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Environmental Impact Statement: Mason County, Washington

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

 [Federal Register: April 17, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 74)]
[Notices]
[Page 20511-20512]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17ap00-153]

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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

 
 

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