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Home My WebLink About20120285 Ver 1_Meeting Minutes_20081007(,,�(& Io�-)/a0 DRAFT 10/07/08 Section 6002 Coordination Plan for the Gaston East -West Connector Project STIP Project U -3321 COORDINATION PLAN 1. Purpose of Plan. 1.1. Section 6002 Compliance. This plan is intended to satisfy the requirement for a Coordination Plan under Section 6002 of SAFETEA -LU (23 U.S.0 § 139) for the Gaston E -W Connector project (STIP No. U- 3321). 1.2. Section 404/NEPA Merger 01 Process Information. This study, to the extent possible. will follow an environmental review process consistent with the requirements for "Projects on New Location" as described in the Section 404/NEPA Merger 01 Process Information with the following modifications: • Agency Meetings. Turnpike Environmental Agency Coordination (TEAC) meetings will be held monthly at NCTA. These meetings serve the purpose of "merger meetings" under Merger 01, but are held more frequently. • Study Initiation. The Notice of Intent (NOI) for this study was issued on April 27, 2006, after the project had transitioned to NCTA (See Exhibit 1). The NOI described this project as candidate toll project. • Development of the Project Team and Agency Roles. Participating and cooperating agencies have been identified and engaged in the study through the monthly TEAC meetings. Agency roles and primary contacts are listed in Table 2. Since agency roles are resolved, invitation letters to participating and cooperating agencies are not needed. • Opportunity for Involvement in Purpose and Need, Range of Alternatives. The purpose and need (2002) and range of alternatives (2005) were initially developed by NCDOT, before Section 6002 of SAFETEA -LU came into effect and before the project transitioned to NCTA. The NCTA has updated the Purpose and Need Statement with current data and has prepared an Addendum to the Alternatives Development and Analysis Report to address the toll aspect and other updates to the project. NCTA has made the updated Purpose and Need Statement and Addendum to the Alternatives Development and Analysis Report available for review and comment by agencies and the public. • Concurrence on Purpose and Need and Detailed Study Alternatives Carried Forward D( SA). NCTA intends to seek concurrence from the participating and cooperating DRAFT — 10/07/08 agencies, consistent with Merger 01 procedures, on the updated Purpose and Need (Concurrence Point 1) and the Detailed Study Alternatives (Concurrence Point 2). Bridging decisions and alignment review (Concurrence Point 2A) have also been agreed upon by the project team. Concurrrence will be obtained on these three concurrence points (1, 2, 2A) in a single concurrence form. • Sianatures: The signed concurrence form confirms that the project team have participated in the environmental review process and are satisfied with the conclusions reached at each key project milestone. By signing the concurrence form, the signatures indicate that the team members comments on reports and information that are used for achieving a particular concurrence point were adequately addressed and no issues of concern remain on a particular concurrence point. Once concurrence is reached, discussion on that particular concurrence point will not be revisited unless there is significant new information or there are significant changes to the project, the environment, constructability, or laws and regulations. 1.3. Integration of NEPA and Section 404 Requirements. The process established in this Coordination Plan is intended to ensure that the requirements of NEPA and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act can be satisfied as part of a single process. Specifically, this plan is intended ensure that, to the maximum extent practicable, • there is regular communication and collaborative discussion among all agencies that have information, experience, and /or expertise relevant to issues considered in Section 404 permitting; • NCDENR can issue Section 401, Riparian Buffer Authorizations, Isolated Wetland Permits, and State Stormwater Permits based on information developed as part of the NEPA process; and • the USACE can issue a Section 404 permit for the project promptly following the end of the NEPA process. without the need for supplemental NEPA studies; and • any other required permits or approvals can be obtained without unexpected issues or delays. 4. Agency Communication. This plan establishes a framework for regular communication among all of the agencies involved in the environmental review process. This communication will include regular agency coordination meetings. These meetings will provide a forum for open discussion and dialogue among agencies. Meetings with one or more individual agencies also may occur as part of this process. When possible, all Participating Agencies will be informed of a smaller meeting to ensure all appropriate parties are included and will be updated after the meeting. 2. Project Schedule 2.1. Schedule. The NCTA will prepare a project schedule showing projected dates for completing all environmental studies and permitting. The schedule will conform to DRAFT — 10/07/08 SAFETEA LU time frames for comment periods and the FHWA Vital Few Goal of achieving a median time frame of three years for completing an EIS A draft schedule for the Gaston East West Connector project is shown in Table 1 Table 1 Draft Protect Schedule Notice of Intent April 27 2006 Identify Purpose and Need and Concurrence Achieved July 24 2002 Identify Detailed Study Alternatives and Concurrence September 20 2005 Achieved Bridging Decisions & Alignment Review and Concurrence ` April 8 2008 Achieved � lo Reconfirm Concurrence on Purpose and Need Detailed October 7 2008 Study Alternatives and Bridging Decisions & Alignments Review DEIS January 2009 J Identify Preferred Alternative �� June 2009 FEIS �� April 2010 ROD October 2010 Execute Design Budd Contract �� December 2010 2 2 Agency Consultation The schedule will be shared with the agencies and discussed at a TEAC meeting Agency comments will be considered and the schedule may be revised as appropriate A 2 3 Updatma Schedules The project schedule may be revised from time to time by the lead agencies during theenvironmenta I lreview process Schedule changes will be communicated to all9participatingagencies and the public Under the statute the schedule may be extended by�the lead agencies for good cause and may be shortened only with the consentof Cooperating Agencies 3 AgenC Roles r 3 1 Lead Federal Agency FHWA will be the lead Federal agency As lead Federal agency in the Section 6002 process FHWA is responsible for making certain decisions as specified in Section 6002 In addition FHWA has an overall responsibility for facilitating the expeditious completion of the environmental review process 3 2 Joint Lead Agencies NCTA will be anoint lead agency and thus will share with FHWA the responsibilities of the lead agency under the process defined in Section 6002 NCDOT also will have the status of anoint lead agency however NCDOT will DRAFT — 10/07/08 3 4 Turnpike Environmental Agency Coordination (TEACI Meetings 4 1 TEAC Meetings The principal method for agency coordination on turnpike projects will be Turnpike Environmental Agency Coordination (TEAL) meetings which will be hosted by NCTA These meetings will be used as a forum for discussing all turnpike projects All TEAC meetings will be held at the NCTA office in Raleigh unless otherwise specified in the meeting invitation 42 Meeting Dates The schedule for the TEAC meetings will be determined by FHWA and NCTA after consultation with NCDOT and the Participating Agencies This schedule Ve will be established to the extent possible for 12 month periods The schedule will be coordinated with NCDOT interagency meetings to avoid or-minimize conflicts and minimize travel Changes to the schedule will be provided toqthe Participating Agencies as far in advance as possible The schedule for 2008 is attached as,,�Exhibit 2 4 3 Meeting Agenda and Objectives The agendaifor each TEAC meeting will be circulated via email to all Participating Agencies The agenda will identify (a) any specific issues that NCTA would like to resolve at the meeting and (b) any�specific issues on which NCTA is seeking comments from the ParticipatmgAgencies at the meeting 4 4 Meeting Materials NCTA will post the agenda and materials for each TEAC meeting on a secure web site accessible to all TEAL members Guidelines for circulating meeting materials are provided below 4 4 1 Timmu of Circulation To the greatest extent possible NCTA will post the agenda and materia s `attleast two weeks in advance of the meeting In some cases materials will be provided less than two weeks in advance or will be circulated in the TEAC meeting itself NCTA wilbnot seek to resolve issues or obtain ParticipatingvAgencyA comments on materials that the Participating Agencies received less thaanstwo weeks mladvance of the meeting 44r2 443 site NGIAK attendees at Large Docume is Documents that would be difficult or time consuming for agencies to reproduce (e g large maps lengthy bound documents with color fold out pages etc ) will be made available to Participating Agencies in hard copy format at TEAC meeting (or by mail two weeks or more in advance) for discussion at a subsequent TEAC meeting NCTA will consult with the 'apes Copies In addition to posting documents on the TEAC web make paper copies of TEAC meeting materials available to all i TEAC meeting Participating Agencies to determine when this type of distribution is appropriate 45 Meeting Summaries After each TEAC meeting the NCTA will prepare a meeting summary The summary will list the attendees topics discussed unresolved issues and action items The Meeting Summary will be posted in draft form to the NCTA web site for review and comment two weeks in advance of the next meeting Meetings may be recorded on audiotape the recording will be used in preparing the meeting summaries The meeting summaries will be included in the administrative record DRAFT — 10/07/08 Each TEAC member is responsible for identifymg the more senior official(s) within his or her agency who will be directly involved in the elevation The TEAC members will work together to plan the logistics and timing of the elevation process including any briefing materials or other documents that need to be prepared prior to a resolution of the issue 410 Resolving Issues of Concern Under the statute NCTA or the Governor may request a meeting at any time to resolve issues of concern If such a meeting is requested FHWA will convene a meeting in accordance with SAFETEA LU to resolve the specified issues of concern If an issue of concern is not resolved within 30 days after such a meeting a report must be submitted to Congressand to the heads of certain agencies as provided in SAFETEA LU If such a meting is,not requested FHWA and NCTA will seek to address and resolve the agencies issues of concern as part of normal agency coordination during the environmental review process NCTA -anticipates that this process will be invoked rarely DRAFT — 10/07/08 7 -,V ft �z, 7 ICA DRAFT — 10/07/08 7 Exhibit 1 24910 Federal Register/Vol 71 No 81/Thursday April 27 2006/Notices SUMMARY The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an environmental impact statement will be prepared for a proposed highway project in Gaston and Mecklenburg Counties North Carolina FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Clarence W Coleman P E Operations Engineer Federal Highway Administration 310 New Bern Avenue Ste 410 Raleigh North Carolina 27601- 1418 Telephone (919) 856 -4346 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The FHWA in cooperation with the North Carolina Department of Transportation ( NCDOT) and the North Carolina Turnpike Authority (NCTA) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) addressing proposed improvements to east west transporation mobility in the area around the City of Gastonia and other municipalities in southern Gaston County As part of this proposed action the NCDOT also proposes to improve mobility access and connectivity between southern Gaston County and Mecklenburg County The proposed project study area consists of the following general boundaries I -85 to the north the South Carolina State line to the south the Charlotte Douglas International Airport to the east and the I -85 and US 29 -74 junction to the west The proposed action is consistent with the thoroughfare plans approved by the Gaston Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the Mecklenburg Union MPO Alternatives to be studied in detail include 1 No Build 2 Construction of a new location highway Sixteen detailed study alternatives or corridors will be studied in the Draft EIS The proposed project is being developed as a candidate toll road Accordingly in conjunction with development of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and other on going project development activities NCTA is conducting a study to evaluate the feasibility of developing the proposed highway as a toll road and funding it in whole or in part through the issuance of revenue bonds Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments have been sent to appropriate Federal State and local agencies Citizens informational workshops meetings with local officials and a public hearing will be held Information on the dates times and locations of the citizens mformtional workshops and public hearings will be advertised in the local news media and newsletters will be r mailed to those on the project mailing list The Draft EIS will be available for public and agency review and comment prior to the public hearing 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 20 2006 Clarence W Coleman Operations Engineer Raleigh North Carolina [FR Doc 06 -3949 Filed 4 -26 -06 8 45aml BILLING CODE 4910 -2211 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration Notice of Final Federal Ageny Actions on Proposed Highway in Alaska AGENCY Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) DOT ACTION Notice of limitation on claims for judicial review of actions by FHWA and other Federal Agencies SUMMARY This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA and other Federal agencies that are final within the meaning of 23 U S C 139(1)(1) The actions relate to a proposed highway project the East Lynn Canal Highway Alaska Route Number 7 from Echol Cove to Katz Point in the Haines and Juneau Boroughs State of Alaska Those actions grant licenses permits and approvals for the project DATES By this notice the FHWA is advising the public of final agency action subject to 23 U S C 139(1)(1) A claim seeking judicial review of the Federal agency actions on the highway project will be barred unless the claim is filed on or before October 24 2006 If the Federal law that authorizes judicial review of a claim provides a time period of less than 180 days for filing such claim then that shorter time period still applies FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Tim Haugh Environmental and Right of Way Programs Manager FHWA Alaska Division P O Box 21648 Juneau Alaska 99802 -1648 office hours 7 a in - 4 30 p in (AST) phone (907) 586 -7418 e mail Tim Haugh@fhwa dot gov You may also contact Reuben Yost Special Projects Manager Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities DOT&PF) 6860 Glacier Highway P O Box 112506 Juneau Alaska 99811- 2506 office hours 8 a in -5 p in (AST) phone (907) 465 -1774 e mail Reuben_Yost@dot state ak us SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Notice is hereby given that the FHWA and other Federal agencies have taken final agency actions by issuing approvals for the following highway project in the State of Alaska FHWA Alaska Division Project Number STP- OOOS(131) titled the Juneau Access Improvements Project involves construction of approximately 51 miles of two lane highway from the end of Glacier Highway at Echo cover in the City and Borough of Juneau to a point two miles north of the Katzehin River in the Haines Borough A ferry terminal will be constructed at the north end of the highway and new shuttle ferries will be constructed to run from Haines and Skagway Three major rivers will be bridged as well as several streams The actions by the Federal agencies and the laws under which such actions were taken are described in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the project approved on January 18 2006 in the FHWA Record of Decision (ROD) issued on April 3 2006 and in other documents in the FHWA administrative record The FEIS ROD and other documents in the FHWA administrative record file are available by contacting the FHWA or the DOT&PF at the addresses provided above The FHWA FEIS and ROD can be viewed and downloaded from the project Web site at http / /dot alaska gov/ luneauaccess or viewed at public libraries in the project area This notice applies to all Federal agency decisions as of the issuance date of this notice and all laws and Executive Orders under which such actions were taken including but not limited to 1 General National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) [42 U S C 4321- 4351] Federal Aid Highway Act [23 us C 109] 2 Air Clean Air Act [42 U S C 7401 - 7671(q)] 3 Land Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966 [49 U S C 3031 4 Wildlife Endangered Species Act [16 U S C 1531 -1544 and section 15361 Marine Mammal Protection Act [16 U S C 1361] Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act [16 U S C 661 - 667(d)] Migratory Bird Treaty Act [16 U S C 703 -7121 Magnuson Stevens