Environmental Impact Statement; Hennepin and Ramsey Counties, Minnesota

Wendall L. Meyer
Federal Highway Administration
20 February 2020

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 34 (Thursday, February 20, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9925-9926]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-03407]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Hennepin and Ramsey Counties, 
Minnesota

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 a 
Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for a 
proposed freeway corridor improvement project on Interstate 94 (I-94) 
from the I-35W/Trunk Highway (TH) 55 interchange to the I-94/I-35E 
interchange in Hennepin and Ramsey Counties in east-central Minnesota.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna Varney, Senior Transportation 
Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 380 Jackson Street, Suite 
500, Saint Paul, MN 55101, Telephone (651) 291-6117, or Nicole 
Peterson, Project Manager, Minnesota Department of Transportation 
(Metro District) MnDOT Rethinking I-94 Project Office 1821 University 
Ave #N--181 Saint Paul, MN 55104, Telephone (651) 234-7658.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Minnesota 
Department of Transportation (MnDOT) will prepare a Tier 1 EIS for 
proposed improvements in the I-94 corridor between the I-35W/TH 55 
interchange and the I-94/I-35E interchange, approximately eight miles. 
The EIS will evaluate the social, economic, transportation and 
environmental impacts of alternatives, including the No-Build 
Alternative.
    The preliminary purpose of this project as identified by FHWA and 
MnDOT is to address infrastructure needs; highway safety issues; 
accommodate existing and projected traffic volumes; and improve person 
throughput. Opportunities to address the bicycle/pedestrian experience 
crossing I-94, physical infrastructure condition, and stormwater 
management will also be part of the Tier I EIS. There will be 
opportunities for public and agency involvement in further defining the 
Purpose and Need of the project.
    The FHWA and MnDOT have decided to prepare a Tiered EIS to analyze 
the project on a broad scale and identify a preferred alternative for 
the I-94 mainline and will identify areas for access modifications/
changes at existing interchanges and overpass locations. Footprinting 
will be used to identify potential impact areas around these locations. 
The Tier 1 EIS will evaluate the social, economic, and environmental 
impacts for a range of alternatives within the existing I-94 corridor. 
A program of projects will be identified for future Tier 2 
environmental documents.
    Subsequent Tier 2 environmental documents will be prepared with a 
greater degree of engineering detail for specific improvements in the 
corridor. The alternative analysis in the Tier 2 documents will 
include, but is not limited to, the alternatives that have been 
developed as part of Tier 1 EIS.

[[Page 9926]]

    Because the project is combining Minnesota Environmental Policy Act 
(MEPA) and Federal National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) processes, 
the first document to be produced as part of the efforts will include a 
Scoping Document/Draft Scoping Decision Document. The Scoping Document/
Draft Scoping Decision Document (SD/DSDD) is anticipated to be 
published in early 2021. A press release will be published to inform 
the public of the document's availability. Copies of the SD/DSDD will 
be published on a MnDOT website as well as distributed to agencies, 
interested persons and libraries for review to aid in identifying 
issues and analyses to be contained in the Tier 1 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 hearing will be held during the 
comment period. A public notice will give the date, time, and place of 
the meeting. The Scoping Decision Document will be published after the 
public comment period has closed on the SD/DSDD.
    A Tier 1 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) will be 
prepared based on the outcome of and closely following the scoping 
process. The Tier 1 DEIS will be available for agency and public review 
and comment. A public hearing will be held following completion of the 
Tier 1 DEIS. A public notice will give the date, time, and location of 
the public hearing. Coordination has been initiated and will continue 
with appropriate Federal, State, regional, and local agencies and 
private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are 
known to have an interest in the proposed action. The Tier 1 DEIS will 
be prepared in accordance with 23 U.S.C. 139, 23 CFR 771 and 40 CFR 
parts 1500-1508. Completion of the DEIS is anticipated in 2022, and the 
combined final EIS and Record of Decision (ROD) in 2023.
    Public involvement is a critical component of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). All environmental documents will be 
made available for review by Federal and State resource agencies and 
the public. Invitations have been issued to Federal, State and local 
agencies to engage in the development of the Tier 1 EIS as either 
Cooperating or Participating Agencies. Cooperating Agencies are 
anticipated to be the following: US Environmental Protection Agency, US 
Federal Railroad Administration, and US Federal Transit Administration. 
Participating Agencies are anticipated to be the following: Cities of 
Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Hennepin and Ramsey Counties, Metropolitan 
Council and Metro Transit, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 
Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 
Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Department of Commerce, Board 
of Water and Soil Resources, Office of the State Archaeologist, State 
Historic Preservation Office, Capitol Region Watershed District, 
Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, Capitol Area 
Architectural and Planning Board, and Minneapolis Park and Recreation 
Board.
    Specific efforts to encourage involvement and solicit comments from 
minority and low-income populations in the project study area is also a 
critical component of the Tier 1 EIS. A public website will be 
maintained for the EIS to provide information about the project. To 
ensure the full range of issues related to the proposed action are 
addressed and all significant issues identified, comments and 
suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or 
questions concerning the proposed action and Tier 1 EIS process should 
be directed to the FHWA at the address provided above.
    Projects receiving Federal funds must comply with Title VI of the 
Civil Rights Act, and Executive Order 12898 ``Federal Actions to 
Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income 
Populations.'' Federal law prohibits discrimination on the basis of 
race, color, age, sex, or country of national origin in the 
implementation of this project. It is also Federal policy to identify 
and address any disproportionately high and adverse effects of federal 
projects on the health or environment of minority and low-income 
populations to the greatest extent practicable and permitted by law.
    This project is utilizing a National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA)/404 merger process to seek concurrence by multiple Federal 
agencies on the project's purpose and need, range of alternatives to be 
considered, range of alternatives to be evaluated in detail, and 
selection of a preferred alternative. In addition to the Federal 
Highway Administration as the lead Federal agency for this NEPA effort, 
the NEPA/404 merger process includes the following Federal agencies: 
United States Army Corps of Engineers, the United States Environmental 
Protection Agency.

(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 on: February 13, 2020.
Wendall L. Meyer,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 2020-03407 Filed 2-19-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-22-P