Environmental Impact Statement; Calcasieu Parish, LA

Charles Bolinger
Federal Highway Administration
August 1, 2013

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 148 (Thursday, August 1, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 46677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-18531]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Calcasieu Parish, LA

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration is issuing this notice to 
advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be 
prepared for a proposed transportation project in Calcasieu Parish, 
Louisiana.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FHWA Carl Highsmith, Project Delivery 
Team Leader, FHWA, 5304 Flanders Drive, Suite A, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 
70808. Project information can be found at the project Web site http://www.i10lakecharles.com.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the DOTD, will 
prepare an EIS on alternatives for additional capacity along I-10 in 
the Lake Charles region between the I-210 interchanges including the 
Calcasieu River Bridge. A feasibility and environmental study was 
previously conducted in accordance with the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) for this project. The feasibility study involved four 
phases: (1) Information and Data Gathering; (2) Preliminary Study; (3) 
Refined Alternatives; and (4) Preparation and Submission of a Final 
Report. Based on the preliminary studies which included input from the 
local community, four feasible alternatives have been recommended for 
further study. A no-build alternative will also be evaluated in 
accordance with NEPA. The preliminary studies were completed in spring 
2004; however the proposed project was placed on hold to evaluate the 
bridge height and due to the discovery of hazardous materials 
contamination within the proposed right-of-way. Because of the 
potential for impacts and issues associated with various socioeconomic 
and environmental resources and the high-level of public interest, FHWA 
will prepare an EIS. The total project length is approximately 9 miles. 
In addition to bridge alternatives, improvements to be investigated 
within the study limits include: A redesign of Sampson Street from 
Sulphur Avenue to I-10 to provide grade separations with existing 
railroads; a redesign of the access to and from I-10 on the west side 
of the bridge between Sampson Street and PPG Drive; a redesign of the 
access to and from I-10 near the east end of the bridge; and 
consideration of the implementation of one-way frontage roads from PPG 
Drive to US 90 East. Consideration will be given to using the existing 
bridge for the frontage roads. Proposed changes to the existing bridge 
to be investigated include: (a) Designing the proposed bridge structure 
to accommodate three travel lanes and one auxiliary lane, with inside 
and outside shoulders and two frontage roads in each direction, (b) a 
reduction in navigational clearance, (c) reducing the existing 420 foot 
truss span to two main spans, and (d) determining if the existing 
vertical clearance for marine traffic can be reduced. Letters 
describing the proposed project and soliciting comments will be sent to 
appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and to private 
organizations and the public who have previously expressed or are known 
to have interest in this project. Numerous public meetings will be held 
throughout the term of the project. The first of these meetings, a 
series of public scoping meetings, will be conducted to provide the 
public information about the project and an opportunity to assist in 
formulating and revising the scope of the study. The public scoping 
meetings will be scheduled in the future and will be posted to the 
project Web site http://www.i10lakecharles.com.
    In addition, a public hearing will be held. Public notice will be 
given of the time and place of the meetings and hearing.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
project 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 Research, Planning, and Construction. The regulations 
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental 
consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this 
program.)

    Issued on: July 25, 2013.
Charles Bolinger,
Division Administrator, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
[FR Doc. 2013-18531 Filed 7-31-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P