Notice of Final Federal Agency Actions on Proposed Highway in Indiana |
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Topics: Federal Highway Administration
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Robert F. Tally Jr.
Federal Register
September 29, 2011
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 189 (Thursday, September 29, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60583-60584]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-25003]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Notice of Final Federal Agency Actions on Proposed Highway in
Indiana
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Limitation on Claims for Judicial Review of Actions
by FHWA and United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), DOI.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA and the USFWS
that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions
relate to a proposed highway project for a 26.7 mile segment of I-69,
in the Counties of Greene and Monroe, State of Indiana and grant
licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.
DATES: By this notice, the FHWA is advising the public that the FHWA
and the USFWS have made decisions that are subject to 23 U.S.C.
139(l)(1) and are final within the meaning of that law. A claim seeking
judicial review of those Federal agency decisions on the proposed
highway project will be barred unless the claim is filed on or before
March 27, 2012. If the Federal law that authorizes judicial review of a
claim provides a time period of less than 180 days for filing such
claim, then the shorter time period applies.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For the FHWA: Ms. Michelle Allen,
Federal Highway Administration, Indiana Division, 575 North
Pennsylvania Street, Room 254, Indianapolis, IN 46204-1576; telephone:
(317) 226-7344; e-mail: Michelle.Allen@dot.gov. The FHWA Indiana
Division Office's normal business hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., E.T.
For the USFWS: Mr. Scott Pruitt, Field Supervisor, Bloomington Field
Office, USFWS, 620 South Walker Street, Bloomington, IN 47403-2121;
telephone: 812-334-4261; e-mail: Scott_Pruitt@fws.gov. Normal business
hours for the USFWS Bloomington Field Office are: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
E.T. You may also contact Mr. Thomas Seeman, Project Manager, Indiana
Department of Transportation (INDOT), 100 North Senate Avenue,
Indianapolis, IN 46204; telephone: (317) 232-5336; e-mail:
TSeeman@indot.IN.gov. Normal business hours for the Indiana Department
of Transportation are: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., E.T.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given that the FHWA has
approved a Tier 2 Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for
section 4 of the I-69 highway project from Evansville to Indianapolis
and issued a Record of Decision (ROD) for section 4 on September 8,
2011. Section 4 of the I-69 project extends from U.S. 231 (near Crane
Naval Surface Warfare Center) to the intersection of Victor Pike Road
and State Road 37 (south of Bloomington). Section 4 is a new alignment,
fully access-controlled highway. As approved in the Tier 1 ROD, the
corridor is generally 2,000 feet wide. The corridor width varies at
three locations within Section 4. The corridor widens to approximately
5,400 feet along the Greene-Monroe County Line from just north of CR
1260E/CR 190S (Hobbieville Road) in Greene County to just north of
Carter Road in Monroe County. The Section 4 corridor narrows to
approximately 1,200 feet in width at two locations in Monroe County,
near Evans Lane and also in the vicinity of Rockport Road and Lodge
Road. The ROD selected Refined Preferred Alternative 2 for section 4,
as described in the I-69 Evansville to Indianapolis, Indiana, Tier 2
Final Environmental Impact Statement, Crane NSWC to Bloomington,
Indiana (FEIS), available at http://www.i69indyevn.org/section4_FEIS.html. The ROD also approved the locations of the
[[Page 60584]]
interchanges, grade separations, and access roads (which include new
roads, road relocations, and realignments). The FHWA had previously
issued a Tier 1 FEIS and ROD for the entire I-69 project from
Evansville to Indianapolis, Indiana. A Notice of Limitation on Claims
for Judicial Review of Actions by FHWA and United States Fish and
Wildlife Service (USFWS), DOI, was published in the Federal Register on
April 17, 2007. A claim seeking judicial review of the Tier 1 decisions
must have been filed by October 15, 2007, to avoid being barred under
23 U.S.C. 139(l). Decisions in the FHWA Tier 1 ROD that were cited in
that Federal Register notice included, but were not limited to, the
following:
1. Purpose and need for the project.
2. Range of alternatives for analysis.
3. Selection of the Interstate highway build alternative and
highway corridor for the project, as Alternative 3C.
4. Elimination of other alternatives from consideration in Tier 2
NEPA proceedings.
5. Process for completing the Tier 2 alternatives analysis and
studies for the project, including the designation of six Tier 2
sections and a decision to prepare a separate environmental impact
statement for each Tier 2 section.
The Tier 1 ROD and Notice specifically noted that the ultimate
alignment of the highway within the corridor, and the location and
number of interchanges and rest areas would be evaluated in the Tier 2
NEPA proceedings. Those proceedings for section 4 of the I-69 project
from Evansville to Indianapolis have culminated in the September 8,
2011, ROD and this Notice. Interested parties may consult the Tier 2,
section 4 ROD and FEIS for details about each of the decisions
described above and for information on other issues decided. The Tier
2, section 4 ROD can be viewed and downloaded from the project Web site
at http://www.i69indyevn.org/. People unable to access the Web site may
contact FHWA or INDOT at the addresses listed above. Decisions in the
section 4, Tier 2 ROD that have final approval include, but are not
limited to, the following: 1. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
[42 U.S.C. 4321-4351]. 2. Endangered Species Act [16 U.S.C. 1531-1544].
3. Federal-Aid Highway Act [23 U.S.C. 109 and 23 U.S.C. 128]. 4. Clean
Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7401-7671(q). 5. Section 4(f) of the Department of
Transportation Act of 1966 [49 U.S.C. 303]. 6. Section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended [16 U.S.C.
470(f) et seq.]. 7. Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act [16 U.S.C.
688-688d]. Previous actions taken by the USFWS for the Tier 1, I-69
project, pursuant to the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1531-1544,
included its concurrence with the FHWA's determination that the I-69
project was not likely to adversely affect the eastern fanshell mussel
(Cyprogenia stegaria) and that the project was likely to adversely
affect, but not jeopardize, the bald eagle. The USFWS also concluded
that the project was not likely to jeopardize the continued existence
of the Indiana bat and was not likely to adversely modify the bat's
designated Critical Habitat. These USFWS decisions were described in
the Programmatic Biological Opinion issued on December 3, 2003, the
Revised Programmatic Biological Opinion issued on August 24, 2006, and
other documents in the Tier 1 project records. A Notice of Limitation
on Claims for Judicial Review of these actions and decisions by the
USFWS, DOI, was published in the Federal Register on April 17, 2007.
The USFWS affirmed its decisions in the Amendment to the Revised
Programmatic Biological Opinion issued on May 25, 2011. A Notice of
Limitation on Claims for Judicial Review of these actions and decisions
by the USFWS, DOI, was published in the Federal Register on July 20,
2011. A claim seeking judicial review of the Amendment to the Revised
Programmatic Biological Opinion must be filed by January 17, 2012, to
avoid being barred under 23 U.S.C. 139(l).
For the Tier 2, section 4, 26.7 mile I-69 project in Greene and
Monroe Counties, an individual Biological Opinion was issued on July 6,
2011, that concluded that the section 4 project was not likely to
jeopardize the continued existence of the Indiana bat and was not
likely to adversely modify the bat's designated Critical Habitat. In
addition, the USFWS issued an Incidental Take Statement subject to
specified terms and conditions. The USFWS also issued a Bald Eagle Take
Exempted Under ESA permit (No. MB218918-0) for the incidental take of
the bald eagles for all sections of the I-69 project. The permit was
effective as of June 25, 2009, and is subject to the terms and
conditions of the Endangered Species Act section 7 incidental take
statement and the August 24, 2006, Revised Programmatic Biological
Opinion. The biological opinions, Bald Eagle permit no. MB218918-0, and
other project records relating to the USFWS actions, taken pursuant to
the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1531-1544, are available by
contacting the FHWA, INDOT, or USFWS at the addresses provided above.
The Tier 2, section 4, Biological Opinion can be viewed and downloaded
from the project Web site at http://www.i69indyevn.org/wp-content/uploads/Sec4_FEIS/Sec4_Appendix-JJ2.pdf.
(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. 139(l)(1)
Robert F. Tally Jr.,
Division Administrator, Indianapolis, Indiana.
[FR Doc. 2011-25003 Filed 9-28-11; 8:45 am]
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