[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 197 (Friday, October 12, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58148-58149]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-5049]



[[Page 58148]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: High Desert Corridor, State Route 
18

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice is to inform agencies and the public that an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for a project in 
San Bernardino, California. Furthermore, it is advised that 
environmental review, consultation, and any other action required in 
accordance with applicable Federal laws and regulations for this 
project is being, or has been, carried out by the California Department 
of Transportation (Caltrans) under its July 1, 2007 assumption of all 
the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary's 
responsibilities under National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
pursuant to Section 6005 of SAFETEA-LU codified in 23 U.S.C. 
327(a)(2)(A).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Russell Williams, Acting Office 
Chief, Environmental Oversight, California Department of Transportation 
District 8, 464 W. Fourth Street, San Bernardino, CA 92401. Telephone: 
(909) 383-1554.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The California Department of Transportation 
(Caltrans), in cooperation with the city of Victorville, will prepare 
an EIS on the proposal to construct a portion of the High Desert 
Corridor (HDC), in San Bernardino County, California. The proposed 
project would involve construction of a freeway/expressway to realign 
State Route (SR) 18 on new alignment from US 395 in the City of 
Adelanto to SR 18 near the Town of Apple Valley for a distance of 
approximately 21 miles. This notice of intent is prepared in accordance 
with 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22.
    In addition, to NEPA, the project is required to comply with the 
efficient environmental review process pursuant to the Safe, 
Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2003--
A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) Section 6002 codified at 23 U.S.C. 138. 
The process is intended to promote efficient project management by the 
NEPA lead agency and to provide enhanced opportunities for coordination 
and accountability with the public as, well as, Federal, State, local, 
and tribal government agencies during the project development process. 
The process will include activities such as invitation of participating 
and cooperating agencies, preparation of a coordination plan, and 
establishment of a statute of limitations on the EIS. Pursuant to 
SAFETEA-LU Section 6002, sponsor agencies are required to notify the 
Secretary of Transportation of the type of work, termini, length, and 
general location of the project, together with a statement of Federal 
approvals anticipated to be necessary for the proposed project. 
Issuance of this notice will serve to meet these requirements for 
initiation of the environmental review process.
    Currently, SR 18 exists as a four-lane conventional highway with 
numerous signalized intersections, business districts and congestion 
bottlenecks which restrict accessibility and mobility for east-west 
travel, and reduces throughput and safety for interregional travel in 
Victor Valley. The purpose of the project is to maximize accessibility 
to major economic generators such as the Southern California Logistics 
Airport and the industrial park surrounding Apple Valley Airport, 
improve mobility for interregional travel and truck/goods movement by 
providing freeway/expressway connectivity between regional routes US 
395, I-15, and SR 18. Improvements to the corridor are considered 
necessary to alleviate the projected traffic demand for the increasing 
population growth in the area. Another goal of the project is to 
maintain consistency with the overall development of the High Desert 
Corridor and the future Victor Valley Beltway.
    It is proposed to construct a ``stand alone'' phase of the HDC in 
Victor Valley from US 395 in Adelanto to SR 18 of the Town of Apple 
Valley, a distance of approximately 21 miles. A preferred Alternative 
has not been selected at this point, but two Build Alternatives will be 
analyzed along with the No-Build Alternative. Alternative 1, known as 
the north alignment, would construct the HDC as a multi-lane freeway/
expressway on new alignment from U.S. 395 to continue east between the 
Southern California Logistics Airport and the proposed new Federal 
Prison in Victorville. The new alignment would cross the Mojave River 
and the BNSF mainline, intersect I-15 north of the Stoddard Wells Road 
Interchange, travel east through the industrial section of the Town of 
Apple Valley, then turn south to meet existing SR 18. In addition, at 
least 6 interchanges, 8 bridge/undercrossing structures, 5 grade 
intersections, and at least 300 ft. of right of way are proposed for 
Alternative 1.
    Alternative 2, from US 395 to I-15, would follow the same alignment 
as Alternative 1 from U.S. 395 to just west of I-15. Alternative 2 
would then swing south to tie into SR 18 near Rimrock Road. This 
section of the alternative from east of I-15 will be constructed as an 
access controlled highway. On the east of I-15, Alternative 2 will be 
on new alignment for about 3.5 miles and then it will replace existing 
SR 18 for about 6 miles. Alternative 2 will meet SR 18 in the same 
location as Alternative 1. In addition, at least 4 interchanges, 8 at 
grade intersections, and 200-300 ft of right of way are proposed for 
Alternative 2.
    The two Alternatives will be studied and refined through efforts 
conducted under the National Environmental Policy Act (40 CFR parts 
1500-1508 and 23 CFR part 771), the Clean Air Act Amendments, Section 
404 of the Clean Water Act, Executive Order 12898 regarding 
Environmental Justice, the National Historic Preservation Act, the 
Federal Endangered Species Act, the Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department 
of Transportation Act, and other federal environmental protection laws, 
regulations, policies, and executive orders. Based on available 
information, the project is anticipated to require a Clean Water Act 
404 permit, a right-of-way use permit from the Bureau of Land 
Management. In addition, consultation is anticipated under Section 7 of 
the FESA and Section 106 of the NHPA.
    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. The EIS will 
incorporate comments from the public scoping process as well as 
analysis from environmental and engineering technical studies. Other 
alternatives suggested during the scoping process would be considered 
during the development of the EIS. Letters describing the proposed 
action and soliciting comments will be sent to appropriate Federal, 
State, and Local agencies, and to private organizations and citizens 
who have previously expressed or are known to have interest in this 
proposal. Location and details of the public scoping meeting for the 
proposed project will be advertised in local newspapers and other 
media. Comments or questions concerning this proposed action and the 
EIS should be directed to Caltrans at the address indicated 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 program.)


[[Page 58149]]


    Issued on: September 28, 2007.
David Tedrick,
Project Development Team Leader, South Region, California Division, 
Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 07-5049 Filed 10-11-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M