[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 7, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13683-13684]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-5462]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Notice To Rescind a Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement: Highway US-30, Schuyler to Fremont Colfax and Dodge 
Counties, NE

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice to rescind a Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that the 
Notice of Intent (NOI) for the preparation of an Environmental Impact 
Statement for the US Highway 30, Schuyler to Fremont project in Colfax

[[Page 13684]]

and Dodge Counties, Nebraska, is being rescinded. The NOI was published 
in the Federal Register on August 29, 2005. This rescission is based on 
the desire of the Nebraska Department of Roads to fund the project 
entirely with newly acquired state funds. NDOR plans to have the 
improvements completed with state funds in the FY 2016-2019 timeframe.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melissa Maiefski, Program Delivery 
Team Lead, FHWA, Nebraska Division, 100 Centennial Mall North, Room 
220, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508, Telephone: (402)742-8473.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 29, 2005, FHWA and NDOR announced 
their intent to prepare an EIS pursuant to 40 CFR 1508.22 for the 
proposed improvements along a 26-mile segment of US-30, from Schuyler, 
Nebraska to Fremont, Nebraska. In an effort to develop a preliminary 
purpose and need statement and a reasonable range of alternatives, the 
NDOR convened a local public interest advisory group in 2005, which was 
comprised of residents, stakeholders, and local officials from the 
study area. In December 2006, the advisory group prepared a majority 
and a minority recommendation for a locally preferred solution, along 
with other reasonable alternatives. This recommendation was to be 
considered in the development of the range of alternatives to be 
studied in the EIS. After completion of the advisory group's work, NDOR 
reviewed the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and 
determined that funding for construction of the project was not likely 
to be available for the foreseeable future; therefore, the 
environmental process was halted until a financial plan could be 
identified. In 2009, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) 
began public meetings related to a Section 205 study of flood 
protection measures for the City of Fremont that included alternatives 
in the US-30 corridor. Although funding for construction of US-30 
improvements was still uncertain, NDOR and FHWA determined that it 
would be beneficial for the US-30 environmental process to resume, 
coordinated with the USACE improvements. In 2011, NDOR was beginning to 
draft a Coordination Plan in accordance with Section 6002 of SAFETEA-LU 
to outline the process of agency and public participation during the 
environmental review process, when the Nebraska State Legislature 
enacted LB84, legislation which will divert \1/4\ cent of the sales tax 
revenue for road construction projects for the next 20 years, beginning 
in 2013. NDOR has requested to rescind the Notice of Intent to Prepare 
an EIS due to the enactment of LB84 and the resulting availability of 
state funds to deliver this project. Further, NDOR will continue to 
coordinate closely with appropriate agencies, seek public involvement, 
and undergo environmental evaluations pursuant to their State 
environmental process. Comments or questions concerning the rescission 
of this proposed action and the EIS should be directed to the FHWA at 
the address provided above.

    Authority:  23 U.S.C. 315; 49 CFR 1.48.

    Dated: February 28, 2012.
Joseph A. Werning,
Division Administrator, Nebraska.
[FR Doc. 2012-5462 Filed 3-6-12; 8:45 am]
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