. Cecelia Joy at the

address above.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205,

Highway Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations

implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental

consultation of Federal programs and activities apply to this

program)

Issued on: May 18, 1999.

Ronald A. Speral,

Environmental/ROW Manager, Colorado Division, Federal Highway

Administration, Lakewood, Colorado.

[FR Doc. 99-13610 Filed 5-27-99; 8:45 am]

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