Environmental Impact Statement: Mountain Loop, WA

James N. Hall
Federal Highway Administration
February 23, 1994

[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 23, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-4027]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 23, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration

 

Environmental Impact Statement: Mountain Loop, WA

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for a proposed 
highway construction project on Forest Highway 7 between Darrington and 
Silverton, otherwise known as Mountain Loop, in the Mount Baker-
Snoqualmie National Forest, Snohomish County, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Allan Stockman, Environmental Engineer, or Edrie Vinson, Environmental 
Specialist, Federal Highway Administration, Western Federal Lands 
Highway Division, 610 East Fifth Street, Vancouver, Washington 98661-
3893. Telephone: (206) 696-7952.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the U.S. 
Forest Service, the Washington State Department of Transportation, and 
Snohomish County, will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement on a 
proposal to construct the Mountain Loop Highway, Forest Highway 7, in 
the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest between White Chuck River, 
east of Darrington to Barlow Pass, which is east of Silverton. The 
proposed highway would connect State Route 530 with State Route 92, 
completing a recreational and scenic highway loop along the South Fork 
and the Sauk Rivers in the Cascade Range. The proposal would involve 
reconstruction of an existing unimproved road to two lane paved 
surface. The total length is about 22.5 km (14 miles). The highway is 
considered necessary to accommodate recreational traffic and a 
developing tourism industry. The recreational loop is access to three 
wilderness areas, a Wild and Scenic river, a National Scenic Byway, 
hiking trails, camping facilities, and fishing opportunities. The road 
is seasonally open. Heavy snows close the road during most winters.
    Alternatives under construction include: No action; road closure; 
build on existing alignment; construct an Elliott Creek bypass; and 
construct a single lane couplet around the Elliot Creek slide. Various 
lane widths will be analyzed with the build alternatives.
    Announcements describing the proposed action and soliciting 
comments will be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local 
agencies. These will also be sent to private organizations and citizens 
who have previously expressed, or are known to have interest in this 
proposal. Public scoping meetings will be held in Granite Falls, 
Darrington, and a location between Lynwood and Everett. Public notices 
will be given on the dates, times, and places of all the meetings.
    It is important that the full range of issues related to this 
proposed action be identified, all reasonable alternatives be 
considered, and significant impacts be thoroughly analyzed. To ensure 
this, comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. 
Comments, suggestions, and/or questions concerning this proposed action 
and the EIS should be directed to the FHWA at the address and phone 
number provided above.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Research, Planning, and Construction. The regulations 
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental 
consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this 
program.)

    Issued on: February 11, 1994.
James N. Hall,
Division Engineer, Vancouver, Washington.
[FR Doc. 94-4027 Filed 2-22-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M