Notice of Final Federal Agency Actions on Proposed Highway in California

Tashia J. Clemons
Federal Highway Administration
14 August 2018

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 157 (Tuesday, August 14, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40386-40387]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17509]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Notice of Final Federal Agency Actions on Proposed Highway in 
California

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of limitation on claims for judicial review of actions 
by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), pursuant to 
23 U.S.C. 327.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA, on behalf of Caltrans, is issuing this notice to 
announce actions taken by Caltrans, that are final within the meaning 
of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to an Off the Highway System 
Project, CV Link, a multi-modal project for use by bicycles, 
pedestrians and low speed electric vehicles, from the City of Palm 
Springs to the City of Coachella in Riverside County, State of 
California. Those actions grant approvals for the project.

DATES: By this notice, the FHWA, on behalf of Caltrans, is advising the 
public of final agency actions subject to 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). A claim 
seeking judicial review of the Federal agency actions on the Off the 
Highway System Project will be barred unless the claim is filed on or 
before January 11, 2019. If the Federal law that authorizes judicial 
review of a claim provides a time period of less than 150 days for 
filing such claim, then that shorter time period still applies.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For Caltrans: Aaron Burton, Senior 
Environmental Planner, Local Assistance-Environmental Support, 
California Department of Transportation District 8, 464 West Fourth 
Street, 6th Floor, MS 760, San Bernardino, CA 92401 during regular 
office hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Telephone number: (909) 383-
2841, email: aaron.burton@dot.ca.gov.

[[Page 40387]]


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. Notice is hereby given that the 
Caltrans has taken final agency actions subject to 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1) 
by issuing licenses, permits, and approvals for the following Off the 
Highway System Project in the State of California: CV Link Multi-Modal 
Path Project. CV Link proposes to construct a 49 mile 
multi-modal transportation path for use by bicycles, pedestrians and 
low speed electric vehicles. The project is located in the Coachella 
Valley and extends across eight (8) municipalities, unincorporated 
county lands, and reservation land of three (3) Native American Tribes. 
The purpose of the project is to address a lack of integrated multi-
modal access throughout the valley and enhance the active 
transportation network from the City of Palm Springs to the City of 
Coachella. CV Link largely is to be built atop the embankments and 
levees of the region's principal watercourses, including Whitewater 
Floodplain, Tahquitz Creek, Chino Creek, and the Whitewater and 
Coachella Valley Stormwater Channels. Grade-separated crossings 
(bridges or under-crossings) of major roadways are also proposed. In 
areas where these major drainage corridors are inaccessible, on-street 
routes are proposed. Route alignments using the street network are 
considered in challenging areas and will provide options for near and 
long-term implementation.
    The project is intended to enhance connectivity between major 
employment, residential, recreational, and institutional centers 
throughout the valley, while promoting the use of alternative modes of 
transportation. The project will have important impacts on the 
Coachella Valley region, including increased tourism, increased 
business and residential values within \1/2\ mile, gasoline savings, 
construction projects, and reduced medical costs from reduced obesity 
and other health issues.
    The actions by the Federal agencies, and the laws under which such 
actions were taken, are described in the Environmental Assessment (EA) 
for the project, approved on December 21, 2017 and the Finding of No 
Significant Impact (FONSI) issued on July 26, 2018 and in other 
documents in the Caltrans' project records. The EA, FONSI and other 
project records are available by contacting Caltrans at the address 
provided above. The Caltrans EA and FONSI can be viewed and downloaded 
from the project website at http://www.cvag.org/.
    This notice applies to all Federal agency decisions as of the 
issuance date of this notice and all laws under which such actions were 
taken, including but not limited to:
    1. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) [42 U.S.C. 4321-4351]; 
Federal-Aid Highway Act [23 U.S.C. 109 and 23 U.S.C. 128].
    2. Clean Air Act [42 U.S.C. 7401-7671(q)].
    3. Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act of 
1966 [49 U.S.C. 303].
    4. Endangered Species Act [16 U.S.C. 1531-1544 and Section 1536], 
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act [16 U.S.C. 661-667(d)], Migratory 
Bird Treaty Act [16 U.S.C. 703- 712].
    5. Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, 
as amended [16 U.S.C. 470(f) et seq.]; Archeological Resources 
Protection Act of 1977 [16 U.S.C. 470(aa)-11]; Archeological and 
Historic Preservation Act [16 U.S.C. 469-469(c)]; Native American Grave 
Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) [25 U.S.C. 3001-3013].
    6. Clean Water Act 33 U.S.C. 1251-1387.
    7. Farmland Protection Policy Act [7 U.S.C. 4201-4209 and its 
regulations].
    8. E.O. 11990 Protection of Wetlands; E.O. 11988 Floodplain 
Management; E.O. 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental 
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations; E.O. 11593 
Protection and Enhancement of Cultural Resources; E.O. 13112 Invasive 
Species.

(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.)

    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1).


Tashia J. Clemons,
Director, Planning and Environment, Federal Highway Administration, 
Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. 2018-17509 Filed 8-13-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-RY-P