**SR-262 Montezuma Creek to Aneth EIS**

**Draft Coordination Plan**

# INTRODUCTION

## Purpose of Coordination Plan

In an effort to provide for more efficient environmental reviews for
project decision making, Section 6002 of Public Law 104-59, "Safe
Accountable Flexible Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for
Users," (SAFETEA-LU), enacted August 10, 2005, implemented the
development of a coordination plan for all projects for which an
environmental impact statement (EIS) is prepared under the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The plan's purpose is to coordinate
public and agency participation in and comment on the environmental
review process for a project or category of projects. This is the
coordination plan for the SR-262 Montezuma Creek to Aneth EIS. This
draft coordination plan will be included with the agency coordination
letters, which will be sent from the FHWA office.

The plan is organized in the following manner:

-   Introduction

    -   Purpose of Coordination Plan

    -   Project History and Overview

-   Project Milestones and Associated Review Periods

    -   Expectations

    -   Purpose and Need

    -   Alternatives to be Considered

    -   Draft EIS

    -   Final EIS

    -   Programmatic Agreement

-   Public Involvement (PI) Plan

    -   Summary of PI Plan

    -   Contact List

SAFETEA-LU requires the identification of lead, participating, and
cooperating agencies in the development of an EIS. For the SR-262 EIS,
the lead agencies include the US Department of Transportation (USDOT)
through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Utah
Department of Transportation (UDOT). The Utah Division of FHWA, in
coordination with UDOT, determined what other federal, state, and tribal
agencies would be named as joint lead agencies, project sponsors,
participating agencies, and cooperating agencies. Table 1 lists these
various agencies, points of contact, and their responsibilities in the
development of the SR-262 EIS, and will be completed upon receipt of
agency acknowledgements of the agency coordination letters.

  --------------------- --------------------- ----------------------------
  **Lead,                                     
  Participating, and                          
  Cooperating Agencies                        
  and Other Key Project                       
  Contacts**                                  

  **Agency**            **Point Of Contact**  **Responsibility for
                                              Project**

  Utah Department of    Kim Manwill           Lead Agency
  Transportation                              

  Federal Highway       Ed Woolford           Lead Agency
  Administration                              

  Bureau of Indian                            Cooperating Agency
  Affairs                                     

  Navajo EPA                                  Cooperating Agency

  US Army Corps of      Kara Hellige          Participating Agency
  Engineers                                   

  []{.mark}                                   

  []{.mark}                                   

  []{.mark}                                   

  []{.mark}                                   

  []{.mark}                                   

  []{.mark}                                   

  []{.mark}                                   

  []{.mark}                                   

  []{.mark}                                   

  []{.mark}                                   

  []{.mark}                                   

  []{.mark}                                   

  []{.mark}                                   
  --------------------- --------------------- ----------------------------

*Table 1 -- Lead, Participating, and Cooperating Agencies and Other Key
Project Contacts*

## Project History and Overview

In the early 1990's, SR-262 was improved for safety reasons from the
Utah/Colorado state boundary to a point approximately 0.50 mile east of
Aneth, Utah. At that time, funds to improve the safety of SR-262
westward to its intersection with SR-162, in Montezuma Creek, Utah, were
unavailable, though preliminary plans were developed and an
archaeological inventory was performed. In 2004, the Navajo Nation/Aneth
Chapter secured federal funding to complete an environmental study and
pay for the mitigation required for safety improvements along this
segment of SR-262. As a result of this fundraising, the FHWA and the
UDOT have initiated this EIS.

This project is named SR-262; Montezuma Creek to Aneth. The UDOT project
number is STP-0262(8)23E. Since the time the project was originally
identified in the State Transportation Improvement Plan, the route
numbering has changed. Now, the portion of SR-262 from the intersection
of SR-162 and SR-262 eastward to the Colorado state line is designated
as part of SR-162. Due to the difficulty and potential confusion in
changing the project name and number as well as funding designations
specifically for SR-262, it was decided that the project name and number
would remain as originally labeled. However, this document will refer to
all highways by their current route number designation.

A Notice of Intent (NOI) was published in the February 8, 2006 Federal
Register to inform agencies and the public of the beginning of the
project. Lengthwise, the study area extends from 0.5 mile west of the
intersection of SR-162 and SR-262, east to the western endpoint of the
previous improvement (east of Aneth) for a distance of 8.5 miles. The
study area is generally a 300-foot wide corridor along the existing
alignment, but does not extend past the near bank of the San Juan River.
Except for lands around Montezuma Creek, Utah, the project area lies
entirely within the Navajo Nation/Aneth Chapter.

The area is sparsely populated, with residential development existing in
the towns of Montezuma Creek and Aneth. Between the two towns, some
sporadic residential development exists, as do industrial developments
related to oil exploration. SR-162 follows the bluffs on the north and
lies between those bluffs and the San Juan River to the south. A project
overview map is provided in Figure 1 on the following page.

SR-162 serves as an access to several ancient native peoples' ruins and
state and national points of interest, including Hovenweep National
Monument, Monument Valley, the San Juan River, and the Four Corners. The
purpose of this project is to improve the conditions for the traveling
public along SR-162 in the project corridor.

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="12.741666666666667in"
height="8.252777777777778in"}

*Figure 1 - Project Overview Map*

Figure 2 presents a general project schedule for the project showing an
anticipated EIS completion with issuance of a Record of Decision by FHWA
by mid 2008.

[]{.mark}

![](media/image3.jpeg){width="6.0in" height="4.8in"}

*Figure 2 - General Project Schedule*

SR-162 serves as a main transportation corridor from Montezuma Creek to
Aneth within the Navajo Nation and also as a travel corridor for other
people traveling between southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah.
Improvements to SR-162 are being proposed to improve safety along this
important corridor. Other key project issues identified thus far include
Cultural/Archaeological Resources, Natural Resources,
Floodplain/Wetlands, Social/Economic Resources, and Permitting. A brief
description of each of these issues follows.

-   ![](media/image4.jpeg){width="3.994488188976378in"
    height="3.8307086614173227in"}Safety - Along the length of SR-162
    between Montezuma Creek and Aneth, the shoulders and adjacent clear
    zone (relatively flat and clear area where errant vehicles can
    recover) do not meet current requirements. In addition, the offset
    intersection of SR-262 and SR-162 in Montezuma Creek presents an
    unsafe situation where turning traffic can back up to the point
    where they are stopped in traveling lanes.

-   Cultural Resources -- The project area crosses through an area rich
    in cultural/archaeological resources. Resources include evidence of
    past occupation as well as human remains. Cultural resource
    locations will need to be identified to allow for avoidance or
    minimization of impacts when developing and screening alternatives.

-   Natural Resources - Wildlife resources along SR‑162 include state,
    federal, and/or Navajo Nation identified species of concern (or the
    habitats of those species). There are several federally listed or
    candidate species associated with the San Juan River and/or the
    riparian habitat close-by including the bald eagle, southwestern
    willow flycatcher, yellow-billed cuckoo, and the Colorado
    pikeminnow. Several state species of concern, including the
    flannelmouth sucker, are also associated with this area.

-   Wetlands -- Several wetlands may be located in the vicinity of the
    roadway, most notably associated with creeks or washes crossed by
    SR-162.

-   Social and Economic Issues -- Social and economic issues include
    environmental justice populations along SR-162 and economic impacts
    from visitors and travelers through the area.

-   Permitting -- Since this project occurs on lands under tribal
    jurisdiction, extra permitting requirements exist.

# PROJECT MILESTONES AND ASSOCIATED REVIEW PERIODS

## Expectations

SAFETEA-LU establishes milestones at which work must be reviewed by
participating agencies prior to moving forward with the EIS process.
Upon review and incorporation of comments received from participating
agencies, the project can move forward with the approvals. These
milestones include the Purpose and Need and the Alternatives sections of
the EIS.

For the SR-262 EIS, the draft Purpose and Need and the Alternatives
sections of the EIS will be submitted to the UDOT contact for internal
review and comment. Upon incorporation of the UDOT's comments, the UDOT
contact will distribute to the FHWA for a two-week review. After
incorporating comments, the sections will be released to the
participating agencies. The participating agencies and the public will
have 30 days in which to review the documents and submit comments to the
UDOT contact, who will then consolidate the comments and submit to the
consultant for incorporation into the appropriate document. After a
comment period of 30 days, the project team will move forward with the
EIS process under the assumption that any participating agencies or
members of the public that did not provide comments within 30 days are
in agreement with the product. However, whenever comments are provided
throughout the EIS process, they will be considered.

The comment periods for the draft and final EIS products will not be
affected by the comment periods required for the Purpose and Need and
Alternatives sections review.

The overall EIS schedule will not be affected by these milestone comment
periods---comments can be incorporated while subsequent unrelated work
is ongoing.

## Purpose and Need

The draft Purpose and Need section was submitted to the UDOT contact on
July 11, 2006 for internal review and comment. Upon incorporation of
UDOT's comments, the draft Purpose and Need will be distributed to FHWA.
After the two-week review period and incorporation of comments, the
final Purpose and Need section will be released to the participating
agencies and the public for their 30-day review and comment period. It
is expected the start of the 30-day review and comment period will be in
August 2006.

## Alternatives 

The draft Alternatives section will be sent to the UDOT contact in late
summer or early fall, 2006 for internal review and comment. Upon
incorporation of the UDOT's comments, the Alternatives section will then
be distributed to FHWA. After the two-week review period and
incorporation of comments, the final Alternatives section will be
released to the participating agencies and the public for their 30-day
review and comment period. It is expected the start date of the 30-day
review and comment period will be in the fall, 2006 time frame.

## Draft EIS

The Draft EIS is expected to be released for a 45-day comment period in
November 2007. After the comment period, the project team will move
forward with the EIS process under the assumption that any participating
agencies that did not provide comments within the 30 days are in
agreement with the product. However, comments provided at any time
throughout the EIS process will be considered.

## Final EIS

The Final EIS is expected to be released for a 30-day comment period in
May 2008. The final EIS comment period is the last period during which
comments will be received from the public and agencies. Upon addressing
the comments received in the comment period the EIS will then be
forwarded to FHWA with a request for a Record of Decision for the
project.

## Programmatic Agreement

At the onset of the SR-262 EIS, it was determined that FHWA and UDOT
should enter into a project-specific Programmatic Agreement (PA). The
signatories of this PA shall include FHWA, the Advisory Council on
Historic Preservation, the Navajo Nation Historic Preservation Officer,
the Utah State Historic Preservation Officer, the Utah State
Institutional Trust Lands Administration, and UDOT. The PA will disclose
the methodologies and procedures for assessing the cultural and
archaeological resources in the project area and will satisfy the FHWA's
section 106 responsibility for all individual aspects of the SR-262
project.

[Coordination specific to cultural and archaeological resources is
described in detail in the PA, which is included in Appendix A.]{.mark}
[FHWA is currently preparing the PA and it will be distributed to
agencies upon finalization.]{.mark}

# PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PLAN

## Summary of Public Involvement Plan

A public involvement (PI) plan developed for this project addresses
public involvement planning, stakeholder outreach, and analysis and
implementation of stakeholder feedback. The plan is a living document
and is updated as the project progresses and new information regarding
public or stakeholder outreach is obtained. A copy of the most recent
version of the public involvement plan is found in Appendix B.

Tools identified in the PI plan include holding a PI workshop;
developing an initial stakeholder list; developing and maintaining a
project database; developing and maintaining a project website;
developing a project logo; holding and summarizing scoping and public
meetings; holding and summarizing a public hearing; presentations to the
Navajo Nation Aneth Chapter, providing Navajo speaking translators at
all meetings with the public and translating specific project display
materials into the Navajo language; developing news releases and feature
stories; providing project briefings; advertising meetings and
milestones; analyzing effectiveness of PI tools; analyzing and
implementing website and public comments; and securing the services of a
court recorder at the public hearing.

Table 2 lists PI actions taken to date.

  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
  Public Involvement Activities to    
  Date                                

  **Activity**                        **When Occurred**

  Develop Project Website             January 2006

  Conduct PI Workshop                 January 17, 2006

  Develop Project Logo                February 2006

  Prepare PI Plan                     February 2006

  Aneth Chapter Meeting Presentation  February 12, 2006

  Public Scoping Meeting              March 8, 2006
  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

*Table 2 -- Public Involvement Activities to Date*

## Contact List

Table 3 lists the project team members along with contact information.

  ----------------- -------------------- -------------- ------------------------------
  **Project Team                                        
  Members**                                             

  **Contact**       **Responsibility**   **Phone**      **Email**

  Kim Manwill       UDOT Project Manager 435-893-4734   kmanwill@utah.gov

  Ed Woolford       FHWA                 801-963-0182   edward.woolford@fhwa.dot.gov

  Owen Lindauer     FHWA --              202-366-2655   owen.lindauer@fhwa.dot.gov
                    Archaeologist                       

  Betsy Skinner     UDOT Central         801-965-4159   eskinner@utah.gov
                    Environmental                       
                    Services                            

  Randall Taylor    UDOT Region 4        435-893-4714   randalltaylor@utah.gov
                    Environmental                       
                    Engineer                            

  Myron Lee         UDOT Region 4 Public 435-893-4702   myron@utah.gov
                    Involvement                         
                    Coordinator                         

  Rachel McQuillen  URS Project Manager  801-904-4049   rachel_mcquillen@urscorp.com

  Bill Killam       URS Environmental    303-740-3816   bill_killam@urscorp.com

  Bob Clegg         URS Engineering      801-904-4063   robert_clegg@urscorp.com

  Amalia Deslis     URS Public           801-904-4017   amalia_deslis@urscorp.com
                    Involvement                         

  Kurt Dongoske     URS Cultural         602-371-1100   kurt_dongoske@urscorp.com
                    Resources                           

  Andy Herb         URS Ecologist        801-904-4076   andy_herb@urscorp.com

  Elaine            Navajo Nation        928-871-7200   ecmason@frontiernet.net
  Cleveland-Mason   Archaeological                      
                    Department - PM                     
  ----------------- -------------------- -------------- ------------------------------

*Table 3 -- Project Team Members*

Table 4 lists the agency contacts.

  ----------------- -------------------------------------- ---------------
  **Agency                                                 
  Contacts**                                               

  **Contact**       **Representing**                       **Phone**

  Tom Platero       Navajo Department of Transportation    

  Kara Hellige      US Army Corps of Engineers             

                    Navajo Environmental Protection Agency 

                    Navajo Fish and Wildlife Department    

                    Navajo Historic Preservation Office    

                    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service         

                    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency   

                    [OTHERS??????]{.mark}                  
  ----------------- -------------------------------------- ---------------

*Table 4 -- Agency Contacts*

**[APPENDIX A:]{.mark}**

**[Programmatic Agreement]{.mark}**

[]{.mark}

[]{.mark}

[]{.mark}

**Appendix B:**

**Public Involvement Plan**