Environmental Impact Statement: Yellowstone County, Montana
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: August 13, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 156)]
[Notices]
[Page 48441-48442]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13au03-150]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: Yellowstone County, Montana
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
environmental impact statement will be prepared for a proposed highway
project in Yellowstone County, Montana.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dale Paulson, Program Development
Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 2880 Skyway Drive, Helena,
Montana 59602, Telephone: (406) 449-5302, ext. 233; or Fred Bente,
Consultant Design, Montana Department of Transportation, 2701 Prospect
Avenue, P.O. Box 201001, Helena, Montana 59620-1001, Telephone: (406)
444-7634.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Montana
Department of Transportation will prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS) on a proposal to construct a bypass route north of
Billings in Yellowstone County, Montana. The proposed bypass route
would be located north of the Billings Logan International Airport
between Interstate 94 (I-94) and Montana Highway 3 (MT 3), a distance
of approximately 24 km (15 miles), and would include connections to I-
94, Highway 312, US 87, and MT 3.
Improvements to the corridor are considered necessary to improve
the Camino-Real International Trade Corridor and alleviate congestion
on a number of principal arterial streets in northeast Billings. The
bypass could also help to improve air quality in the Billings urban
area, which is currently designated as a non-attainment area for carbon
monoxide (CO), by reducing stopping and idling times for traffic.
Alternatives under consideration include (1) taking no action; (2)
constructing a new bypass route.
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 an interest in this proposal. An extensive public
involvement process will be conducted to solicit views and comments
from the appropriate agencies and interested private organizations and
citizens. The process will include a Billings Bypass Advisory
Committee,
[[Page 48442]]
public meetings & workshops, a public hearing, and presentations &
meetings with community interest groups. 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. No formal scoping meeting date has been set at this time.
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.)
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 49 CFR 1.48.
Issued on: August 5, 2003.
Dale W. Paulson,
Program Development Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, Montana
Division, Helena, Montana.
[FR Doc. 03-20540 Filed 8-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M
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