Notice2024-18587
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a Proposed Highway Project; Adams and Denver Counties, Colorado (Identification Number FHWA-CO-EIS-24-001)
Primary source
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Published
August 20, 2024
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Highway Administration
Abstract
The FHWA in coordination with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is issuing this Notice of Intent (NOI) to solicit comment and advise the public, agencies, and stakeholders that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for transportation improvements to the Interstate 270 (I-270) Corridor. The I-270 Corridor Improvements Project is located in the City of Commerce City, Adams County, and City and County of Denver in the State of Colorado. The study limits include the full extent of I-270 from Interstate 25 (I-25) to Interstate 70 (I-70) (approximately 6.5 miles). I-270 is a controlled-access interstate highway with two through lanes in each direction. Persons and agencies who may be interested in or affected by the proposed project are encouraged to comment on the information in this NOI and the NOI Additional Information document. All comments received in response to this NOI will be considered and any information presented herein, including the preliminary purpose and need, preliminary alternatives and identified impacts, may be revised in consideration of the comments.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 161 (Tuesday, August 20, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 20, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67510-67513]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18587]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
[Docket No. FHWA-2024-0057]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
a Proposed Highway Project; Adams and Denver Counties, Colorado
(Identification Number FHWA-CO-EIS-24-001)
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of
Transportation (USDOT).
ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS).
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SUMMARY: The FHWA in coordination with the Colorado Department of
Transportation (CDOT) is issuing this Notice of Intent (NOI) to solicit
comment and advise the public, agencies, and stakeholders that an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for
transportation improvements to the Interstate 270 (I-270) Corridor. The
I-270 Corridor Improvements Project is located in the City of Commerce
City, Adams County, and City and County of Denver in the State of
Colorado. The study limits include the full extent of I-270 from
Interstate 25 (I-25) to Interstate 70 (I-70) (approximately 6.5 miles).
I-270 is a controlled-access interstate highway with two through lanes
in each direction. Persons and agencies who may be interested in or
affected by the proposed project are encouraged to comment on the
information in this NOI and the NOI Additional Information document.
All comments received in response to this NOI will be considered and
any information presented herein, including the preliminary purpose and
need, preliminary alternatives and identified impacts, may be revised
in consideration of the comments.
DATES: Comments on the NOI or the NOI Additional Information documents
must be received on or before September 19, 2024.
ADDRESSES: This NOI and the NOI Additional Information document are
available in the docket referenced above at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> and on
the project website located at <a href="http://www.codot.gov/projects/studies/i270study">www.codot.gov/projects/studies/i270study</a>. The NOI Additional Information document will also be mailed
upon request. All interested parties are invited to submit comments by
any of the following methods:
<bullet> Website: For access to the documents, go to the Federal
Rulemaking Portal located at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> or the project website
located at <a href="http://www.codot.gov/projects/studies/i270study">www.codot.gov/projects/studies/i270study</a>. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>.
<bullet> Mailing address or for hand delivery or courier: Docket
Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC
20590.
All submissions should include the agency name and the docket
number that appears in the heading of this Notice. All comments
received will be posted without change to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> or
<a href="http://www.codot.gov/projects/studies/i270study">www.codot.gov/projects/studies/i270study</a> including any personal
information provided. The Draft EIS will include a summary of the
comments received.
[[Page 67511]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Federal Highway Administration,
Colorado Division, Attention: Chris Horn, Senior Area Engineer, 12300 W
Dakota Ave #180, Lakewood, Colorado 80228; Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#eead869c879dc0a6819c80ae8a819ac0898198"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c281aab0abb1ec8aadb0ac82a6adb6eca5adb4">[email protected]</span></a>;
Telephone: 720-963-3017; or Colorado Department of Transportation--
Region 1, Attention: David Merenich, I-270 Project Director, 2829 West
Howard Place, Denver, Colorado 80204; Email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#81e5e0f7e8e5afece4f3e4efe8e2e9c1f2f5e0f5e4afe2eeaff4f2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d9bdb8afb0bdf7b4bcabbcb7b0bab199aaadb8adbcf7bab6f7acaa">[email protected]</span></a>; Telephone: 720-933-5755; or I-270 Project
Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1a797e756e4573282d2a5a696e7b6e7f347975346f69"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5c3f38332803356e6b6c1c2f283d2839723f3372292f">[email protected]</span></a>.
Persons interested in receiving project information can also use
the project email address referenced above to be added to the project
mailing list.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA and CDOT are committed to public
involvement in this project. All public comments received in response
to this NOI will be considered and potential revisions made to the
information presented herein as appropriate. FHWA as the lead Federal
agency, and CDOT as joint lead agency/project sponsor, are preparing an
EIS to evaluate transportation solutions on I-270 between I-25 and I-70
in Adams and Denver Counties, Colorado. The EIS for the I-270 Corridor
Improvements Project will be conducted in accordance with the
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969,
as amended (42 United States Code [U.S.C.] 4321, et seq.), 23 U.S.C.
139, Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations implementing
NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] part 1500-1508), FHWA
regulations implementing NEPA (23 CFR part 771) and all other
applicable Federal, State, and local laws and regulations.
CDOT and FHWA started an environmental review of the I-270 Corridor
in 2020. The agencies were working toward an Environmental Assessment
(EA). The EA process was paused in late 2022 when CDOT decided that a
more detailed environmental review was needed. Therefore, CDOT and FHWA
are now initiating an EIS to evaluate the environmental impacts of the
I-270 corridor transportation improvements.
To ensure that a full range of issues are addressed in the EIS and
potential issues are identified, comments and suggestions are invited
from all interested parties. FHWA requests comments and suggestions on
the purpose and need, potential project alternatives and impacts, and
the identification of any relevant information, studies, or analyses of
any kind concerning impacts to the quality of the human and natural
environment. The purpose of this request is to bring relevant comments,
information, and analyses to the attention of FHWA and CDOT, as early
in the process as possible, to enable the agency to make maximum use of
this information in decision making.
Preliminary Purpose and Need
The preliminary purpose of the I-270 Corridor Improvements project
is to implement transportation solutions that modernize the I-270
corridor to accommodate the existing and forecasted transportation
demands.
The identified transportation needs are as follows:
<bullet> Traveler safety on the corridor
<bullet> Travel time and reliability on the corridor
<bullet> Transit on the corridor
<bullet> Bicycle and pedestrian connectivity across I-270
<bullet> Freight operations on the corridor
In addition to addressing project needs, CDOT, FHWA, Cooperating,
and Participating Agencies have established a key project goal: to
minimize the environmental and community impacts resulting from the
project. The purpose and need statement may be revised based on
comments received during the comment period on this Notice.
Preliminary Project Alternatives
The preliminary alternatives under consideration are summarized
below and were developed with public and agency input through the early
scoping process. The Lead Agencies will consider agency and public
comments received during the NOI comment period, and these alternatives
(and other information presented in the NOI) are subject to change
based on input.
The preliminary alternatives will go through a screening process,
informed by public and agency input through the scoping process. As a
result of the screening process, one or more of the preliminary
alternatives may be screened out and not fully analyzed in the EIS or
other alternatives may be added.
No Action Alternative
The No Action Alternative would maintain the existing highway
configuration of two general-purpose travel lanes in each direction.
Bridges and pavement would continue to be maintained and repaired but
underlying infrastructure deficiencies would remain.
Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Transit Enhancements Alternative
The Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Transit Enhancements Alternative would
focus on improvements to bicycle, pedestrian, and transit connections
in the community in lieu of additional highway capacity. It would
include substantial ongoing maintenance and rehabilitation of existing
highway structures and pavement and would retain the existing highway
configuration.
Minimal Build Alternative
The Minimal Build Alternative would not add lane capacity to I-270
but would rebuild infrastructure, including replacing bridges that are
reaching the end of their useful life, and addressing pavement
condition and subsurface settling. It would also include safety
improvements, such as widening shoulders and redesigning the I-76, York
Street, Vasquez Boulevard, and Quebec Street interchange on- and off-
ramps to provide adequate acceleration and deceleration lanes to meet
design standards.
Three General-Purpose Lanes Alternative
The Three General-Purpose Lanes Alternative would include the
safety improvements and interchange reconfigurations included in the
Minimal Build Alternative. It would also add one general-purpose travel
lane in each direction, for a total of three general-purpose lanes in
each direction through the corridor. It would reconstruct other highway
infrastructure to accommodate the widened highway footprint and
modernize the existing infrastructure. Transit would remain in the
general-purpose lanes as service exists today.
Two General-Purpose Lanes and One Transit-Only Lane Alternative
The Two General-Purpose Lanes and One Transit-Only Lane Alternative
would include the safety improvements and interchange reconfigurations
included in the Minimal Build Alternative. It would also add one new
transit-only travel lane in each direction through the corridor for a
total of two general-purpose lanes and one transit-only lane in each
direction through the corridor. It would reconstruct other highway
infrastructure to accommodate the widened highway footprint and
modernize the existing infrastructure.
Two General-Purpose Lanes and One Express Lane That Accommodates
Transit Alternative
The Two General-Purpose Lanes and One Express Lane that
Accommodates Transit Alternative would include the safety improvements
and interchange reconfigurations included in the
[[Page 67512]]
Minimal Build Alternative. It would add one new travel lane in each
direction through the corridor. The new lane would be operated as an
Express Lane. Transit vehicles and high-occupancy vehicles (3 or more
people) could travel in the express lane free of charge. Other
travelers, including freight trucks, who choose to pay a fee could also
use the new Express Lane. It would reconstruct other highway
infrastructure to accommodate the widened highway footprint and
modernize the existing infrastructure.
Three General-Purpose Lanes and One Express Lane That Accommodates
Transit Alternative
The Three General-Purpose Lanes and One Express Lane that
Accommodates Transit Alternative would include the safety improvements
and interchange reconfigurations included in the Minimal Build
Alternative. It would add two travel lanes in each direction: one
general-purpose lane and one Express Lane for an overall configuration
of three general-purpose lanes and one Express Lane in each direction
through the corridor. Transit vehicles and high-occupancy vehicles (3
or more people) could travel in the Express Lane free of charge. Other
travelers, including freight trucks, who choose to pay a fee could also
use the new Express Lane. It would reconstruct other highway
infrastructure to accommodate the widened highway footprint and
modernize the existing infrastructure.
Two General-Purpose Lanes and Two Express Lanes That Accommodate
Transit Alternative
The Two General-Purpose Lanes and Two Express Lanes that
Accommodate Transit Alternative would include the safety improvements
and interchange reconfigurations included in the Minimal Build
Alternative. It would add two new travel lanes in each direction. The
two new lanes would be operated as Express Lanes. Transit vehicles and
high-occupancy vehicles (3 or more people) could travel in the Express
Lane free of charge. Other travelers, including freight trucks, who
choose to pay a fee could also use the new Express Lanes. It would
reconstruct other highway infrastructure to accommodate the widened
highway footprint and modernize the existing infrastructure.
Summary of Anticipated Impacts
The EIS will evaluate the potential social, economic, and
environmental effects resulting from implementation of the build
alternatives and the no build alternative. FHWA and CDOT will seek
input from the public and agencies during the EIS development process
regarding the effects of the project. CDOT and FHWA will evaluate
effects to environmental and community resources in accordance with
their NEPA guidance and procedures. The following environmental issues
and considerations have been identified by the public and agencies as
requiring the most attention in the environmental review process.
Environmental Justice Communities. The build alternatives have the
potential to affect low income and minority populations. Preliminary
data collection shows the neighborhoods surrounding the proposed
project should be considered environmental justice communities. There
is potential for the build alternatives to have impacts to these
communities due to noise, air quality, financial impacts, and other
factors.
Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHGs). The build
alternatives have the potential to impact air quality. The project will
model air emissions for transportation-related criteria pollutants:
carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO<INF>2</INF>), particulate
matter of 10 microns or less in diameter (PM<INF>10</INF>), particulate
matter of 2.5 microns or less in diameter (PM<INF>2.5</INF>), and ozone
(O<INF>3</INF>) precursors [nitrogen oxides (NO<INF>X</INF>), and
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)], as well as mobile source air toxics
(MSATs) and GHGs.
Noise. The build alternatives have the potential to increase
traffic noise within neighborhoods surrounding the highway.
Additionally, construction of a build alternative may have the
potential for temporary noise increases within the neighborhoods
surrounding the highway.
Water Quality. The build alternatives have the potential to impact
water quality. The project will include permanent and temporary control
measures to reduce stormwater runoff to surrounding waters.
Wetlands and Waters of the U.S. The build alternatives may require
dredge and/or fill of waters of the U.S. and impacts to wetlands, which
may require a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Hazardous Materials. The project area includes areas of known soil
and groundwater contamination that could be disturbed during the
construction of the build alternatives.
Right of Way (ROW). The build alternatives may require acquisition
of right-of-way and/or easements. The build alternatives are expected
to require some partial property acquisition and temporary easements.
Some of the build alternatives may require residential or commercial
relocations.
The EIS will evaluate the expected impacts and benefits to the
resources identified above as well as other resources. The level of
review of the identified resources for the EIS will be commensurate
with the anticipated impacts to each resource from the proposed project
and will be governed by the statutory or regulatory requirements
protecting those resources. The analyses and evaluations conducted for
the EIS will identify the potential for impacts; whether the
anticipated impacts would be adverse; and the appropriate environmental
mitigation measures. Additional information on the expected impacts is
provided in the NOI Additional Information document available for
review in the docket established for this project and on the project
website as noted in the ADDRESSES section. The FHWA and CDOT are
inviting public input during the NOI comment period. The resources
identified for impact analysis in the EIS may be revised due to the
consideration of public comments.
Anticipated Permits (and Other Authorizations)
Federal, State, and local agency permits, and other authorizations,
are anticipated to be needed for implementation of a build alternative.
Railroad agreements are also anticipated. Lists of the specific permits
anticipated are included in the NOI Additional Information document.
Schedule for the Decision-Making Process
The project schedule follows the requirements of the environmental
review process under 23 U.S.C. 139 and will comply with 40 CFR
1501.10(b)(2), which requires that environmental reviews for major
infrastructure projects occur within 2 years (from the date of
publication of the NOI) to the date of issuance of the ROD. The Draft
EIS is anticipated to be issued between late 2024 and early 2025. A
public comment period and public hearing will follow the publication of
the Draft EIS. The Final EIS and ROD document(s) is anticipated to be
issued between late 2025 and early 2026, within 24 months of the
publication of this NOI per 23 U.S.C. 139(d)(10). Per 23 U.S.C.
139(d)(10), permits and authorizations should be completed by no later
than 90 days after the issuance of the Record of Decision. However, for
this project CDOT has requested in accordance with 23 U.S.C.
139(d)(10)(C)(ii) that the 404 permit and 401 water quality
certifications follow a different timeline
[[Page 67513]]
because the construction date is not expected until 2026 or later.
Scoping and Public Review
The project team developed an Agency Coordination Plan and a Public
Involvement Plan. These plans will guide CDOT through the scoping and
public review process. The Public Involvement Plan and the Agency
Coordination Plan are attached to the NOI Additional Information
Document.
CDOT and FHWA identified agencies with jurisdiction over resources
within the study area. On June 8, 2023, FHWA and CDOT conducted an
agency coordination meeting. After the meeting agencies were formally
contacted by FHWA through the United States Postal Service and email to
determine Cooperating and Participating Agency status. Another agency
coordination meeting was held on November 1, 2023. Additional meetings
with Cooperating and Participating Agencies will be held throughout the
environmental review process. The Agency Coordination Plan and Public
Involvement Plan included within the NOI Additional Information
Document describes how the public and agencies will continue to be
engaged during EIS development.
The project held a public open house on October 10, 2023, at the
Eagle Pointe Recreation Center (Commerce City), to present the draft
purpose and need and the draft proposed alternatives to the public. The
public open house had 81 participants sign in to the event; attendees
were highly engaged and provided detailed comments and thoughts.
Participants were a mixture of local residents, commuters, interested
groups, agency staff, and elected officials. A summary of the October
public open house is available on the project website. Agencies were
briefed on the public open house and input received at the November 1,
2023, agency coordination meeting.
In December 2023, CDOT hosted community ``listening sessions'' to
gather additional feedback from area residents. The listening sessions
were held at community locations in the study area; all included
Spanish and English-speaking staff. CDOT has also conducted numerous
one-on-one meetings with stakeholders.
Additional public and agency meetings are planned before the Draft
EIS is published, and the Draft EIS will be available for public and
agency review and comment prior to the Public Hearing.
Request for Identification of Potential Alternatives, Information, and
Analyses Relative to the Proposed Action
To ensure that a full range of issues related to the study are
addressed and all potential issues are identified, FHWA and CDOT invite
comments and suggestions from the public and all federal, state,
tribal, and local agencies. FHWA and CDOT request comments and
suggestions on potential alternatives and impacts, and the
identification of any relevant information, studies, or analyses of any
kind concerning impacts affecting the quality of the human environment.
Specifically, agencies and the public are asked to identify and submit
potential alternatives for consideration and any information, such as
anticipated significant issues or environmental impacts and analyses
relevant to the proposed action, will be considered by the Lead and
Cooperating agencies in developing the Draft EIS. Comments must be
received by September 19, 2024. Any information presented herein,
including the preliminary purpose and need, preliminary range of
alternatives and identification of impacts may be revised after
consideration of the comments. The purpose of this request is to bring
relevant comments, information, and analyses to the Lead Agencies'
attention, as early in the process as possible, to enable the agencies
to make maximum use of this information in decision making.
There are several methods to submit comments as described in the
ADDRESSES section of this notice. Any questions concerning this
proposed action, including comments relevant to alternatives,
information, and analyses, should be directed to FHWA or CDOT at the
physical addresses, email addresses, or phone numbers provided in the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; 23 U.S.C. 139; 23 CFR part 771.
John M. Cater,
Division Administrator, Lakewood, Colorado, Federal Highway
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-18587 Filed 8-19-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P
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