[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 74 (Monday, April 17, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20511-20512]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-9518]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Mason County, Washington

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA hereby gives notice that it intends to prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) for a proposed highway project in 
Mason County, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James A. Leonard, Transportation 
and Environmental Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 711 Capitol 
Way, Suite 501, Olympia, WA 98501, Telephone: (360) 753-9408; or Mr. 
Jerry W. Hauth, Mason County Director of Public Works, Courthouse Bldg 
1, 411 North 5th Street, PO Box 1850, Shelton, WA 98584, Telephone: 
(360) 427-9670.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded using a modem 
and suitable communications software from the Government Printing 
Office's Electronic Bulletin Board Service at (202) 512-1661. Internet 
users may reach the Office of the Federal Register's home page at: 
http://www.access.gpo.gov.nara.

Background

    The FHWA, in cooperation with the Washington State Department of 
Transportation and Mason County, will prepare an EIS to design, acquire 
land, and construct highway connector from SR 3 (south of Belfair, near 
the Location of the North Mason High School) to US 101 (north of 
Shelton). Access between the communities of Belfair and Shelton is 
currently provided by SR 3 and SR 106. Both of these are narrow two-
lane farm-to-market routes that follow the shoreline on each side of 
the peninsula. All of the regional county roads feed into these two 
state highways. Congestion is already a concern during peak commuter 
hours and there are several high accident locations in the region. The 
high number of residential access points along all of SR 106 and 
section of SR 3 exacerbate the safety problem. In addition, both routes 
are subject to frequent landslides, and are constrained by steep 
topography, marine shorelines and limited right of way. Currently 
adopted traffic projections show that all of the major county road 
intersections on SR 3, and most of mainline SR 3 will fall below 
acceptable levels of service standards before the year 2020. 
Improvements to the corridor are considered necessary to provide for 
existing and projected traffic demand.
    The EIS will include an evaluation of the no build alternative, as 
well as improvements to the existing highways and several practicable 
alignment alternatives for possible new connector routes.
    The EIS will examine the short and long-term impacts on both the 
natural and physical environment. The impact assessment will include, 
but not limited to, impacts on wetlands, wildlife, and fisheries; 
social environment; changes in lands use; aesthetics; change in 
traffic; and economic impacts. The EIS will also examine measures to 
mitigate significant adverse impacts that may result from the proposed 
action.
    Comments are being solicited from appropriate Federal, State, and 
local agencies, and from private organizations and citizens, who have 
interest in this proposal. Public information meetings will be held in 
the area as part of the scoping process to discuss public concerns and 
suggestions about the project. An agency scoping meeting will also be 
scheduled to discuss agency concerns. The draft EIS will be available 
to public and agency review prior to the public hearing which will be 
scheduled to receive comments. Public notice will be given of the time 
and place of all meeting and hearings.
    Comments and/or suggestions from all interested parties are 
requested to ensure that the full range of all issues, and significant 
environmental and social issues in particular, are identified, reviewed 
and addressed. Comments and questions concerning this proposed action 
and/or its EIS should be directed to the FHWA or Mason County at the 
address listed above.

(Catalog of Federal domestic Assistant Programs 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)



[[Page 20512]]


    Issued on April 5, 2000.
James A. Leonard,
Transportation & Environmental Engineer, Olympia, WA.
[FR Doc. 00-9518 Filed 4-14-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M