[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 227 (Friday, November 26, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 69027]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-26192]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Chittenden County, VT

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 an 
environmental impact statement will be prepared for a proposed 
transportation project in Chittenden County, Vermont.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth R. Sikora, Jr., Environmental 
Program Manager, Federal Highway Administration, PO Box 568, Montpelier 
Vermont 05601, Telephone: (802) 828-4433.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Vermont 
Agency of Transportation (VTrans), will prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) on a proposal to improve the transportation system from 
Interstate Route I-89 to the Towns of Williston and Essex and the 
Village of Essex Junction. The project study area is approximately 4 
miles in length, and includes the corridor that would have been served 
by the previously proposed Chittenden County Circumferential Highway 
Project Construction Segments A and B. The Circumferential Highway 
Construction Segments G-J included in the Metropolitan Long Range 
Transportation Plan are not part of this proposed transportation 
project. The Circumferential Highway Construction Segments C-F have 
been partially constructed and open to traffic.
    The EIS will identify transportation needs and deficiencies in the 
project study area, including mobility, access, system continuity, and 
safety. The range of transportation alternatives to be evaluated in the 
EIS will not be restricted to previously considered alternatives or the 
conclusions of previous studies. In addition, the EIS will specifically 
address the relationship between transportation and land use in and 
around the project study area.
    The EIS will evaluate potential alternative transportation 
improvements to meet the existing and future demands on the 
transportation system serving the aforementioned communities. Potential 
alternatives and combinations thereof will include but are not limited 
to (1) taking no action, i.e., the No-Build Alternative; (2) strategies 
to better manage transportation demand; (3) improving public 
transportation facilities and services: (4) improving existing 
roadways, pedestrian walkways, and bikeways; and (5) constructing a new 
roadway connection between Route I-89 and Vermont Route 289 and other 
roadways. Design variations of potential alternatives will also be 
studied, as appropriate.
    The EIS will be initiated with a scoping process. The scoping 
process will include a program of public outreach and agency 
coordination will be conducted over the next several months in order to 
elicit input on project purpose and need, potential alternatives, 
significant and insignificant issues, and collaborative methods for 
analyzing transportation alternatives and environmental impacts. As 
part of scoping, VTrans plans to hold several public meetings at 
different locations in Chittenden County and to contact and meet with 
local, state, and federal agencies and officials as well as private 
individuals and organizations concerned with the project. In addition, 
a public hearing will be held in connection with the circulation of the 
draft EIS. Public notice will be given of the time and place of the 
meetings and hearing.
    The information gained during the scoping process will be widely 
disseminated and used to guide the development of the EIS. An internet 
website and other communication media will be developed early in the 
scoping process and used to provide public information and to receive 
comments. All comments and input received during the scoping and 
subsequent steps of the EIS process will be considered and documented. 
Beginning with scoping, continuous and regular public involvement and 
agency coordination will continue throughout the preparation of the 
EIS.

(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: November 19, 2004.
Charles E. Basner,
Division Administrator, Montpelier, Vermont.
[FR Doc. 04-26192 Filed 11-24-04; 8:45 am]
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