Notice2022-25444
Environmental Impact Statement: Contra Costa, Alameda, & San Joaquin Counties, California
Primary source
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Published
November 22, 2022
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Highway Administration
Abstract
The FHWA, on behalf of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), is issuing this notice to advise the public that a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) will be prepared for the proposed State Route (SR) 239 highway project (Project) in Contra Costa, Alameda, and San Joaquin Counties, California.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 224 (Tuesday, November 22, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 224 (Tuesday, November 22, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71397-71398]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-25444]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: Contra Costa, Alameda, & San
Joaquin Counties, California
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The FHWA, on behalf of the California Department of
Transportation (Caltrans), is issuing this notice to advise the public
that a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) will be
prepared for the proposed State Route (SR) 239 highway project
(Project) in Contra Costa, Alameda, and San Joaquin Counties,
California.
DATES: This notice will be accompanied by a 62-day public scoping
comment period from Friday, November 18, 2022, to January 18, 2023. The
deadline for public comments is 5:00 p.m. (PST) on Wednesday, January
18, 2023. Because COVID-19 social distancing advisories are still in
effect, no physical public meetings will be held during the public
scoping comment period. Instead, Caltrans will hold an online public
scoping meeting on Tuesday, December 13, 2022 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00
p.m. The link to the public scoping meeting will be posted on the
project website at <a href="http://www.SR239project.net">www.SR239project.net</a> in advance of the meeting.
Additional project information will also be made available on the
project website throughout the entire public comment period. The
project website at <a href="http://www.SR239project.net">www.SR239project.net</a> can also be accessed through
the Caltrans website at <a href="https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4/d4-projects/">https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4/d4-projects/</a>. Project materials that will be posted on the
<a href="http://www.SR239project.net">www.SR239project.net</a> website will include project background, project
schedule, frequently asked questions, archival information from prior
public outreach presentations, newly developed narrated presentation
slides about the SR 239 Project's purpose and need, the alternatives
currently being considered, the alternatives previously considered,
etc. A poster gallery will also be available that features project
alternatives and other key project information.
The website and scoping meeting will enable the public to share
thoughts on the project material, the project alternatives under
consideration and alternatives previously considered but rejected, and
suggest other alternatives. The public can submit formal scoping
comments through the <a href="http://www.SR239project.net">www.SR239project.net</a> website via an electronic
comment submission form, via email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#85ecebe3eac5d6d7b7b6bcf5f7eaefe0e6f1abebe0f1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ec85828a83acbfbededfd59c9e8386898f98c2828998">[email protected]</span></a>, via the
project telephone line at (925) 255-5466, or via postal mail at the
contact information listed below. Comments received through these
methods will become part of the public record. In addition to email
notifications, Caltrans will mail notification postcards via USPS to
the public, based on information collected from early public outreach
efforts, and to city, county and state officials with jurisdiction in
the project area. Postcards provide contact information for requesting
information in alternative formats or alternative language translation
services.
More information can also be found at the project website at
<a href="http://www.SR239project.net">www.SR239project.net</a> or <a href="https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4/d4-projects/">https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4/d4-projects/</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Caltrans District 4, P.O. Box 23660,
MS-8B, Oakland, CA 94623-0660, ATTN: Lily Mu, Environmental Scientist.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Effective July 1, 2007, the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) assigned, and the California Department of
Transportation (Caltrans) assumed, environmental responsibilities for
this project pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327. Caltrans as the assigned
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) agency, and in partnership
with the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) as the project
sponsor, will prepare a Draft EIS on a proposal for construction of a
new highway, SR 239, in Contra Costa, Alameda, and San Joaquin
Counties, California. The project limits extend from SR 4 near Marsh
Creek Road in eastern Contra Costa County to Interstate 580 in Alameda
County or to Interstate 205 in San Joaquin County. This new route is
needed to ultimately improve the transportation network for an area
that has few north-south roadway connections between eastern Contra
County and the western San Joaquin Valley. The SR 239 Project is
particularly important as it would provide relief from increasing
commute traffic through the town of Byron, enhance mobility in eastern
Contra Costa County, and improve access to the Byron Airport. Caltrans
and CCTA are also considering multimodal alternatives for the State
Route 239 Project, such as transit and active transportation
improvements. Project objectives include: improving access and mobility
between eastern Contra Costa County and western San Joaquin County,
supporting inter-regional north-south goods movement operations,
reducing regional/non-local traffic through the Town of Byron,
improving access to Byron Airport to support planned development and as
an emergency logistics hub, providing improvements for regional and
sustainable alternative modes of travel, and providing an enhanced
evacuation route in the event of major disasters.
Caltrans and CCTA are evaluating the overall State Route 239
corridor at both a Tier I (program) level and a Tier II (project)
level. The Tier I programmatic-level study will evaluate and analyze
alternatives that cover the entire SR 239 corridor and will consist of
a broad and general assessment used to establish and consider the types
of environmental impacts that could occur as a result of the ultimate
construction and operation of the entire project. Caltrans and CCTA are
also evaluating an initial phase of the State 239 Project at a Tier II
project-level of evaluation. The Tier II evaluation will consist of a
detailed, site-specific analysis that allows for project approval,
design and construction of the initial phase.
Currently, the range of alternatives being considered include
either taking no action on the proposed new SR 239 (No-Build
Alternative) or proceeding with one of two potential build alternatives
for the Tier I corridor. Alternative A would be a four-lane highway
with an alignment generally east of the Byron Airport that proceeds
southward and towards the west of Mountain House that then connects to
the I-580/I-205 interchange. Alternative B would be a four-lane highway
with an alignment east of the Byron Airport that would become parallel
to and west of Byron Highway before joining Byron Road and connecting
to I-205 west of Tracy. With respect to Tier II, this initial phase is
proposed to be a two-lane facility (one lane in each direction) between
State Route 4 near Marsh Creek Road and the Byron Airport. This initial
phase would constitute an initial fundable and operable project segment
to connect Vasco Road and Byron Highway and would be common to both
build alternatives.
The Tier I (program) and Tier II (project) evaluations will be
included in a single combined document, a Tier I/Tier II EIR/EIS,
consistent with the requirements of CEQA and NEPA. Later
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phases, beyond the initial phase, would require future separate Tier II
(project-level) environmental documents before they are programmed for
design and construction.
Federal permits and approvals are anticipated from the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service (USFWS), U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR), U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS), and the U.S. Department of the Interior under Section 4(f) of
the Department of Transportation Act (1966).
Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, Cooperating and Participating
Agencies, local agencies, Tribal governments including the Costanoan,
Me-Wuk, Miwok, Costanoan Northern Valley Yokut, Pomo, Foothill Yokut
Mono, Bay Miwok Ohlone Patwin Plains Miwok, and Bay Miwok Ohlone Delta
Yokut tribes, as well as to private organizations and citizens who have
previously expressed or are known to have interest in this proposal.
The project team anticipates reviewing all public comments received
during the public scoping period and circulating a Draft EIS. In
addition, a public hearing will be held once the Draft EIS is
completed. Public notice will be given of the time and place of the
meeting and hearing. The Draft EIS will be available for public and
agency review and comment prior to the public hearing to ensure that
the full range of issues related to this proposed action are addressed
and all significant issues identified, comments, and suggestions are
invited from all interested parties. Comments or questions concerning
this proposed action and the Draft EIS should be directed to Caltrans
at the address 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.)
Antonio Johnson,
Director, Planning, Environment, and Right of Way, Federal Highway
Administration, California Division.
[FR Doc. 2022-25444 Filed 11-21-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P
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