23882 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 83 / Tuesday, May 1, 2007 / Notices 

review, TDOT, in November 2003, 

referred the project back to local 

officials for further review. The James 

White Parkway—Chapman Highway 

Corridor Study Task Force, with 

technical support from the Knoxville— 

Knox County Metropolitan Planning 

Commission and the Knoxville Regional 

Transportation Planning Organization, 

conducted an extensive review of the 

project. The task force was authorized 

by the Knoxville City Council in January 

2002 and was expanded in the spring of 

2004 to include a broad cross-section of 

stakeholders from both the City of 

Knoxville and Knox County. In January 

2005, the task force recommended that 

additional alternatives be studied for 

extending James White Parkway, 

including extending the southern 

terminus to Governor John Sevier 

Highway (SR–168). 

During preparation of the EA for the 

segment of the project between Old 

Sevierville Pike and Chapman Highway, 

several environmental issues were 

identified that suggested other 

alternative alignments should be 

studied and evaluated. These identified 

issues could result in potential 

significant impacts. Therefore, due to 

potential environmental impacts in the 

study area, community concerns, and 

the desire to extend the project’s south 

terminus, the FHWA in cooperation 

with TDOT will now prepare an EIS. 

The EIS will be for a proposal to 

complete State Route 71, South 

Knoxville Boulevard, from Governor 

John Sevier Highway (State Route 168) 

to Moody Avenue in Knox County, 

Tennessee, a distance of approximately 

four miles, depending upon the 

alternative alignment that could be 

selected. 

Alternatives to be considered include: 

(1) No-build; (2) a Transportation 

System Management alternative; (3) one 

or more build alternatives that could 

include constructing a roadway on a 

new location, upgrading existing 

Chapman Highway (U.S. 441/State 

Route 33/71), or a combination of both; 

and (4) other alternatives that may arise 

from public input. Public scoping 

meetings will be held for the project 

corridor. As part of the scoping process, 

Federal, State, and local agencies and 

officials; private organizations; citizens; 

and interest groups will have an 

opportunity to identify issues of 

concern and provide input on the 

purpose and need for the project, range 

of alternatives, methodology, and the 

development of the EIS. A Coordination 

Plan will be developed to include the 

public in the project development 

process. This plan will utilize the 

following outreach efforts to provide 

information and solicit input: 

newsletters; an internet website; e-mail 

and direct mail; informational meetings 

and briefings; public hearings; and other 

efforts as necessary and appropriate. A 

public hearing will be held upon 

completion of the Draft EIS and public 

notice will be given of the time and 

place of the hearing. The Draft EIS will 

be available for public and agency 

review and comment prior to the public 

hearings. 

To ensure that the full range of issues 

related to this proposed action are 

identified and taken into account, 

comments and suggestions are invited 

from all interested parties. Comments 

and questions concerning the proposed 

action should be directed to the FHWA 

contact person at the address provided 

above. 

(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 

proposed program.) 

Issued on: April 25, 2007. 

Karen M. Brunelle, 

Planning and Program Mgmt. Team Leader, 

Nashville, TN. 

[FR Doc. E7–8250 Filed 4–30–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Highway Administration 

Environmental Impact Statement: Port 

Huron township and City of Port 

Huron, MI 

AGENCY: Federal Highway 

Administration (FHWA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of intent. 

SUMMARY: The FHWA is reissuing this 

Notice to advise the public of changes 

to the Environmental Assessment that 

was to be prepared for the proposed 

improvements to the I–94/I–69 corridor 

and the Black River Bridge in Port 

Huron Township, MI and changes to the 

Environmental Impact Statement that 

was to be prepared for the proposed 

improvements to the United States Port 

of entry Plaza for the Blue Water Bridge 

in St. Clair County, Michigan. This 

Notice revises the published Notices of 

Intent of January 27, 2005 and 

November 7, 2006. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

Ryan Rizzo, Major Projects Manager, 

Federal Highway Administration, 315 

W. Allegan Street, Room 201, Lansing, 

Michigan 48933, Telephone (517) 702– 

1833. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

FHWA in cooperation with the 

Michigan Department of Transportation 

(MDOT) is preparing an Environmental 

Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate 

alternatives for potential improvements 

to the United States Border Plaza at the 

Blue Water Bridge. 

The Blue Water Bridge is a major 

passenger and commercial border 

crossing between the United States and 

Canada and is the termination point for 

I–94 in the United States and for 

Highway 402 in Canada. MDOT owns 

and operates the Blue Water Bridge in 

conjunction with the Canadian Blue 

Water Bridge Authority (BWBA), MDOT 

also owns and operates the Blue Water 

Bridge Border Plaza. Several inspection 

agencies operate on the United States 

Plaza. The agencies are responsible for 

inspecting vehicles, goods, and people 

entering the United States and include: 

The Bureau of Customs and border 

Protection (CBO), the United States 

Department of Agriculture (USDA), and 

the Food and Drug Administration 

(FDA). The inspection agencies lease 

facilities on the United States Plaza 

from MDOT through the General 

Services Administration (GSA), which 

serves as the Federal-leasing agent. 

MDOT collects tolls from vehicles 

departing the United States for Canada 

on the plaza. 

The study area is located within the 

City of Port Huron and Port Huron 

Township. The study area consists of 

approximately 30 blocks (195 acres) of 

urban land use surrounding the existing 

plaza and ramps and extends to the west 

along I–94/I–69 approximately 2.2 

miles. The study area includes the Black 

River Bridge, Water Street interchange, 

Lapeer Connector interchange, and 

locations for possible off-site inspection 

facilities, located north of I–94/I–69 and 

west of the Water Street interchange. 

In September 2002, this project 

started as an Environmental Assessment 

(EA) and proceeded through the scoping 

phase, Purpose and Need 

documentation, and three public 

information meetings. As a result of 

identified potentially significant 

impacts, FHWA and MDOT concluded 

in 2004 that an Environmental Impact 

Statement should be completed. In 2006 

after further analysis, it was decided 

that the project could be split into two 

environmental documents: and 

Environmental Assessment for the I–94/ 

I–69 corridor improvements and an 

Environmental Impact Statement for the 

plaza project. In early 2007, after 

additional consultation with 

stakeholders and interested parties, it 

was determined that the two separate 

studies should be merged into one and 


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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 83 / Tuesday, May 1, 2007 / Notices 23883 

the I–94/I–69 improvements will be a 

part of the Environmental Impact 

Statement. 

Four plaza and transportation 

improvement alternatives have been 

identified within the recommended 

study area. Alternatives will include: (1) 

No-Build Alternative, (2) Township 

alternative with a secured I–94 corridor, 

(3) City alternative with Pine Grove 

Avenue relocated to the east and an 

unsecured I–94 corridor. 

Agency and citizen involvement will 

continue to be solicited throughout this 

process. A public hearing will be held 

on the Draft Environmental Impact 

Statement (DEIS). Public notice will be 

given of the time and place of the 

hearing. The DEIS will be available for 

public and agency review and comment 

prior to the public hearing. 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 EIS should be 

directed to the FHWA at the address 

provided above. 

Issued on: April 20, 2007. 

James J. Steele, 

Division Administrator, Lansing, Michigan. 

[FR Doc. 07–2112 Filed 4–30–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–22–M 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Motor Carrier Safety 

Administration 

[Docket No. FMCSA–2007–28055] 

Demonstration Project on NAFTA 

Trucking Provisions 

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety 

Administration (FMCSA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice; request for public 

comment. 

SUMMARY: FMCSA announces the 

initiation of a project to demonstrate the 

ability of Mexico-based motor carriers to 

operate safely in the United States 

beyond the commercial zones along the 

U.S.-Mexico border. The project is part 

of FMCSA’s implementation of the 

North American Free Trade Agreement 

(NAFTA) cross-border trucking 

provisions. The demonstration project 

will allow up to 100 Mexico-domiciled 

motor carriers to operate throughout the 

United States for one year. Up to 100 

U.S.-domiciled motor carriers will be 

granted reciprocal rights to operate in 

Mexico for the same period. 

Participating Mexican carriers and 

drivers will be required to comply with 

all applicable U.S. laws and regulations, 

including those concerned with motor 

carrier safety, customs, immigration, 

vehicle registration and taxation, and 

fuel taxation. The safety of the 

participating carriers will be tracked 

closely by FMCSA and its State 

partners, a joint U.S.-Mexico monitoring 

group, and an evaluation panel 

independent of the Department of 

Transportation (DOT). The resulting 

data will be considered carefully before 

further decisions are made concerning 

the implementation of the NAFTA 

trucking provisions. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before May 31, 2007. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

identified by DOT DMS Docket Number 

FMCSA–2007–28055 by any of the 

following methods: <bullet≤ Web Site: http://dms.dot.gov. 

Follow the instructions for submitting 

comments on the DOT electronic docket 

site. 

<bullet≤ Fax: 1–202–493–2251. 

<bullet≤ Mail: Docket Management 

Facility, U.S. Department of 

Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, 

SW., Nassif Building, Room PL–401, 

Washington, DC 20590–0001. <bullet≤ Hand Delivery: Room PL– 

401 on the plaza level of the Nassif 

Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 

Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. <bullet≤ Federal eRulemaking Portal: 

Go to www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

online instructions for submitting 

comments. 

Instructions: All submissions must 

include the Agency name and docket 

number for this notice. For detailed 

instructions on submitting comments 

and additional information, see the 

Public Participation heading below. 

Note that all comments received will be 

posted without change to http:// 

dms.dot.gov, including any personal 

information provided. Please see the 

Privacy Act heading below. Docket: For access to the docket to 

read background documents or 

comments received, go to http:// 

dms.dot.gov at any time or to Room PL– 

401 on the plaza level of the Nassif 

Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 

Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search 

the electronic form of all comments 

received into any of our dockets by the 

name of the individual submitting the 

comment (or signing the comment, if 

submitted on behalf of an association, 

business, labor union, etc.). You may 

review DOT’s complete Privacy Act 

Statement in the Federal Register 

published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 

19477–78) or you may visit http:// 

dms.dot.gov. 

Public Participation: The DMS is 

available 24 hours each day, 365 days 

each year. You can get electronic 

submission and retrieval help and 

guidelines under the ‘‘help’’ section of 

the DMS Web site. Comments received 

after the comment closing date will be 

included in the docket, and will be 

considered to the extent practicable. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

Milt Schmidt, Division Chief, North 

American Borders Division, Federal 

Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 

400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, 

DC 20590–0001. Telephone (202) 366– 

4049; e-mail milt.schmidt@dot.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

Before 1982, Mexico- and Canadadomiciled motor carriers could apply to 

the Interstate Commerce Commission 

(ICC) for authority to operate within the 

United States. As a result of complaints 

that U.S. motor carriers were not 

allowed the same access to Mexican and 

Canadian markets that carriers from 

those nations enjoyed in this country, 

the Bus Regulatory Reform Act of 1982 

imposed a moratorium on the issuance 

of new grants of operating authority to 

motor carriers domiciled, or owned or 

controlled by someone, in Canada or 

Mexico. While the disagreement with 

Canada was quickly resolved, the issue 

of trucking reciprocity with Mexico was 

not. Currently, most Mexican carriers 

are allowed to operate only within the 

border commercial zones extending 

approximately 25 miles into the United 

States. Every year Mexico-domiciled 

commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) 

cross into the U.S. about 4.5 million 

times. U.S.-domiciled motor carriers are 

not authorized to operate in Mexico at 

all. 

Trucking issues at the U.S./Mexico 

border were not fully addressed until 

NAFTA in the early 1990s, when both 

nations agreed to change their policies. 

NAFTA required the United States 

incrementally to lift the moratorium on 

licensing Mexico-domiciled motor 

carriers to operate beyond the border 

zones. On January 1, 1994, the President 

modified the moratorium and the ICC 

began accepting applications from 

Mexico-domiciled passenger carriers to 

conduct international charter and tour 

bus operations in the United States. In 

December 1995, the ICC published a 

rule and a revised application form for 

the processing of Mexico-domiciled 


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