Environmental Impact Statement: Interstate 81 Viaduct Project (Onondaga County, New York)

Topics:  Interstate Highway System

Jonathan D. McDade
Federal Highway Administration
August 26, 2013

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 165 (Monday, August 26, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52819-52820]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20727]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Interstate 81 Viaduct Project 
(Onondaga County, New York)

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), United States Department 
of Transportation (USDOT).

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: FHWA, as lead agency, is issuing this notice to advise the 
public that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared 
for the proposed infrastructure improvements of Interstate 81 (I-81) in 
the greater Syracuse area, Onondaga County, New York.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Debra Nelson, New York State 
Department of Transportation, 50 Wolf Road, Albany, New York 12232, 
Telephone: (518) 457-7256; or Jonathan McDade, New York Division 
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Leo W. O'Brien Federal 
Building, 7th Floor, Room 719, Clinton Avenue and North Pearl Street, 
Albany, New York 12207, Telephone: (518) 431-4127.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the New York 
State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), will prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) on a proposal to correct deficiencies 
with the I-81 viaduct in the City of Syracuse, Onondaga County, New 
York while taking into consideration opportunities for addressing 
community concerns related to this portion of I-81.
    In its current condition, the I-81 viaduct is in a deteriorating 
state of repair and does not meet current design standards. The purpose 
of the project is to address these structural deficiencies and 
nonstandard highway features while creating an improved corridor 
through the City of Syracuse that meets transportation needs and 
provides the transportation infrastructure to support long-range 
planning efforts.
    To address these issues, the EIS will evaluate alternatives that 
meet the goals of improving safety and creating an efficient regional 
and local transportation system within and through greater Syracuse; 
and providing transportation solutions that enhance the livability, 
sustainability, and economic vitality of greater Syracuse.
    Alternatives under consideration include the no-build alternative; 
rehabilitation or reconstruction of the existing highway 
infrastructure; conversion of the existing highway to an alternative 
non-interstate highway facility (e.g., at-grade roadway); and 
replacement of existing infrastructure with a below-grade facility 
(e.g., highway tunnel, or depressed highway) The NEPA documentation 
will consider this list of alternatives and evaluations conducted to 
date as well as any other reasonable and prudent alternatives 
identified during scoping. The EIS will consider all reasonable 
alternatives that meet the project purpose and need and are considered 
feasible based on engineering, cost, and social, economic, and 
environmental considerations.
    Letters describing the project, alternatives under consideration, 
and opportunities for agency and public involvement in the process will 
be sent to the appropriate Cooperating and Participating Agencies and 
to private organizations and citizens that have expressed an interest 
in this action. The public and agencies will be offered an opportunity 
to comment on the Purpose and Need, range of alternatives, level of 
detail, methodologies, etc. This will be accomplished through public 
and agency outreach which will consist of: A formal public scoping 
meeting to be held in Syracuse, New York in November 2013; a series of 
public/stakeholder meetings; a public hearing; meetings with the 
applicable Cooperating and Participating Agencies; and meeting with the 
Section 106 Consulting Parties including federally recognized Indian 
tribes. The Draft EIS will also be available for public and agency 
review and comment. FHWA and NYSDOT will provide public notification of 
the time and location of the meetings and hearings.
    The meetings will be accessible to persons with disabilities. If 
special services, such as an interpreter or sign language services, are 
needed, please contact Debra Nelson, New York State Department of 
Transportation.
    To ensure that a full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed and all significant issues are 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 or NYSDOT at the addresses provided 
above.

(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.)



[[Page 52820]]


     Issued on: August 20, 2013.
Jonathan D. McDade,
Division Administrator, New York Division, Federal Highway 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2013-20727 Filed 8-23-13; 8:45 am]
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