Environmental Impact Statement; Crow Wing and Mille Lacs Counties, Minnesota

AGENCY:

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of intent.

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) 169 in Crow Wing and Mille Lacs Counties, Minnesota.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Cheryl Martin, Federal Highway Administration, Galtier Plaza, Box 75, 175 East Fifth Street, Suite 500, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101-2904, Telephone (651) 291-6120; or Jim Hallgren, Project Manager, Minnesota Department of Transportation—District 3, 1991 Industrial Park, Baxter, Minnesota 56425, Telephone (218) 828-2773; (651) 296-9930 TTY.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The FHWA, in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Transportation, will prepare an EIS on a proposal to improve TH 169 from the north junction of TH 27 near Onamia to the junction of TH 18 in Garrison in Crow Wing and Mille Lacs Counties, Minnesota, a distance of approximately 28.2 kilometers.

The proposed action is being considered to address transportation demand, safety problems, access management, interregional corridor status, design deficiencies and pavement condition. Alternatives under consideration include (1) No build; and (2) variations of “Build” alternatives involving reconstruction and/or realignment and new construction of TH 169, including the expansion of the two lane roadway to a four-lane facility.

The “Trunk Highway 169 Scoping Document/Draft Scoping Decision Document” will be published in the late summer 2000. 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 to be contained in the EIS. A 30-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.

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.