Notice of Final Federal Agency Actions on Proposed Highway Projects in Texas |
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Michael T. Leary
Federal Highway Administration
18 December 2020
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 244 (Friday, December 18, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 82571-82573]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-27611]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Notice of Final Federal Agency Actions on Proposed Highway
Projects in Texas
AGENCY: Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA), U.S. Department of Transportation.
ACTION: Notice of Limitation on Claims for Judicial Review of Actions
by TxDOT and Federal Agencies.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces actions taken by TxDOT and Federal
agencies that are final. The environmental review, consultation, and
other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for
these projects are being, or have been, carried-out by TxDOT pursuant
to an assignment agreement executed by FHWA and TxDOT. The actions
relate to various proposed highway projects in the State of Texas.
These actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the projects.
DATES: By this notice, TxDOT is advising the public of final agency
actions subject to 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). A claim seeking judicial review
of TxDOT and Federal agency actions on the highway projects will be
barred unless the claim is filed on or before the deadline. For the
projects listed below, the deadline is 150 days from the date of
publication. If the Federal law that authorizes judicial review of a
claim provides a time period of less than 150 days for filing such a
claim, then that shorter time period still applies.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carlos Swonke, Environmental Affairs
Division, Texas Department of Transportation, 125 East 11th Street,
Austin, Texas 78701; telephone: (512) 416-2734; email:
carlos.swonke@txdot.gov. TxDOT's normal business hours are 8:00 a.m.-
5:00 p.m. (central time), Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The environmental review, consultation, and
other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for
these projects are being, or have been, carried-out by TxDOT pursuant
to 23 U.S.C. 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated December 9,
2019, and executed by FHWA and TxDOT.
[[Page 82572]]
Notice is hereby given that TxDOT and Federal agencies have taken
final agency actions by issuing licenses, permits, and approvals for
the highway projects in the State of Texas that are listed below.
The actions by TxDOT and Federal agencies and the laws under which
such actions were taken are described in the Categorical Exclusion
(CE), Environmental Assessment (EA), or Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) issued in connection with the projects and in other key project
documents. The CE, EA, or EIS and other key documents for the listed
projects are available by contacting TxDOT at the address provided
above.
This notice applies to all TxDOT and Federal agency decisions as of
the issuance date of this notice and all laws under which such actions
were taken, including but not limited to:
1. General: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) [42 U.S.C.
4321-4351]; Federal-Aid Highway Act [23 U.S.C. 109].
2. Air: Clean Air Act [42 U.S.C. 7401-7671(q)].
3. Land: Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of
1966 [49 U.S.C. 303]; Landscaping and Scenic Enhancement (Wildflowers)
[23 U.S.C. 319].
4. Wildlife: Endangered Species Act [16 U.S.C. 1531-1544 and
Section 1536], Marine Mammal Protection Act [16 U.S.C. 1361], Fish and
Wildlife Coordination Act [16 U.S.C. 661-667(d)], Migratory Bird Treaty
Act [16 U.S.C. 703-712].
5. Historic and Cultural Resources: Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended [54 U.S.C. 300101 et
seq.]; Archeological Resources Protection Act of 1977 [16 U.S.C.
470(aa)-11]; Archeological and Historic Preservation Act [54 U.S.C.
312501 et seq.]; Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act
(NAGPRA) [25 U.S.C. 3001-3013].
6. Social and Economic: Civil Rights Act of 1964 [42 U.S.C.
2000(d)-2000(d)(1)]; American Indian Religious Freedom Act [42 U.S.C.
1996]; Farmland Protection Policy Act (FPPA) [7 U.S.C. 4201-4209].
7. Wetlands and Water Resources: Clean Water Act [33 U.S.C. 1251-
1377](Section 404, Section 401, Section 319); Land and Water
Conservation Fund (LWCF) [16 U.S.C. 4601-4604]; Safe Drinking Water Act
(SDWA) [42 U.S.C. 300(f)-300(j)(6)]; Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 [33
U.S.C. 401-406]; Wild and Scenic Rivers Act [16 U.S.C. 1271-1287];
Emergency Wetlands Resources Act [16 U.S.C. 3921, 3931]; TEA-21
Wetlands Mitigation [23 U.S.C. 103(b)(6)(m), 133(b)(11)]; Flood
Disaster Protection Act [42 U.S.C. 4001-4128].
8. Executive Orders: E.O. 11990 Protection of Wetlands; E.O. 11988
Floodplain Management; E.O. 12898 Federal Actions to Address
Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low Income
Populations; E.O. 11593 Protection and Enhancement of Cultural
Resources; E.O. 13007 Indian Sacred Sites; E.O. 13287 Preserve America;
E.O. 13175 Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal
Governments; E.O. 11514 Protection and Enhancement of Environmental
Quality; E.O. 13112 Invasive Species. (Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance Program Number 20.205, Highway Planning and Construction.)
The projects subject to this notice are:
1. FM 1515 from Masch Branch Street to Bonnie Brae Street in Denton
County, Texas. The proposed project would reconstruct the existing
undivided two-lane roadway to a median separated six-lane roadway. The
proposed project would include replacement of the existing bridge
structures over Dry Fork Hickory Creek, the KCS railroad, and IH 35W.
The total project length is approximately 2.1 miles. The purpose of the
proposed project to enhance safety and mobility and mitigate future
increases in traffic associated with projected growth. The actions by
TxDOT and Federal agencies and the laws under which such actions were
taken are described in the Categorical Exclusion Determination issued
on August 4, 2020, and other documents in the TxDOT project file. The
Categorical Exclusion Determination and other documents in the TxDOT
project file are available by contacting TxDOT at the address provided
above or the TxDOT Dallas District Office at 4777 E. Highway 80,
Mesquite, TX 75150; telephone: (214) 320-4480.
2. Rudeloff Road from SH 46 to Huber Road, Guadalupe County, Texas.
The project would expand the existing two-lane roadway to a four-lane
roadway with a continuous center left turn lane and bicycle and
pedestrian accommodations. The project is approximately 1.5 miles in
length. The actions by TxDOT and Federal agencies and the laws under
which such actions were taken are described in the Categorical
Exclusion Determination issued on August 13, 2020 and other documents
in the TxDOT project file. The Categorical Exclusion Determination and
other documents in the TxDOT project file are available by contacting
TxDOT at the address provided above or the TxDOT San Antonio District
Office at 4615 NW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78229; telephone: (210)
615-5839.
3. Bonnie Brae Street from Windsor Drive to US 77 in Denton County,
Texas. The proposed project would widen the existing two/four-lane
undivided roadway to a four-lane divided roadway. Near the northern
limit of the proposed project, from approximately 1,670 feet south of
US 77 to US 77, the roadway would be widened from a two-lane undivided
roadway to a four-lane divided roadway. The total project length is
approximately one mile. The purpose of the proposed project to improve
operations of the roadway, increase mobility, and enhance safety. The
actions by TxDOT and Federal agencies and the laws under which such
actions were taken are described in, the Categorical Exclusion
Determination issued on August 18, 2020, and other documents in the
TxDOT project file. The Categorical Exclusion Determination and other
documents in the TxDOT project file are available by contacting TxDOT
at the address provided above or the TxDOT Dallas District Office at
4777 E. Highway 80, Mesquite, TX 75150; telephone: (214) 320-4480.
4. State Highway (SH) 72 from Farm to Market (FM) 237 to United
States (US) 87 in DeWitt County, Texas. The proposed project would
widen SH 72 from a two-lane roadway to a four-lane highway between the
towns of Yorktown and Cuero in DeWitt County, Texas. The project would
be approximately 14.0 miles long. The purpose of the project is to
provide a safer corridor for the traveling public through the area. The
actions by TxDOT and Federal agencies and the laws under which such
actions were taken are described in the Categorical Exclusion
Determination issued on August 24, 2020, and other documents in the
TxDOT project file. The Categorical Exclusion Determination and other
documents in the TxDOT project file are available by contacting TxDOT
at the address provided above or the TxDOT Yoakum District Office at
403 Huck St., Yoakum, TX 77995; telephone: (361) 293-4436.
5. Interstate Highway (IH) 10 from Farm to Market (FM) 2761 to
United States (US) 90, in Colorado County, Texas. The proposed project
would expand IH 10 to a six-lane roadway, which includes: three 12-foot
wide main lanes in each direction, 12-foot inside and outside
shoulders, and two 12-foot wide, one-way frontage lanes in each
direction. The project would extend for approximately 11 miles east of
the city of Columbus in Colorado County, Texas.
[[Page 82573]]
The purpose of the project is to increase the capacity of the roadway
to alleviate traffic congestion and provide a safer traveling corridor
for the public. The actions by TxDOT and Federal agencies and the laws
under which such actions were taken are described in the Categorical
Exclusion Determination issued on September 24, 2020, and other
documents in the TxDOT project file. The Categorical Exclusion
Determination and other documents in the TxDOT project file are
available by contacting TxDOT at the address provided above or the
TxDOT Yoakum District Office at 403 Huck St., Yoakum, TX 77995;
telephone: (361) 293-4436.
6. Gattis School Road from Via Sonoma Trail to Red Bud Lane, in
Williamson County, Texas. The project will widen Gattis School Road
from an existing 4-lane undivided roadway to a 6-lane divided urban
roadway with a raised median. The project is approximately 1.01 miles
in length. The actions by TxDOT and Federal agencies and the laws under
which such actions were taken are described in the Categorical
Exclusion Determination issued on October 20, 2020 and other documents
in the TxDOT project file. The Categorical Exclusion Determination and
other documents in the TxDOT project file are available by contacting
TxDOT at the address provided above or the TxDOT Austin District Office
at 7901 North I-35, Austin, TX 78753; telephone: (512) 832-7000.
7. IH 10 Widening, from 0.22 miles west of FM 1905 (Antonio St.) to
SH 20 (Mesa St.), in El Paso County, Texas. The proposed widening
project is approximately 11.2 miles in length. The Texas Department of
Transportation El Paso District proposes to reconstruct and widen the
existing roadway to improve capacity, operation, circulation, and
safety on IH 10. The proposed project would reconstruct, upgrade, and
widen IH 10 from a 4-lane divided roadway to a 6-lane divided roadway.
The frontage roads between State Loop 375 and Mesa Street would be
reconstructed in place to meet urban design criteria. The actions by
TxDOT and Federal agencies and the laws under which such actions were
taken are described in the Categorical Exclusion Determination issued
on October 22, 2020, and other documents in the TxDOT project file. The
Categorical Exclusion Determination and other documents in the TxDOT
project file are available by contacting TxDOT at the address provided
above or the TxDOT El Paso District Office at 13301 Gateway West, El
Paso, TX 79928; telephone: (915) 790-4341.
8. SL 288 From IH 35W to IH 35 in Denton County, Texas. The
proposed project would construct a four-lane new location frontage road
system for SL 288 from IH 35W south of Denton to IH 35 north of Denton.
SL 288 currently does not exist west of IH 35 where the proposed
project is located. The proposed project would consist of two frontage
road lanes in each direction and sidewalks along both sides of the
road, with a median that would accommodate the future construction of
an ultimate mainlane facility. The distance of the proposed project is
approximately 9.0 miles. The purpose of the proposed project is to
address local policies, improve mobility, accommodate future traffic
demand, and improve safety in and around the west side of Denton. The
actions by TxDOT and Federal agencies and the laws under which such
actions were taken are described in the Final Environmental Assessment
(EA) approved on August 21, 2020, Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI) issued on September 25, 2020 and other documents in the TxDOT
project file. The EA, FONSI, and other documents are available by
contacting TxDOT at the address provided above or the TxDOT Dallas
District Office at 4777 E. Highway 80, Mesquite, TX 75150; telephone:
(214) 320-4480.
9. SH 31 from SL 323 to FM 1639 in Gregg and Smith Counties, Texas.
The purpose of the proposed project is to improve safety and
connectivity on SH 31 between the cities of Tyler and Kilgore by
widening the road to a four-lane highway with two 12-foot travel lanes
in each direction, a variable center median, shoulders, and curb and
gutter in portions of the project. The proposed project length is
approximately 20 miles. The actions by TxDOT and Federal agencies and
the laws under which such actions were taken are described in the Final
Environmental Assessment (EA) approved on October 13, 2020, the Finding
of No Significant Impact (FONSI) issued on October 15, 2020, and other
documents in the TxDOT project file. The EA, FONSI, and other documents
in the TxDOT project file are available by contacting TxDOT at the
address provided above or the TxDOT Tyler District Office at 2709 W.
Front St., Tyler, TX 75702; telephone: (903) 510-9100.
10. Loop 88 Segments 1 and 2, from US 84 in Shallowater to US 62/
82, in Lubbock County, Texas. TxDOT plans to construct Loop 88 by
converting existing rural roadways to an access-controlled six-lane
freeway with frontage roads and ramps. Interchanges will be developed
at designated cross streets. For Segment 1, the frontage roads would
start at US 84 while the mainlanes would begin approximately 0.97 mile
west of US 84. Segment 2 would end approximately 0.48 mile northwest of
US 62/82. This project is approximately 16 miles in length and will
improve transportation infrastructure to current design standards and
improve mobility in western and southwestern Lubbock and Lubbock
County. The actions by TxDOT and Federal agencies and the laws under
which such actions were taken are described in the Final Environmental
Assessment (EA) approved on September 18, 2020, the Finding of No
Significant Impact (FONSI) issued on October 26, 2020, and other
documents in the TxDOT project file. The EA, FONSI, and other documents
in the TxDOT project file are available by contacting TxDOT at the
address provided above or the TxDOT Lubbock District Office at 135
Slaton Road, Lubbock, Texas 79404, telephone: (806) 748-4472.
11. Loop 88 Segment 4, from 0.5 miles east of US 87 to US 84 in
Slaton, in Lubbock County, Texas. TxDOT plans to construct Loop 88 by
converting existing rural roadways to an access-controlled six-lane
freeway with frontage roads and ramps. Portions of the proposed project
will follow existing facilities, including FM 1585 for approximately
0.96 mile, and CR 7500 for 3.98 miles. The remainder of the proposed
project is on new location. Interchanges will be developed at
designated cross streets. This project is approximately 8.8 miles in
length and will improve transportation infrastructure to current design
standards and improve mobility in southeastern Lubbock County. The
actions by TxDOT and Federal agencies and the laws under which such
actions were taken are described in the Final Environmental Assessment
(EA) approved on September 18, 2020, the Finding of No Significant
Impact (FONSI) issued on October 26, 2020, and other documents in the
TxDOT project file. The EA, FONSI, and other documents in the TxDOT
project file are available by contacting TxDOT at the address provided
above or the TxDOT Lubbock District Office at 135 Slaton Road, Lubbock,
Texas 79404, telephone: (806) 748-4472.
(Authority: 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1))
Michael T. Leary,
Director, Planning and Program Development, Federal Highway
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2020-27611 Filed 12-17-20; 8:45 am]
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