80_FR_36158 80 FR 36038 - Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, City of Newport News and City of Hampton to the City of Norfolk, City of Portsmouth, City of Suffolk, and City of Chesapeake, Virginia

80 FR 36038 - Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, City of Newport News and City of Hampton to the City of Norfolk, City of Portsmouth, City of Suffolk, and City of Chesapeake, Virginia

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 120 (June 23, 2015)

Page Range36038-36039
FR Document2015-15419

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to evaluate the Hampton Roads Crossing Study Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). The purpose of the SEIS is to evaluate new information regarding environmental impacts and the alternatives described in the March 2001 FEIS.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 120 (Tuesday, June 23, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 120 (Tuesday, June 23, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36038-36039]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15419]



[[Page 36038]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, City of Newport News 
and City of Hampton to the City of Norfolk, City of Portsmouth, City of 
Suffolk, and City of Chesapeake, Virginia

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in cooperation with 
the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will prepare a 
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to evaluate the 
Hampton Roads Crossing Study Final Environmental Impact Statement 
(FEIS). The purpose of the SEIS is to evaluate new information 
regarding environmental impacts and the alternatives described in the 
March 2001 FEIS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward Sundra, Director of Program 
Development, Federal Highway Administration, 400 North 8th Street, 
Suite 750, Richmond, VA 23219; email: [email protected]; (804) 775-
3357.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. Description of the Proposed Action and Background--In 1991, the 
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act allocated 
demonstration funds for a number of innovative projects which included 
the I-64 crossing of Hampton Roads. A Major Investment Study of the 
crossing was completed in 1997, and the Hampton Roads Crossing Study 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was issued in March 1999. 
The FEIS for the study was issued in March 2001, identifying Candidate 
Build Alternative (CBA) 9 as the preferred alternative. FHWA selected 
CBA 9 in a Record of Decision that was issued in June 2001. In 2003, 
FHWA completed a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) re-evaluation 
after VDOT received unsolicited proposals from the private sector to 
build the project. Efforts to advance the private sector proposals were 
eventually terminated, but portions of CBA 9, collectively known as 
Patriots Crossing, were re-evaluated in 2013 because there was support 
to move forward on that section. At the time, no federal action was 
taken in response to the re-evaluation because there was no funding to 
construct the project in the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning 
Organization's fiscally constrained long range transportation plan. 
FHWA and VDOT also studied separate improvements to the Hampton Roads 
Bridge Tunnel in a DEIS that was issued in December 2012. A preferred 
alternative was not selected following the circulation of the DEIS, and 
the study has not advanced. With a separate notice, the Notice of 
Intent to prepare an EIS for the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel will be 
cancelled. Regardless, this SEIS will review information from the 
Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel DEIS, Hampton Roads Crossing Study FEIS/
ROD, and the NEPA re-evaluations referenced above and incorporate 
relevant information into the SEIS; revisit the purpose and need; 
update the alternatives and impacts analyses; and assess impacts not 
previously evaluated in these NEPA documents.
    2. Alternatives--Alternatives to be considered for the proposed 
project will include but not be limited to the No-Build Alternative and 
the selected alternative from the 2001 FEIS/ROD (CBA-9). The selected 
alternative, as described in the FEIS/ROD, would begin on the Peninsula 
at the I-664/I-64 interchange in the City of Hampton and would widen I-
664 to the I-64/I-264 interchange in the City of Chesapeake. An 
interchange with I-664 near the south approach structure of the Monitor 
Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel would provide a connection to a new 
roadway and bridge tunnel extending from I-664 over to I-564 in the 
City of Norfolk. A second interchange on the new facility would provide 
a connection to a new roadway running south along the eastern side of 
Craney Island, terminating at Virginia Route 164 (Western Freeway) in 
the City of Portsmouth. Revisions to the location of the alignment 
between Craney Island and Virginia Route 164 will be evaluated because 
of new information regarding the land use in the area.
    Consideration will also be given to the alternatives from the 1999 
DEIS to improve the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel (CBA-1) and an 
alternative to extend the improvements included in CBA-1 south to I-564 
where a new bridge tunnel would cross the Elizabeth River and connect 
to VA 164 in the City of Portsmouth (CBA-2). Finally, consideration 
will be given to alternatives based on public and agency feedback 
during the scoping process. The SEIS will document the alternatives 
previously eliminated from consideration as well as consider options 
for tolling.
    3. Scoping and Public Review Process--Throughout the development of 
the Hampton Roads Crossing Study EIS, a variety of scoping and public 
involvement opportunities were provided to notify the public about the 
project, provide information and updates, and solicit feedback. These 
opportunities included but were not limited to a series of public 
hearings in the corridor when the Hampton Roads Crossing Study DEIS was 
issued in 1999. To ensure that a full range of issues related to the 
project are addressed and all significant issues identified, VDOT will 
host two Citizen Information/Scoping Meetings in July. Those meetings 
are scheduled for Tuesday, July 21st at the Academy for Discovery at 
Lakewood School in Norfolk and Wednesday, July 22nd at St. Mary's Star 
of the Sea School in Hampton. VDOT will provide additional information 
for the meetings and notify the public of any changes, including 
inclement weather dates, through a variety of means including newspaper 
notices and a project Web site. A separate meeting for the resource, 
regulatory, and participating agencies is also scheduled for July 21st, 
and notices will be sent directly to those agencies.
    Notification of the availability of the Draft SEIS for public and 
agency review will be made in the Federal Register and using other 
methods to be jointly determined by FHWA and VDOT. Those methods will 
identify where interested parties can go to review a copy of the Draft 
SEIS. For the Draft SEIS, public meetings will be held and a minimum 
45-day comment period will be provided. The public meetings will be 
conducted by VDOT and announced a minimum of 30 days in advance of the 
meetings. At the appropriate time, VDOT will provide information for 
the public meetings, including date, time and location through a 
variety of means including newspaper notice and the project Web site.
    4. Issues--Based on coordination between FHWA and VDOT, the issues 
to be analyzed in the SEIS will include, but are not limited to, 
purpose and need, alternatives and environmental effects including 
effects to wetlands and streams, cultural resources, threatened and 
endangered species, and environmental justice communities.
    5. Additional Review and Consultation--The SEIS will comply with 
other Federal and State requirements including the State water quality 
certification under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act; protection of 
water quality under the Virginia/National Pollutant Discharge 
Elimination System; protection of endangered and threatened species 
under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act; and protection of 
cultural

[[Page 36039]]

resources under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 23 CFR 771.

(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.)

    Issued by:
    Dated: June 17, 2015.
Edward Sundra,
Director of Program Development, Federal Highway Administration, 
Richmond, Virginia.
[FR Doc. 2015-15419 Filed 6-22-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-22-P

36038 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 120 / Tuesday, June 23, 2015 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION fiscally constrained long range EIS, a variety of scoping and public transportation plan. FHWA and VDOT involvement opportunities were Federal Highway Administration also studied separate improvements to provided to notify the public about the the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel in a project, provide information and Supplemental Environmental Impact DEIS that was issued in December 2012. updates, and solicit feedback. These Statement, City of Newport News and A preferred alternative was not selected opportunities included but were not City of Hampton to the City of Norfolk, following the circulation of the DEIS, limited to a series of public hearings in City of Portsmouth, City of Suffolk, and and the study has not advanced. With the corridor when the Hampton Roads City of Chesapeake, Virginia a separate notice, the Notice of Intent to Crossing Study DEIS was issued in AGENCY: Federal Highway prepare an EIS for the Hampton Roads 1999. To ensure that a full range of Administration (FHWA), DOT. Bridge Tunnel will be cancelled. issues related to the project are Regardless, this SEIS will review addressed and all significant issues ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare a information from the Hampton Roads identified, VDOT will host two Citizen Supplemental Environmental Impact Bridge Tunnel DEIS, Hampton Roads Information/Scoping Meetings in July. Statement. Crossing Study FEIS/ROD, and the Those meetings are scheduled for SUMMARY: The Federal Highway NEPA re-evaluations referenced above Tuesday, July 21st at the Academy for Administration (FHWA) in cooperation and incorporate relevant information Discovery at Lakewood School in with the Virginia Department of into the SEIS; revisit the purpose and Norfolk and Wednesday, July 22nd at Transportation (VDOT) will prepare a need; update the alternatives and St. Mary’s Star of the Sea School in Supplemental Environmental Impact impacts analyses; and assess impacts Hampton. VDOT will provide additional Statement (SEIS) to evaluate the not previously evaluated in these NEPA information for the meetings and notify Hampton Roads Crossing Study Final documents. the public of any changes, including Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). 2. Alternatives—Alternatives to be inclement weather dates, through a The purpose of the SEIS is to evaluate considered for the proposed project will variety of means including newspaper new information regarding include but not be limited to the No- notices and a project Web site. A environmental impacts and the Build Alternative and the selected separate meeting for the resource, alternatives described in the March alternative from the 2001 FEIS/ROD regulatory, and participating agencies is 2001 FEIS. (CBA–9). The selected alternative, as also scheduled for July 21st, and notices described in the FEIS/ROD, would begin will be sent directly to those agencies. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: on the Peninsula at the I–664/I–64 Notification of the availability of the Edward Sundra, Director of Program interchange in the City of Hampton and Draft SEIS for public and agency review Development, Federal Highway would widen I–664 to the I–64/I–264 will be made in the Federal Register Administration, 400 North 8th Street, interchange in the City of Chesapeake. and using other methods to be jointly Suite 750, Richmond, VA 23219; email: An interchange with I–664 near the determined by FHWA and VDOT. Those Ed.Sundra@dot.gov; (804) 775–3357. south approach structure of the Monitor methods will identify where interested SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel parties can go to review a copy of the 1. Description of the Proposed Action would provide a connection to a new Draft SEIS. For the Draft SEIS, public and Background—In 1991, the roadway and bridge tunnel extending meetings will be held and a minimum Intermodal Surface Transportation from I–664 over to I–564 in the City of 45-day comment period will be Efficiency Act allocated demonstration Norfolk. A second interchange on the provided. The public meetings will be funds for a number of innovative new facility would provide a connection conducted by VDOT and announced a projects which included the I–64 to a new roadway running south along minimum of 30 days in advance of the crossing of Hampton Roads. A Major the eastern side of Craney Island, meetings. At the appropriate time, Investment Study of the crossing was terminating at Virginia Route 164 VDOT will provide information for the completed in 1997, and the Hampton (Western Freeway) in the City of public meetings, including date, time Roads Crossing Study Draft Portsmouth. Revisions to the location of and location through a variety of means Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) the alignment between Craney Island including newspaper notice and the was issued in March 1999. The FEIS for and Virginia Route 164 will be project Web site. the study was issued in March 2001, evaluated because of new information 4. Issues—Based on coordination identifying Candidate Build Alternative regarding the land use in the area. between FHWA and VDOT, the issues to (CBA) 9 as the preferred alternative. Consideration will also be given to the be analyzed in the SEIS will include, FHWA selected CBA 9 in a Record of alternatives from the 1999 DEIS to but are not limited to, purpose and Decision that was issued in June 2001. improve the Hampton Roads Bridge need, alternatives and environmental In 2003, FHWA completed a National Tunnel (CBA–1) and an alternative to effects including effects to wetlands and Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) re- extend the improvements included in streams, cultural resources, threatened evaluation after VDOT received CBA–1 south to I–564 where a new and endangered species, and unsolicited proposals from the private bridge tunnel would cross the Elizabeth environmental justice communities. sector to build the project. Efforts to River and connect to VA 164 in the City 5. Additional Review and advance the private sector proposals of Portsmouth (CBA–2). Finally, Consultation—The SEIS will comply were eventually terminated, but consideration will be given to with other Federal and State portions of CBA 9, collectively known alternatives based on public and agency requirements including the State water mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES as Patriots Crossing, were re-evaluated feedback during the scoping process. quality certification under Section 401 in 2013 because there was support to The SEIS will document the alternatives of the Clean Water Act; protection of move forward on that section. At the previously eliminated from water quality under the Virginia/ time, no federal action was taken in consideration as well as consider National Pollutant Discharge response to the re-evaluation because options for tolling. Elimination System; protection of there was no funding to construct the 3. Scoping and Public Review endangered and threatened species project in the Hampton Roads Process—Throughout the development under Section 7 of the Endangered Transportation Planning Organization’s of the Hampton Roads Crossing Study Species Act; and protection of cultural VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:39 Jun 22, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00107 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\23JNN1.SGM 23JNN1

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 120 / Tuesday, June 23, 2015 / Notices 36039 resources under Section 106 of the Infrastructure, Federal Highway articulated programs that are optimally National Historic Preservation Act. Administration, Department of positioned and equipped to deliver the Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 23 CFR 771. Transportation, 1200 New Jersey FHWA’s mission. In general, the Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. components of the ‘‘National TPM (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Implementation Review, TPM State-of- Program Number 20.205, Highway Planning Monday through Friday, except Federal Practice Questionnaires, and TPM and Construction. The regulations implementing Executive Order 12372 holidays. Toolbox’’ will involve questions related regarding intergovernmental consultation on SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: to: Federal programs and activities apply to this Title: National Transportation 1. TPM and MAP–21 related program.) Performance Management (TPM) implementation efforts, programs, and Implementation Review, TPM Toolbox, activities, Issued by: Dated: June 17, 2015. and TPM State-of-Practice 2. Needs for guidance and policy Questionnaires. concerning MAP–21’s TPM related Edward Sundra, Type of request: New information provisions; Director of Program Development, Federal 3. TPM capacity building needs; Highway Administration, Richmond, collection requirement. 4. Effectiveness implementing Virginia. Background: Moving Ahead for performance based planning and [FR Doc. 2015–15419 Filed 6–22–15; 8:45 am] Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP– programming and TPM processes. BILLING CODE 4910–22–P 21) transformed the Federal-aid The most consequential activity highway program by establishing new covered by the ICR is the ‘‘National requirements for transportation TPM Implementation Review,’’ which DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION performance management to ensure the will be conducted twice. The first most efficient investment of Federal National TPM Implementation Review Federal Highway Administration transportation funds. Transportation is scheduled to be administered in the [Docket No. FHWA–2015–0013] performance management increases the spring of 2016 and will establish a accountability and transparency of the baseline to assess: Agency Information Collection Federal-aid highway program and 1. FHWA and its partners progress Activities; Notice of Request for provides for a framework to support implementing MAP–21 performance Approval of a New Information improved investment decision making provisions and related TPM best Collection through a focus on performance practices; and outcomes for key national transportation 2. The effectiveness of performance- AGENCY: Federal Highway goals. State transportation agencies based planning and programming Administration (FHWA), DOT. (STAs) will be expected to use the processes and transportation ACTION: Notice of Request for Approval information and data generated as a performance management. of a New Information Collection. result of the new regulations to make The second National TPM better informed transportation planning Implementation Review will be SUMMARY: The FHWA invites public and programming decisions. The new conducted several years later and will comments about our intention to request performance aspects of the Federal-aid be used to assess FHWA and its the Office of Management and Budget’s program will allow FHWA to better partners’ progress addressing any gaps (OMB) approval of a new information communicate a national performance or issues identified during the first collection that is summarized below. story and to more reliably assess the review. DATES: Please submit comments by impacts of Federal funding investments. The findings from the first review will August 24, 2015. Overview: Under the ‘‘National be used in a pair of statutory reports to ADDRESSES: You may submit comments Transportation Performance Congress due in 2017 on the identified by DOT Docket ID Number Management (TPM) Implementation effectiveness of performance-based 2015–0013 by any of the following Review, TPM State-of-Practice planning and programming processes methods: Questionnaires, and TPM Toolbox ’’ and transportation performance Web site: For access to the docket to information collection request, the management (23 U.S.C. 119, 134(l)(2)– read background documents or FHWA will collect information on the 135(h)(2)). The findings from the second comments received, go to the Federal current state of the practice, data, review will be used in a subsequent eRulemaking Portal: http:// methods, and systems used by state, follow-up report. It is important to note www.regulations.gov. Follow the online metropolitan, regional, local, and/or that this is not a compliance review. The instructions for submitting comments. tribal transportation entities to support overall focus of the National TPM Fax: 1–202–493–2251. their TPM processes in accordance with Implementation Review is on the TPM Mail: Docket Management Facility, MAP–21 §§ 1106, 1112–1113, 1201– and performance-based planning U.S. Department of Transportation, 1203; 23 U.S.C. 119, 134–135, and 148– processes used by STAs and West Building Ground Floor, Room 150. This information will also be used Metropolitan Planning Organizations W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., to develop and deliver existing and (MPOs), not the outcomes of those Washington, DC 20590. future Federal Highway Programs processes. Due to the sensitivity of the Hand Delivery or Courier: U.S. through successful partnerships, value- collected information, FHWA will only Department of Transportation, West added stewardship, and risk-based report aggregated information to the Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES oversight. Underpinning this effort will general public and in its report to 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., be a robust focus on improving FHWA Congress. However, information from Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and its partners’ capacity to implement individual reviews will be made readily and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, performance provisions. The available to the respective respondent except Federal holidays. information collected from these (i.e., STA, MPOs, etc), FHWA staff for FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: activities will translate into having a internal uses, and a limited number of Michael Nesbitt (michael.nesbitt@ better skilled workforce, effective FHWA partners and associations who dot.gov), 202–366–1179, Office of supporting systems, and clearly sign nondisclosure agreements. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:39 Jun 22, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00108 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\23JNN1.SGM 23JNN1


Document Created: 2018-02-22 11:15:21
Document Modified: 2018-02-22 11:15:21
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of Intent to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement.
ContactEdward Sundra, Director of Program Development, Federal Highway Administration, 400 North 8th Street, Suite 750, Richmond, VA 23219; email: [email protected]; (804) 775- 3357.
FR Citation80 FR 36038 
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