Environmental Impact Statement: Allegan and Ottawa Counties, MI

A. George Ostensen
Federal Highway Administration
May 5, 1994

[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 86 (Thursday, May 5, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-10823]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 5, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration

 

Environmental Impact Statement: Allegan and Ottawa Counties, MI

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 will be prepared for alternative 
alignments for a bypass of US-31 from Holland in Allegan County to 
Grand Haven in Ottawa County.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Norman R. Stoner, Program Operations Engineer, Federal Highway 
Administration, 315 W. Allegan Street, room 211, Lansing Michigan 
48933, Telephone: (517) 377-1880 or Mr. Michael O'Malley, Environmental 
Coordinator, Bureau of Transportation Planning, Michigan Department of 
Transportation, P.O. Box 30050, Lansing, Michigan 48909, Telephone: 
(517) 373-2634.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Michigan 
Department of Transportation, (MDOT), is preparing an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for alternative alignments for a bypass of US-31 
from I-196 north of Holland in Allegan County to I-96 north of Grand 
Haven in Ottawa County. The proposed project is approximately 40 
kilometers (25 miles) in length and is needed to alleviate the traffic 
congestion across the Grand River crossing in Grand Haven and to 
address operational deficiencies on US-31 in Ottawa County as a result 
of increased population and commercial development. It is also intended 
to improve service in this developing area in northern Allegan and 
Southern Ottawa Counties. Alternatives under consideration include: (1) 
Taking no action to improve this section of US-31 other than routine 
maintenance; (2) mass transit; (3) reconstruction of existing US-31 
within the existing right-of-way; (4) controlled access boulevard on 
existing US-31. within the existing right-of-way; (4) controlled access 
boulevard on existing US-31 alignment; (5) construction of a second 
bridge for local access across the Grand River in Grand Haven; and (6) 
bypass alternative east of existing US-31. Scoping of this project 
began in 1990 and included: meetings with local jurisdictions and 
representatives from the Townships, cities, counties and the US-31 
Advisory Committee. Letters and a scoping document describing the 
proposed action and soliciting comments will be sent to appropriate 
federal, State, and local agencies, and to private organizations and 
citizens who have previously expressed or are known to have interests 
in this proposal. Although no agency scoping meeting is planned at this 
time, a pre-study meeting will be held in the near future to provide 
the public an opportunity to discuss the proposed action. A public 
hearing will also be held. Public notice will be given of the time and 
place of the hearing. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is 
scheduled for completion in September, 1996, and will be made available 
for public and agency review and comment prior to the public hearing. 
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources are requested 
to be cooperating agencies on this project.
    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 EIS should be 
directed to the FHWA 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.)

    Issued on: April 19, 1994.
A. George Ostensen,
Division Administrator, Lansing, Michigan.
[FR Doc. 94-10823 Filed 5-4-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M