Notice of Intent to Prepare a Tier I Environmental Impact Statement: Dane County, Wisconsin

Johnny M. Gerbitz
Federal Highway Administration
April 9, 2015

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 68 (Thursday, April 9, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19111-19112]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-08138]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Notice of Intent to Prepare a Tier I Environmental Impact 
Statement: Dane County, Wisconsin

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

ACTION: Federal Notice of Intent to Prepare a Tier 1 Environmental 
Impact Statement (Tier 1 EIS).

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this revised notice to advise the public 
that FHWA and WisDOT will be preparing a Tier 1 EIS for proposed 
transportation improvements in the United States Highway (US) 51 
corridor in Dane County, Wisconsin generally between Interstate 39/90 
east of the City of Stoughton and US 12/18 (Madison South Beltline 
Highway). The previous Notice of Intent was to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement and was published in the Federal Register on February 
1, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Johnny Gerbitz, Field Operations 
Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, City Center West, 525 
Junction Road, Suite 8000, Madison, Wisconsin, 53717-2157, Telephone: 
(608) 829-7500.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A needs assessment was conducted for the 
project corridor in 2004 followed by initiation of the environmental 
review process for an environmental impact statement (EIS). The EIS 
review process examined factors contributing to the need for 
improvements within the US 51 study corridor (long-term planning and 
corridor preservation, safety,

[[Page 19112]]

roadway deficiencies, bike and pedestrian accommodations, and travel 
demand and capacity). Because of fiscal constraints, a commitment to 
improvements that address all of the need factors could not be made and 
the environmental review process is being converted from a standard EIS 
to a Tier 1 EIS.
    The FHWA, in cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of 
Transportation (WisDOT), will prepare a Tier 1 EIS for proposed 
improvements to address safety, operational and capacity concerns on 
approximately 18 miles of US 51 between Interstate 39/90, east of the 
City of Stoughton, to US 12/18 (Madison South Beltline Highway), north 
of the Village of McFarland. The study will also examine a bypass of 
Stoughton, as well as potential operational improvements on existing US 
51 in Stoughton. As alternatives to capacity improvements on US 51, the 
study will consider improvements on highways other than US 51 that 
might address the needs of travelers between the southeast portion of 
Dane County and the Madison Urban area. The Tier 1 EIS will evaluate 
the social, economic, and environmental impacts of the alternatives 
within the existing US 51 highway corridor, and other full build 
improvements on other regional highway corridors. The objective of this 
project is to address existing and future transportation demand and 
safety concerns as identified in the US 51 Needs Assessment Report. The 
Tier 1 EIS will be prepared in accordance with 23 U.S.C. 139, 23 CFR 
771, and 40 CFR 1500-1508. Completion of the Tier 1 EIS and the Record 
of Decision (ROD) is expected in 2018.
    Public involvement is a critical component of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and will occur throughout the 
development of the draft and final Tier 1 EIS. 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 Tier 1 EIS.
    Inquiries related to this study can be sent to 
jeff.berens@dot.wi.gov. A public Web site will be maintained throughout 
the study to provided information about the project and allow for on-
line public comment (http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/projects/swregion/5139901218/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 this 
notice 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.)


    Issued on: April 2, 2015.
Johnny M. Gerbitz,
Field Operations Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, Madison, 
Wisconsin.
[FR Doc. 2015-08138 Filed 4-8-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-22-P