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Environmental Impact Statement: Harris and Montgomery Counties, Texas

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

 [Federal Register: January 5, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 3)]
[Notices]
[Page 549-550]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05ja00-105]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Harris and Montgomery Counties,
Texas

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 that an
environment impact statement will be prepared for a proposed
transportation improvement project in Harris and Montgomery Counties,
Texas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John Mack, P.E., Federal Highway
Administration, Texas Division, 826 Federal Bldg., 300 East 8th Street,
Austin, Texas 78701, Telephone 512-916-5516.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Texas
Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and The Grand Parkway Association,
will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposal to
upgrade the existing road network in Harris and Montgomery Counties.
The proposed improvements being considered, as shown in the Region's
Long-Range Transportation Plan, are a multilane controlled access
facility in northern Harris and Montgomery Counties which would be part
of a third circumferential loop (State Highway 99) around Houston. The
proposed improvement length is approximately 13 miles. Improvements in
this area are necessary to provide mobility to the growing area of
northwest Harris and Montgomery Counties. A Draft EIS will evaluate
various transportation alternatives between Interstate 45 (North) and
United States Highway 59 (North). The majority of this corridor crosses
relatively undeveloped properties in Harris and Montgomery Counties,
although subdivision has occurred in portions. Among the alternatives
to be studied are the ``No-action'' alternative, Transportation System
Management (TSM) alternative, Mass Transit alternative and Roadway
Build alternative. Cities and towns in this region include Spring, New
Caney and Porter. This study is authorized pursuant to the Texas
Transportation Commission Minute Order No. 108744 issued May 27, 1999.
    The scoring meeting will be on February 3, 2000, at Kingwood
College, 20000 Kingwood Drive from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Large scale maps
with environmental and social features will be available at the
meeting, and several

[[Page 550]]

corridors will be shown on these maps. These maps and corridors will
reflect input from public workshops held in August 1999. The scoping
process will continue throughout the development of the environmental
document.
    Impacts caused by the construction and operation of the facility
will vary according to the transportation alternative utilized.
Generally, impacts would include the following: transportation impacts
(construction detours, construction traffic, mobility improvement and
evacuation route improvement), air and noise impacts from construction
equipment and operation of the facility, water quality impacts from
construction area and roadway storm water runoff, impacts to waters of
the United States including wetlands from right of way encroachment,
and impacts to residents and businesses based on potential
displacements.
    Letters describing the proposed action 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. 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 Environmental Impact Statement 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 governmental consultation on Federal
programs and activities apply to this program.)

    Issued on December 23, 1999.
Wilbur Lee Gibbons,
P.E., Urban Program Engineer, Austin, Texas.
[FR Doc. 00-200 Filed 01-04-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M

 
 

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