[Federal Register: January 2, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 1)]
[Notices]               
[Page 162]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02ja09-66]                         


[[Page 162]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

 
Environmental Impact Statement; Pierce County, WA

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Washington State 
Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for a proposed 
highway project on State Route 302 (SR) from Key Peninsula Highway to 
SR 16 in Pierce County, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wendy L. McAbee, Olympic Region Area 
Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 711 S. Capital Way, Suite 
501, Olympia, Washington 98507, (360) 753-9025, e-mail: 
wendy.mcabee@dot.gov or contact John P. Donahue, Project Manager, 
Washington State Department of Transportation, 5720 Capitol Boulevard, 
Tumwater, Washington 98501, (360) 357-2788, e-mail: 
donahjo@wsdot.wa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with WSDOT, will 
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposal to 
address existing and long-term safety and congestion conditions on 
State Route 302 (SR) corridor from Key Peninsula Highway to SR 16 in 
Pierce County, Washington. This corridor is approximately 7.6 miles 
long, and is located between milepost 10.55 and milepost 16.87 on SR 
302, and milepost 15.85 and milepost 17.13 on SR 302 Spur.
    Improvements to the corridor are considered necessary to provide 
for the existing and projected traffic demand and improve connectivity 
between communities on the Key Peninsula and State Route 16. The 
proposed project would provide an efficient and functional 
transportation route along the SR 302 corridor between SR 302 at Key 
Peninsula Highway and SR 16. The proposed action will also increase the 
level of safety for travelers.
    State Route 302 from SR 3 to SR 16 was studied in 1993 to determine 
alternatives for improving the corridor. The study recommended several 
potential alternatives and performing an EIS. Traffic information 
gathered in 2007 revealed dramatic differences in safety and congestion 
statistics east and west of Key Peninsula Highway and SR 302. As a 
result, the logical study endpoints of the project were found to lie 
between Key Peninsula Highway and SR 16. Multiple opportunities have 
been provided for public involvement in defining the project purpose 
and need and determining the range of reasonable alternatives to be 
considered for the project in the EIS. WSDOT is currently in the middle 
of an extensive alternatives screening process in order to evaluate a 
comprehensive list of project alternatives. Further opportunities for 
the public to comment will be provided throughout the Environmental 
Impact Statement process.
    Scoping 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. A series of 
public meetings will be held throughout the environmental process. In 
addition, a public hearing will be held. Public notice will be given of 
the time and place of the meetings and hearing. The draft EIS will be 
available for public and agency review and comment prior to the public 
hearing. A formal scoping meeting with resource agencies is scheduled 
for January 12, 2009. Resource agencies were notified 30 days prior to 
the meeting date. A public scoping meeting is also planned for mid-
January 2009.
    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. Comments or 
questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS should be 
directed to the FHWA at the address provided 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.)

    Issued on: December 23, 2008.
Wendy McAbee,
Area Engineer, Washington Division, Federal Highways Administration.
 [FR Doc. E8-31198 Filed 12-31-08; 8:45 am]

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