[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 158 (Tuesday, August 18, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41781-41782]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-19753]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Erie and Cattaraugus Counties, NY

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 (SEIS) will be prepared for 
the proposed highway improvement project: US Route 219 Springville to 
Salamanca, NY Route 39 to NY Route 17 (I-86), Erie & Cattaraugus 
Counties, New York. A Reevaluation of the 2003 FEIS was completed in 
May 2009; NYSDOT and FHWA concluded that a SEIS for the un-built 
portion of the project was required due to (i) significant increase in 
the area of identified wetlands in the project corridor, and (ii) 
observed changes in traffic growth rates for some segments of existing 
Route 219 that may influence the safety and operational characteristics 
of the previously identified alternatives. These issues will be 
evaluated and presented through the development of the SEIS. FHWA 
intends to utilize the environmental review provisions afforded under 
Section 6002 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, 
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) in the 
development of the SEIS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey W. Kolb, P.E., Division 
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, New York Division, Leo 
W. O'Brien Federal Building, 7th Floor, Suite 719, Clinton Avenue and 
North Pearl Street, Albany, New York 12207, Telephone: (518) 431-4127. 
Or Alan E. Taylor, P.E., Regional Director, NYSDOT Region 5; 100 Seneca 
Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, Telephone: (716) 847-3238.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), 
in cooperation with the New York State Department of Transportation 
(NYSDOT) will prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement 
(SEIS) to supplement the 2003 Final Environmental Impact Statement 
(FEIS) completed for the US Route 219, Springville to Salamanca, 
project. The SEIS will address the segment of Route 219 between the 
Town of Ashford and Interstate 86 near the City of Salamanca, all in 
Cattaraugus County, New York. The proposed improvement would involve 
the construction of a new route or the upgrade and rehabilitation of 
the existing route for a distance of about 25 miles. This project is 
necessary for the continuation of a modern and efficient transportation 
facility and trade corridor from the Greater Buffalo-Niagara region, at 
the US/Canadian border, to the I-86 corridor near the City of 
Salamanca. Depending on the alternative selected, the project may 
include interchanges, access management practices, and by-passes around 
population centers.
    Alternatives under consideration include (1) the Null Alternative: 
taking no action; (2) the Upgrade Alternative: widening the existing 
two-lane highway to four lanes with the possible inclusion of 
population center by-passes; and (3) the Freeway Alternative: 
constructing a four-lane, limited access freeway on new location.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, along with 
private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed 
interest in this action and/or the 2003 FEIS. The public and agencies 
will be offered an opportunity to comment on the Purpose and Need, 
range of alternatives, level of detail, methodologies, etc. This will 
be accomplished through a series of coordination/stakeholder meetings. 
Subsequent to the coordination/stakeholder meetings, public information 
meetings will be held throughout the development of the SEIS in 
Ellicottville and Great Valley in 2010 and 2011. In addition, formal 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) public hearings will be 
conducted. Public notice will be given of the time and place of the 
meetings and hearings. The Draft SEIS will be available for public and 
agency review and comment.
    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 SEIS should be 
directed to the New York State Department of Transportation or the 
Federal Highway Administration at the addresses provided above. Please 
identify all correspondence regarding this project as: PIN 5101.84, US 
Route 219, Springville to Salamanca, NY Route 39 to NY Route 17 (I-
86)--SEIS, Erie & Cattaraugus Counties, New York.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations 
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental 
consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this

[[Page 41782]]

program.) Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; U.S.C. 771.123.


    Issued on: August 12, 2009
Jeffrey W. Kolb,
 Division Administrator, New York Division, Federal Highway 
Administration, Albany, New York.
[FR Doc. E9-19753 Filed 8-17-09; 8:45 am]
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