Environmental Impact Statement: Juneau, Sauk, and Columbia Counties, Wisconsin

Johnny M. Gerbitz
Federal Highway Administration
November 17, 2014

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 221 (Monday, November 17, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68502-68503]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-27110]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Juneau, Sauk, and Columbia 
Counties, Wisconsin

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Wisconsin Department of 
Transportation (WisDOT).

ACTION: Federal Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for a proposed 
freeway corridor improvement project on I-90/94 from Wisconsin Dells to 
Portage in Juneau, Sauk, and Columbia Counties in south-central 
Wisconsin.

[[Page 68503]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tracey Blankenship, Major Projects 
Program Manager, Federal Highway Administration, 525 Junction Road, 
Suite 8000, Madison, Wisconsin 53717-2157, Telephone: (608) 829-7510.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Wisconsin 
Department of Transportation (WisDOT), will prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for proposed improvements in the I-90/94 
corridor and adjacent local road systems from the US 12/WIS 16 
interchange (2 miles north of Wisconsin Dells) to the I-39 interchange 
(south of Portage), approximately 25 miles. The project limits include 
operational areas of influence at each interchange. The purpose of this 
project is to address pavement and bridge structural needs; highway and 
roadside safety issues and design deficiencies; accommodate existing 
and projected traffic volumes; and improve the transportation system's 
ability to support local and regional tourism economies in the 
Wisconsin Dells area and northern Wisconsin. The EIS will evaluate a 
range of alternatives for the I-90/94 mainline and system interchanges, 
adjacent arterial roads, and connections to the local road network. 
This may result in full reconstruction and redesign of the I-90/94 
corridor in this area and rebuilding existing interchanges. The EIS 
will be prepared in accordance with 23 USC 139, 23 CFR 771, and 40 CFR 
1500-1508. Completion of the EIS is expected in 2018 and the Record of 
Decision (ROD) in 2019.
    Public involvement is a critical component of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and will occur throughout the 
development of the draft and final Environmental Impact Statement. All 
environmental documents will be made available for review by federal 
and state resource agencies and the public. Specific efforts to 
encourage involvement by, and solicit comments from, minority and low-
income populations in the project study area will be made, with public 
involvement meetings held throughout the environmental document 
process. Public notice will be given as to the time and place of public 
involvement meetings. A public hearing will be held after the 
completion of the Draft EIS.
    Inquiries related to this study can be sent to 
mark.westerveld@dot.wi.gov. A public Web site will be maintained 
throughout the study to provide information about the project and allow 
for on-line public comment (http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/projects/swregion/9094/index.htm). 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 and questions concerning the proposed action and the 
EIS should be directed to the FHWA 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.

(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.)

    Authority:  23 U.S.C. 315; 49 CFR 1.48.

    Issued on: November 7, 2014.
Johnny M. Gerbitz,
Field Operations Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, Madison, 
Wisconsin.
[FR Doc. 2014-27110 Filed 11-14-14; 8:45 am]
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