Notice
of Intent to Prepare EIS of Klingle Road
March 18, 2004
[Federal Register: March 17, 2004
(Volume 69, Number 52)]
[Notices]
[Page 12730-12731]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17mr04-126]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement; Washington, DC
AGENCIES: Federal Highway Administration, District of Columbia
Division; District of Columbia, Department of Transportation.
ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement.
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[[Page 12731]]
SUMMARY: The U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
in coordination with the District of Columbia Department of
Transportation (DDOT) in Washington, DC is issuing this notice to
advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be
prepared to assess the potential effects of the proposed action to
reopen Klingle Road, NW., to vehicular access in Washington, DC. To
ensure that all significant issues related to the proposed action are
identified, DDOT will conduct a public scoping meeting.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Federal Highway Administration,
District of Columbia Division: Mr. Michael Hicks, Environmental/Urban
Engineer, 1990 K Street, NW., Suite 510, Washington, DC 20006-1103,
(202) 219-3536; or Maurice Keys, District of Columbia, Department of
Transportation, (202) 671-2740.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Klingle Road is located in
northwest Washington, DC and runs northeast to west from Beach Drive
in Rock Creek Park to the Washington National Cathedral. The segment
of Klingle Road between Porter Street, NW. and Cortland Place, NW.
(approximate designations) was closed to traffic in 1991 due to
deterioration of the roadway related to drainage failure. The Council
of the District of Columbia never officially closed this segment of
Klingle Road through a legislative action, however [this portion of
the road remains closed to traffic. Failure of the drainage system has
resulted in severe deterioration of the roadway, headwalls, and
underlying stormwater system. At a minimum the no-action alternative
would include repairing the retaining walls to better manage
stormwater run-off in the study area. The purpose of the proposed
action is to provide an east-west connection through Rock Creek Park
in the District of Columbia by reopening Klingle Road to vehicular
access. The Klingle Road Restoration Act of 2003, Bill
B15-0061, was introduced by the Council of the District of
Columbia in January 2003 and was enacted in March 2003. Section 3 of
the bill specifically states ``The portion of Klingle Road, NW.,
between Porter Street, NW., on the east to Cortland Place, NW., on the
west, shall be repaired and re-opened to the public for vehicular
traffic and recreational uses.'' The directive to repair Klingle Road
was codified in to law as part of the Fiscal Year 2004 Budget Support
Act of 2003, effective November 13, 2003 (D.C. Law 15-39; D.C.
Official Code Sec. 9-115.11). According to this Act: The portion of
Klingle Road, NW., between Porter Street, NW., on the east to Cortland
Place, NW., on the west shall be re-opened to the public for motor
vehicle traffic, with the repair and reconstruction of Klingle Road,
which shall include the establishment of a District Department of
Transportation storm water management plan, to commence no later than
180 days following November 13, 2003.'
The environmental
review of the vehicular use alternatives will be conducted in
accordance with the requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4371,
et seq.), Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (40 CFR
parts 1500-1508), FHWA Code of Federal Regulations (CFR 23 part
771.101-771.137 et seq.), and all applicable Federal, state, and local
government laws, regulations, and policies. Public Scoping Meeting:
DDOT will solicit public comments for
consideration and possible incorporation in the Draft EIS through
public scoping, including a scoping meeting, on the proposed action.
To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed
action are addressed and all significant issues are identified early
in the
process, comments and suggestions are invited from all interested
and/or potentially affected parties. These individuals or groups are
invited to attend the public scoping. The meeting location and time
will be publicized in local newspapers and elsewhere. Written comments
will be accepted throughout this process and can be forwarded to 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: March 12, 2004.
Gary L. Henderson,
Division Administrator, District of Columbia Division, Federal Highway
Administration.
[FR Doc. 04-6027 Filed 3-16-04; 8:45 am]
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