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Environmental Impact Statement: Anchorage, AK

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

 [Federal Register: January 2, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 1)]
[Notices]
[Page 127]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02ja01-85]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Anchorage, AK

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and Alaska Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF).

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and the Council on
Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing the Procedural
Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) is issuing this notice to advise the public that
an environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared for a proposed
transportation improvement project in the Municipality of Anchorage
(MOA), Alaska. The purpose of the proposed project is to mitigate
congestion along an existing transportation corridor and to provide for
future transportation demands.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim A. Haugh, Environmental/Right-of-
way Specialist, Federal Highway Administration, Alaska Division Office,
709 W. 9th Street, Room 851, P.O. Box 21648, Juneau, Alaska 99802-1648.
Telephone 907/586-7430. Jim Childers, P.E., Project Manager, Alaska
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, Preliminary Design
& Environmental, P.O. Box 196900, Anchorage, Alaska 99519-6900.
Telephone 907/269-0544.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA),
in cooperation with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public
Facilities (ADOT&PF), intends to prepare an EIS on a proposal to
relieve congestion on the New Seward Highway from Rabbit Creek Road to
36th Avenue (Interstate Route I-A3-1) and to provide for future
transportation demand in the corridor. Alternatives under consideration
include but are not limited to:
    (1) No build; continued current use of roadways, may include short-
term minor restoration types of activities (safety and maintenance
improvements) that maintain continuing operation of the existing
roadway;
    (2) Highway mainline, frontage road, and bicycle/pedestrian
improvements, including new grade separations for improved east-west
mobility and/or modifications to existing interchanges;
    (3) Transportation System Management (TSM) and/or Transportation
Demand Management (TDM) Strategies;
    (4) Traffic Operations/Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS);
    (5) Public Transit Improvements:
     Commuter rail strategies
     Light rail strategies
     Other transit improvements;
    (6) Other improvements to the existing arterial road system. The
Campbell Creek wetlands and the Areawide Trails System would be
accommodated as part of the proposed action alternatives. The project
corridor is not currently served by other modes of public
transportation, such as the ``People Mover'' bus system or the Alaska
Railroad.
    The proposed project is necessary to meet Anchorage's future
transportation needs. An increase in population as well as new
commercial and residential development in south and east Anchorage have
resulted in a need to improve travel to and from these areas. The
proposed action is an integral part of the Anchorage Metropolitan Area
Transportation Study (AMATS) Long Range Transportation Plan and
Transportation Improvements Plan, and the MOA Official Streets and
Highways Plan.
    The Anchorage area is currently listed as a serious non-attainment
area relative to carbon monoxide emissions. This non-attainment is in
part a result of traffic congestion. The proposed action would aid in
relieving traffic congestion in south Anchorage.
    The scoping process will include the use of newsletters, internet
website, and meetings soliciting comments from appropriate Federal,
State, and local agencies, beginning in December, 2000 and continuing
throughout 2001. Private organizations and citizens who have an
interest in this proposal will also be notified. A public hearing will
be scheduled and a series of public meetings will be held in the
communities adjacent to and served by the New Seward Highway. Public
notice will be given of the time and place of the meetings and hearing.
To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed action
are addressed and all significant issues identified, written public
input, comments and suggestions on environmental issues or concerns
related to the proposed improvements are invited from all interested
parties. Comments should be submitted to the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) or the Alaska Department of Transportation and
Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) at the addresses provided above. (Catalog
of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20-205, Highway Research,
Planning and Construction)

    Dated: December 20, 2000.
Karen A. Schmidt,
Assistant Division Administrator.
[FR Doc. 00-33376 Filed 12-29-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EM-M

 
 

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