Environmental Impact Statement; Kandiyohi County, MN
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: May 15, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 93)]
[Notices]
[Page 28075-28076]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15my06-89]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement; Kandiyohi County, MN
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 (EIS) will be prepared for proposed
highway improvements to Trunk Highway (TH) 71 and TH 23 from the
Willmar Bypass to the north junction of TH 71 and TH 23, located
northeast of the City of Willmar in Dovre Township, a distance of
approximately 3.5 miles, in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Martin, Federal Highway
Administration, Galtier Plaza, Suite 500,
[[Page 28076]]
380 Jackson Street, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101, Telephone (651) 291-
6120; or Lowell Flaten, Project Manager, Minnesota Department of
Transportation--District 8, 2505 Transportation Road, Willmar,
Minnesota 56201, Telephone (320) 214-3698; (800) 627-3529 TTY.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Minnesota
Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT), will prepare an EIS to improve
safety on the shared alignment section of TH 71 and TH 23 in Dovre
Township, northeast of the City of Willmar, a distance of approximately
3.5 miles, in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. This segment of highway is a
rural four-lane divided facility with at-grade intersections at public
roadways. The proposed action includes the construction of highway
access modifications, new bridges and ramps for grade-separated highway
crossings, frontage road extensions and local roadway connections
between the existing TH 71/TH 23 highway slit on the north and TH 71/TH
23 at TH 294 (Business 71) on the south. Improvements to the corridor
are being considered to improve safety and mobility. Improvements will
also assist in managing additional traffic growth that will occur with
local and regional planned commercial and residential developments.
The EIS will evaluate the social, economic, transportation and
environmental impacts of alternatives, including: (1) No-Build and (2)
``Build'' alternatives with variations in design and interchange
locations along the existing highway corridor, including design
variations of grade and alignment. 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 interest in this
proposal. A series of public meetings will be held in the project area
from summer 2006 to early 2008. The ``Trunk Highway 71/23 Improvement
Project Scoping Document/Draft Scoping Decision Document'' will be
published in early summer 2006. A press release will be published to
inform the public of the document's availability. Copies of the scoping
document will be distributed to agencies, interested persons and
libraries for review to aid in identifying issues and analyses for
review to aid in identifying issues and analyses to be contained in the
EIS. A thirty-day comment period for review of the document will be
provided to afford an opportunity for all interested persons, agencies
and groups to comment on the proposed action. A public scoping meeting
will also be held during the comment period. Public notice will be
given for the time and place of the meeting. A Draft EIS will be
prepared based on the outcome of the scoping process. The Draft EIS
will be available for agency and public review and comment. In
addition, a public hearing will be held following completion of the
Draft EIS. Public Notice will be given for the time and place of the
public hearing on the Draft EIS. Coordination has been initiated and
will continue with appropriate Federal, State and local agencies and
private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are
known to have an interest in the proposed action. 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.)
Dated: Issued on: May 8, 2006.
Cheryl B. Martin,
Environmental Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, St. Paul,
Minnesota.
[FR Doc. 06-4496 Filed 5-12-06; 8:45 am]
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