[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 10, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 11978-11979] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-5940] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement; Douglas County, Kansas
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 we are reopening the preparation of a supplemental document to the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for a segment of the South Lawrence Trafficway project in Douglas County, Kansas.
For Further Information Contact
David R. Geiger, P.E., FHWA Kansas Division Administrator; Telephone: (785) 267-7287, FHWA--Kansas Division Office, 3300 South Topeka Boulevard, Suite 1, Topeka, Kansas 66611-2237.
Supplementary Information
Electronic Access
An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded using a modem and suitable communications software from the Government Printing Office's Electronic Bulletin Board Service at (202) 512-1661. Internet users may reach the Federal Register's home page at: https:// www.nara.gov/fedreg and the Government Printing Office's database at: https://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.
Background
The FHWA, in cooperation with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) and Douglas County, will recommence preparation of a final supplement to the FEIS for a segment of the highway project known as the South Lawrence Trafficway (SLT). The original FEIS for the improvements (FHWA-KS-EIS-87-01-F) was approved on January 4, 1990, and the Record of Decision was approved on June 5, 1990. The project would be primarily on a new location and developed initially as a two lane road. The SLT Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) corridor begins at U.S. 59 and extends east to K-10 on the south side of Lawrence. The western section of the SLT from the I-70/Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA) interchange near Lecompton, south and east to U.S. 59, has been constructed and was opened to traffic in late 1996 (See 59 FR 52360, October 17, 1994). The SLT is intended to provide for traffic demands and to alleviate congestion on two primary arterial streets in the south and west sections of the City of Lawrence, and to improve access to the University of Kansas and Clinton Lake. The FHWA circulated a draft supplemental EIS on October 2, 1995, to address concerns regarding new information on the effect of the SLT on cultural issues, spiritual sites, academic programs and future development at Haskell Indian Nations University (HINU) which was not previously evaluated in the FEIS. A public hearing was held on November 8, 1995. Numerous comments were received on the Draft SEIS from both the public and governmental agencies. Work to develop the Final SEIS was initiated, but was delayed when consensus could not be reached on a preferred alignment. On February 27, 1997 (See 62 FR 10305, March 6, 1997), the FHWA withdrew as the lead Federal agency due to KDOT and Douglas County deciding not to use Federal-aid funds
for the project. Subsequent legal action resulted in a determination that the SEIS must be completed before the project could proceed. Since the approval date for the Draft SEIS was over three years old, the FHWA completed a reevaluation of the Draft document and found that it remains valid. Therefore, the FHWA will reinstate the process to complete the Supplemental Environmental document process. The FHWA has determined that a formal scoping meeting is not necessary.
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 49 CFR 1.48. David R. Geiger, P.E., Division Administrator, Kansas Division, Federal Highway Administration, Topeka, Kansas. [FR Doc. 99-5940 Filed 3-9-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-22-P