[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 14 (Thursday, January 22, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3303-3304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-01062]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement: Henderson County, 
Illinois

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 (EIS) will be prepared for 
the proposed widening and reconstruction of US 34 in Henderson County, 
Illinois.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine A. Batey, Division 
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, 3250 Executive Park 
Drive, Springfield, Illinois 62703, Phone: (217) 492-4600. Kensil A. 
Garnett, P.E. Acting Deputy Director of Highways, Region 3 Engineer, 
Illinois Department of Transportation, 401 Main Street, Peoria, 
Illinois 61602, Phone: (309) 671-3333.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Illinois 
Department of Transportation (IDOT), will prepare a Supplemental EIS 
for the proposed widening and reconstruction of US 34 in Henderson 
County. The original EIS study limits were Carman Road (east of the 
Village of Gulfport) to the Village of Monmouth, Illinois, a total 
distance of approximately 24.8 miles, for which the Record of Decision 
was issued on August 18, 2003. The purpose of the project is to re-
evaluate alternatives due to decertification of the Mississippi River 
levees in the portion near Gulfport. The anticipated project termini 
for this Supplemental EIS are from approximately one mile west of 
Carman Road to just east of TR 111 in Henderson County, a study area of 
approximately 8.2 miles.
    The Supplemental EIS will evaluate alternatives including a No 
Action Alternative and various Build Alternatives. The Supplemental EIS 
will develop and evaluate a range of reasonable alternatives with an 
ultimate outcome of a single preferred alternative that addresses the 
type of facility to be

[[Page 3304]]

implemented, roadway horizontal and vertical alignment, and preliminary 
interchange/intersection geometrics. Engineering and environmental 
conditions will be evaluated in order to determine an alignment that 
meets the transportation needs of the region while minimizing the 
impacts to the environment.
    The Supplemental EIS will evaluate potential effects on the social, 
economic, natural and physical environments, including land use and 
socioeconomic conditions, ecological resources, and cultural resources. 
Potentially affected resources include: Agricultural, residential and 
commercial properties; streams, wetlands and floodplains; forested 
areas and potentially historic properties. Preliminary measures to 
minimize harm, estimates of probable construction costs and estimated 
right-of-way requirements will be developed as part of this study.
    Public involvement is a critical component of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) project development process and will 
occur throughout the development of the environmental document. This 
document will be made available for review by federal and state 
resource agencies and the public. Public informational meetings, local 
government meetings, property owner meetings and other community 
organization meetings will provide opportunities for public input. A 
public hearing will be held at the time the Draft Supplemental EIS is 
made available for public and agency review and comment. Public notice 
will be given of the time and place of public meetings and hearings. 
Comments or questions regarding this proposed action and the 
Supplemental EIS are invited from all interested parties and should be 
directed to the FHWA or the IDOT at the addresses provided above.

(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 
program.)

     Issued On: January 15, 2015.
Catherine A. Batey,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Springfield, 
Illinois.
[FR Doc. 2015-01062 Filed 1-21-15; 8:45 am]
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