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Environmental Impact Statement: Kootenai County, Idaho

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

 [Federal Register: October 3, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 192)]
[Notices]
[Page 59043-59044]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03oc00-95]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Kootenai County, Idaho

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42
U.S.C. 4321; 40 CFR 1508.22; 23 CFR 771.123(a), the FHWA is issuing
this notice to advise the public that an environmental impact statement
will be prepared for a proposed highway project in Kootenai County,
Idaho near the city of Coeur d'Alene.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Victoria Peters, Design Operations
Engineer or Christy Darden, Project Manager, Federal Highway
Administration, 610 East Fifth Street, Vancouver, Washington 98661,
telephone 360-696-7700.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in partnership with the U.S.
Forest Service, East Side Highway District, and Idaho Department of
Transportation, will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on
a proposal to improve Fernan Lake Road also known as Idaho Forest
Highway 80. The section proposed for improvement begins at Fernan
Village, outside of Coeur d'Alene, and ends at Fernan Saddle for a
distance of approximately 17.2 kilometers (10.7 miles).
    Fernan Lake Road provides access to Idaho Panhandle National Forest
(IPNF). Because it is located close to the population in Coeur d'Alene
and has direct access to I-90, Fernan Lake Road has a high vehicle
usage. The recreational usage creates a dangerous mix of users
including bicyclists, pedestrians, cars, recreational vehicles, timber
haulers, trucks and school buses along this substandard paved road.
    The existing Fernan Lake Road is narrow, has numerous sharp curves,
a failing subgrade, a deteriorating road surface, and a substandard
horizontal alignment which limits sight distance (``blind curves'').
There are no developed recreational parking areas and very few turnouts
along Fernan Lake, so users park along the road,

[[Page 59044]]

creating a safety hazard. Safety hazards are created by a narrow road
with sharp curves and a surface that is in poor condition. The reported
accidents over a period of approximately five years (January 1994 to
December 1998) are two to three times higher than typical for this type
of road. Solutions are needed to reduce the rate and severity of
accidents and to provide for the current and projected traffic demand.
    The overall purpose of the project is to cost effectively improve
the physical conditions and safety features of Fernan Lake Road, while
minimizing adverse impacts to sensitive environmental resources.
Project objectives will be based on the needs developed during the
scoping process. All improvements must be consistent with the
applicable guidelines from the IPNF Forest Plan, Kootenai County plans
and ordinances, Idaho state regulations, and federal regulations.
    Alternatives under consideration include (1) taking no action; (2)
improving the existing road to meet the appropriate Idaho state design
criteria; (3) improving the existing road to meet the appropriate
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
(AASHTO) design criteria; (4) other alternatives that may be developed
during the NEPA process.
    Notices 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
interest in this proposal. Two public scoping meetings were held during
2000 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Based in part on data collected and
comments received, FHWA has determined that it will prepare an EIS on
the project. Comments previously received will be utilized during the
EIS. Additional interagency and public scoping activities will be
conducted. The time and place of the public scoping activities will be
provided in the local news media and by notice to individuals and
agencies that have expressed interest in the proposal. The draft EIS
will be available for public and agency review and comment. Schedules
for these activities will be distributed when available this winter.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed
action are addresses and all significant issues identified, comments
and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Previous
comments received by FHWA have identified a number of issues such as
impacts to private landowners, water quality, wetlands, and wildlife,
as well as, hillside stability, placement of fill in the lake, tree
removal, and parking along the roadway. 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 Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental
consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this
program.)

    Issued on: September 27, 2000.
Ronald W. Carmichael,
Division Engineer, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-25328 Filed 10-2-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M

 
 

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