Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 88 / Friday, May 5, 2000 / Notices 26271

facilities. The railroad companies must

have a system for recording labor,

materials, supplies, and equipment

costs incurred when undertaking the

necessary railroad work. This record of

costs forms the basis for payment by the

State highway agency to the railroad

company, and in turn FHWA

reimburses the State for its payment to

the railroad company.

Estimated Annual Burden: The

FHWA estimates that the total annual

burden imposed on the public by this

collection is 18,400 hours; i.e., nearly

115 railroad companies are involved in

an average of 10 railroad/highway

projects per year, and the average

number of hours required to calculate

the railroad adjustment costs and

maintain the required records is 16

hours.

Number of Respondents: 115.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Robert Winans, (202) 366–4656,

Department of Transportation, Federal

Highway Administration, Safety Core

Business Unit, 400 Seventh Street, SW.,

Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are

from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., e.t., Monday

through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Authority: 23 U.S.C. 140(a); 23 CFR

635.126; 29 U.S.C. 2; 23 U.S.C. 123; 23 U.S.C.

116; 23 U.S C. 130; 49 CFR 1.48.

Issued on: May 2, 2000.

James R. Kabel,

Chief, Management Programs and Analysis

Division.

[FR Doc. 00–11310 Filed 5–4–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–22–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

Environmental Impact Statement:

Valencia County, NM

AGENCY: Federal Highway

Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this

notice to advise the public that an

environmental impact statement (EIS)

will be prepared for a proposed new

east-west highway and Rio Grande river

crossing in Valencia County, New

Mexico.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Gregory D. Rawlings, Environmental

Specialist, Federal Highway

Administration, 604 W. San Mateo

Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505,

telephone: (505) 820–2027; or F. Craig

Conley, Environmental Program

Manager, New Mexico State Highway

and Transportation Department, P.O.

Box 1149, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504,

telephone: (505) 827–5233.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

FHWA, in cooperation with the New

Mexico State Highway and

Transportation Department, will prepare

an EIS for a proposed new highway that

would link Interstate 25 (I–25) and New

Mexico Highway 47 (NM 47) in

Valencia County, NM. The study area

encompasses a corridor approximately 4

miles wide and between I–25 and NM

47. The southern boundary of the

corridor lies approximately 5 miles

north of Reinken Road (NM Highway

309) through the City of Belen. The

northern boundary of the corridor lies

approximately 1.5 miles south of Main

Street (NM Highway 6) through the

Village of Los Lunas.

The need for a new east-west highway

and river crossing that would connect I–

25 and NM 47 is founded in several

factors including rapid population

growth, employment growth and

congested roadways. Continuing

population and employment growth is

projected to occur on both sides of the

Rio Grande in the project corridor,

necessitating additional east to west

travel. The current highway system to

serve this growth is limited to two 4-

lane highways spaced over 10 miles

apart, and is projected to become

severely congested. Alternatives to be

considered by the EIS will include the

No Action alternative and various route

alternative(s) developed during the

initial corridor study phase and scoping

process. Alternatives are being

developed with input from stakeholder

jurisdictions, agencies, landowners, and

the general public. The alternatives will

also consider different lane

configurations, access management

concepts, roadway profiles, and system

and demand management measures.

Preliminary scoping for the project has

included: (1) Introductory information

sent to federal, state, tribal, and local

agencies, public and private

organizations, and individuals

identified as potentially-interested or

affected parties; (2) public information

meetings conducted in the study area to

solicit preliminary issues and concerns

regarding the proposed action; (3)

briefings to local jurisdictions; and, (4)

meetings with various neighborhood

groups, Native American groups and

other stakeholder groups. A scoping

letter describing the proposed action

will be sent to interested agencies

followed by a formal agency scoping

meeting planned for Summer 2000.

Additional public meetings will be held

to discuss FHWA’s intention to prepare

an EIS. These meetings will provide an

opportunity for additional public and

agency input.

A public hearing will be held to

present the findings of the Draft EIS

(DEIS) during the public review period.

The DEIS will be available for public

and agency review and comment prior

to the hearing.

To ensure that the full range of issues

related to this proposed action are

addressed all significant issues

identified, comments and suggestions

are invited from all interested parties.

Comments or questions concerning the

proposed action and EIS should be

directed to the FHWA or NMSHTD at

the addresses provided above.

(Catalogue 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 and 23 U.S.C.

315; 49 CFR 1.48 apply to this program.)

Issued on April 26, 2000.

Gregory D. Rawlings,

Environmental Specialist, Santa Fe, New

Mexico.

[FR Doc. 00–11221 Filed 5–4–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–22–M

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number: MARAD–2000–7329]

Requested Administrative Waiver of

the Coastwise Trade Laws

AGENCY: Maritime Administration,

Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Invitation for public comments

on a requested administrative waiver of

the Coastwise Trade Laws for the vessel

TROPICAL ATTITUDES.

SUMMARY: As authorized by Public Law

105–383, the Secretary of

Transportation, as represented by the

Maritime Administration (MARAD), is

authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.

build requirement of the coastwise laws

under certain circumstances. A request

for such a waiver has been received by

MARAD. The vessel, and a description

of the proposed service, is listed below.

Interested parties may comment on the

effect this action may have on U.S.

vessel builders or businesses in the U.S.

that use U.S.-flag vessels. If MARAD

determines that in accordance with Pub.

L. 105–383 and MARAD’s regulations at

46 CFR part 388 (65 FR 6905; February

11, 2000) that the issuance of the waiver

will have an unduly adverse effect on a

U.S.-vessel builder or a business that

uses U.S.-flag vessels, a waiver will not

be granted.