Notice To Rescind a Notice of Intent and Draft Environmental Impact Statement: I-17 Corridor Improvement Study; Maricopa County, Arizona

Topics:  Interstate Highway System

Karla S. Petty
Federal Highway Administration
August 23, 2013

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 164 (Friday, August 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 52602]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20589]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Notice To Rescind a Notice of Intent and Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement: I-17 Corridor Improvement Study; Maricopa County, 
Arizona

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice to Rescind a Notice of Intent and Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that we 
are rescinding the Notice of Intent (NOI) and Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for proposed freeway improvements along 
Interstate 17 (I-17) from the I-10/Maricopa Traffic Interchange to 
State Route (SR) 101L (Loop 101) within Maricopa County, Arizona. A NOI 
to prepare an EIS for the I-17 Corridor Improvement Study was published 
in the Federal Register on January 6, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Alan Hansen, Team Leader--Planning, 
Environment & Realty, Federal Highway Administration, 4000 North 
Central Avenue, Suite 1500, Phoenix, AZ 85012-3500, Telephone: (602) 
382-8964, Email: alan.hansen@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 6, 2010, the FHWA, in cooperation 
with the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), issued an NOI to 
prepare an EIS for proposed freeway improvements along I-17 from the I-
10/Maricopa Traffic Interchange to SR 101L in Maricopa County, Arizona. 
The I-17 Corridor is located in the city of Phoenix, and the study area 
limits for the EIS consisted of approximately 21 miles of I-17.
    A No-Build Alternative and Build Alternatives were being considered 
in the EIS for the Design Year 2035. The No-Build Alternative served as 
the baseline for the analysis conducted under the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The proposed Build Alternatives 
involved the addition of a number of new travel lanes and a high 
occupancy vehicle lane in each direction along I-17.
    The proposed widening of I-17 is included in the Regional 
Transportation Plan (RTP) and Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) 
adopted by the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) Regional 
Council. However, MAG is considering modifications to some of the 
transportation improvements that are presently programmed in the RTP 
and TIP, including the I-17 widening. Therefore, the preparation of the 
EIS for the I-17 Corridor Improvement Study is being terminated. Any 
future transportation improvements in the I-17 Corridor will be 
determined through funding and project reprioritization by MAG. Any 
future actions will progress under a separate environmental review 
process, in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.

(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 August 19, 2013.
Karla S. Petty,
FHWA Division Administrator, Phoenix, AZ.
[FR Doc. 2013-20589 Filed 8-22-13; 8:45 am]
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