[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 14 (Friday, January 23, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 4280]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-1385]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement Adoption; Washington, DC

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 of its 
intent to adopt an existing Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
in accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality regulations, 40 
CFR 1506.3. The Final EIS has been prepared and approved by the General 
Services Administration (GSA), National Capital Region.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jack Van Dop, Senior Technical 
Specialist, Federal Highway Administration, 21400 Ridgetop Circle, 
Sterling, VA 20166, Telephone 703-404-6282

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded by using a 
computer, modem and suitable communications software from 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.nara.gov/fedreg and the Government Printing Office's Web 
site at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara. The Final EIS, prepared by GSA 
is posted at http://www.stelizabethswestcampus.com. A related Section 
4(f) Evaluation, prepared by FHWA is posted at the above project Web 
site as well as at http://www.efl.fhwa.dot.gov/projects-environment.aspx. A hard copy of the GSA Final EIS and the Section 4(f) 
Evaluation can be viewed at the following location until March 30, 
2009: Federal Highway Administration, Eastern Federal Lands Highway 
Division, 21400 Ridgetop Circle, Sterling, VA 20166.

Background

    The FHWA, in cooperation with the District of Columbia Department 
of Transportation (DDOT) intends to adopt those portions of an approved 
Final EIS, related to the specific transportation aspects, for 
consolidation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Headquarters 
offices located in the District of Columbia. The FHWA, in consultation 
with the DDOT, will determine if additional documentation will be 
provided as a supplement to this Final EIS prior to issuing a decision 
document. The Final EIS was prepared by the General Services 
Administration, National Capital Region. The FHWA, DDOT and other 
federal agencies are cooperating agencies for this Final EIS. The 
Revised Notice of Intent for the EIS appeared in the FR, Volume 72, 
Number 124, June 28, 2007. The project consists of consolidation of the 
DHS Headquarters at the St. Elizabeths Campus in Southeast Washington, 
DC. DHS requested that GSA fulfill its requirement of collocating 4.5 
million gross square feet of office; with parking, the project would 
accommodate up to 6.4 million gross square feet of development and 
adaptive re-use. The EIS considered the social, environmental, and 
economic impacts of the project. The No-Action alternative, three 
campus redevelopment alternatives, four interchange alternatives (I-
295/Malcolm X Interchange) and a transportation no-build alternative 
were considered in the Final EIS.

Agency Action

    The FHWA action subject to the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act for this project is approval of modifications 
to the I-295/Malcolm X Interchange, and a related access road. Approval 
of modifications to the interchange may have the potential to impact 
other transportation infrastructure in the District of Columbia. The 
GSA preferred alternative is identified in the Final EIS. In accordance 
with 49 U.S.C. 303, the FHWA has also prepared and coordinated the 
distribution of a Section 4(f) Evaluation for the project. The 
Evaluation assesses the reasonable transportation alternatives subject 
to Section 4(f) to determine if they are they are the only feasible and 
prudent alternatives pursuant to Section 4(f). In addition, FHWA will 
prepare its own Record of Decision for the Selected Alternative in 
accordance with 40 CFR 1505.2.

(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 action.)

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

    Dated: January 14, 2009.
Karen A. Schmidt,
Director, Program Administration.
[FR Doc. E9-1385 Filed 1-22-09; 8:45 am]
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