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Home My WebLink AboutMDOT West Laurel InterchangeMontana Department of Transportation 2701 Prospect Avenue PO Box 201001 Helena MT 59620-1001 Jim Lynch, Director Brian Schweitzer, Governor October 26, 2006 City of Laurel Ms. Mary Embleton, Clerk/Treasurer P.O. Box 10 Laurel, Montana 59044 NOV 1 2006 Subject: Request for Information for Montana Department of Transportation Project West Laurel Interchange-West IM 90-8(161) 431, CN 5736 The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) is preparing documentation to satisfy National Environmental Policy Act 0XYEPA) requirements for the proposed West Laurel Interchange-West Project. The NEPA document will likely consist of an expanded categorical exclusion (CE) and supporting documentation for the development of the proposed highway improvements. This letter is to notify the City of Laurel about the proposed action and to solicit City input to aid in the preparation of the NEPA document. This request is in accordance with the U. S. Department of Tran.qportation, Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) regulations 23 CFR §771.111 Early coordination, public involvement, and project development. The proposed project is located on National Highway System Interstate Route 90 at R.P. 431.459 to 433.350 in Township 2 South, Range 24 East, P.M.M., Yellowstone County, Montana. The area of interest is identified as the West Laurel Interchange. A project Vicinity & Topographic Map (Figure 1) depicting the Project Limits/Survey Area is included for your reference. The proposed project is a reconstruction with added capacity project. The existing West Laurel interchange is currently not a full-movement interchange since it only has one west bound (WB) on-ramp and one east bound (EB) off-ramp. The existing interchange bridges have been determined to be functionally obsolete. Moreover, it is not feasible to modify the existing interchange into a full-movement interchange at its current location due to the interstate alignment, documented east bound acc/dents at and on the bridge over the Montana Rail Link (MRL) raikoad tracks, the location of the MRL tracks, and a nearby community fishing pond located to the east. The intent of this project is to replace both the EB and WB interstate bridges, remove both existing interchange ramps and construct a new full-movement interchange west of the current location. This will involve new horizontal and vertical alignments for the interstate, An Equal Opportunity Employer Ms. Mary Embleton October 26, 2006 Page 2 of 3 new interchange ramps, and improvements to the crossroad (19th Avenue). Additionally, new right-of-way (ROW) will be required for this project. MDT is evaluating potential environmental impacts that may be associated with the referenced project. With this letter, we are requesting your assistance to help us conduct a thorough analysis and we are inviting The City of Laurel to provide comments or helpful information on the proposed project. The following information is requested from the City of Laurel. Responses to these items will be incorporated into the environmental documentation on this proposed project. Does the City of Laurel have comments, questions, and/or specific environmental concerns about this proposed action? We invite any suggestions on joint efforts to mitigate unavoidable adverse environmental impacts and ways to enhance environmental quality wherever possible. Does the City of Laurel have actions planned or underway in the vicinity of the proposed project that could affect or be affected by the proposed action? Is the City of Laurel aware of proposed or current actions by others (public or private agencies) that pose similar effects? If so, please provide names and mailing addresses of those parties. Montana Cadastral Mapping Program parcel data (Attachment 1) identified 2 parcels owned by the City of Laurel immediately adjoining the proposed project ares City of Laurel lands adjoining the present and/or proposed route may be classified as "Section 4(f) Lands" from the 1966 US Department of Tranaportation Act (49 USC 303). This classification applies to lands used as and/or designated as any of the properties described below: a. b. C. Parks and/or Recreation Areas Wildlife/Waterfowl Refuges Sites eligible for inclusion, or in the National Register of Historic Places [under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (16 USC 470)]. MDT will coordinate completion of a cultural resources survey to identify any such resources on site Lands managed as multiple use for recreation or wildlife/waterfowl management and under statute(s) providing for same. Does the City of Laurel have a "master plan" that includes transportation systems for the area under its jurisdiction? If so, will this proposed action have an effect on this plan? MDT respectfully requests a copy of this plan, if available, to assist in determining the scope of impacts of this and any future projects in the area. Please provide the name, mailing address, and office phone number of the designated contact for future correspondence or coordination for this proposed MDT project. Ms. Mary Erableton October 26, 2006 Page 3 of 3 A written response fi.om the City of Laurel will allow MDT to complete environmental documentation for the referenced project. The City's response on these matters may result, if necessary, in further interagency coordination to mitigate potential effects of the project. If you have comments or potentially helpful information, please contact me at your earliest convenience. To ensure that your comments are captured with the correct project, in all correspondence please refer to the Project Name, Number and Control Number (CN) listed in the subject line of this letter. If MDT does not receive a written response within thirty (30) calendar days, we will assume that the City has no comments or concerns about the proposed project. Please send your written response to the following address: Mr. Tom Hansen Environmental Services Bureau Montana Department of Transportation 2701 Prospect Avenue PO Box 201001 Helena, Montana 59620-1001 Should you have any questions pertaining to the information provided, please do not hesitate to contact me (406) 444-0456. Tom Hansen, P.E. Engineering Section Supervisor Environmental Services Bureau TH/RFP/PWM Enclosures CCl Kraig McLeod, P.E., MDT 2/2 Phil Forbes, P.E., MMI 2/2 Sections 7,8,17,&18 T2S, R24E Yellowstone ~ounty, Montana West Laurel I 90 Interchange Area ~."C *- _~,. . .... · , .c~ ~ ' W~s~ Laurellffierchan0e-' .~-' ... ~ ~, ~ Proje~ L m ~S u~ey Are~ ~ ~ ~ ..... ~ . ~ ~ / ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ . ., 'x~,/ ~ ~,' F' . '~ - .~-.~'.~ ~ ~ /~ ~ '~ ' : , ,, _~. ~.~ ~ ~ ~.,-...~ ~ , , ~ co -.~ .~;~/e" /. _.,.', .. ( IN ) ~ MORRISON .......... ,u ~o~)~-c. m~ FIG. 1 ATTACHMENT 1. Montanz Parcel Data. IM 90-8(161) 431, CN 5736 West Laurel Interchange - West ITAXPAYER ~ MAILING ADDRESS !IIS WIST ST ER CLASSI~CA~ON Loc~ ~m~~'~ SECTION 17 LEG~ DES~ION TR 1 COS 3014 IN N~ (OLD D-~29) 26.788 AC (~00) i , ~SOLU~ON ~EX TO CITY 03-12 (~} t M~ICIP~ LA~L } COU~ ~ D~T~ 7 T~A~ PO BOX l0 ...... "~' ' ........... ' ~ ~G ~D~S LA~ ~ 5~0 ~