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SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (SEIS)

Environmental Process
Environmental Process An Environmental Impact Statement, or EIS, is an in-depth analysis of all options considered in a project. It serves a number of purposes. These are to:

Why are we doing a Supplemental EIS (SEIS)?
Due to additional environmental, cultural issues and social concerns not evaluated in the original 1996 EIS, a Draft Supplemental EIS (SEIS) has been prepared to evaluate development of the 11.2 mile Ninepipe/Ronan section of US-93, extending from the Red Horn Road/Dublin Gulch Road intersection (RP-37.1) to the Spring Creek/Baptiste Road intersection (RP-48.3).

The project improvements aim to balance the need to improve traffic congestion and safety issues with environmental concerns to respect culturally significant areas, allow animals safe passage through the corridor, and maintain and nurture the Spirit of Place.

The Draft SEIS was circulated August 9, 2006.  Click here to view the document. The document may also be viewed at the following locations:

An important part of the environmental review process is public input. Written comments were accepted at the open houses and oral or written comments were accepted at the public hearing. 

Open House on September 18, 2006 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Tribal Fitness Center, Mountain View Drive next to Cenex, St. Ignatius, MT. 

Open House on September 19, 2006 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at the Ronan Community Center, 300 Third St. NW, Ronan, MT.

Public Hearing on September 19, 2006 from 7:00 to 9:00pm at Ronan Community Center, 300 Third St. NW, Ronan, MT.

The Draft SEIS is also available for viewing on the internet at the MDT website:  http://www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/eis_ea.shtml.

Comments on the Draft SEIS were accepted until October 6, 2006. 

Alternatives Considered in the Draft SEIS

Ronan Alternatives
There are 5 action alternatives and a no-action alternative for the urban portion of the corridor through Ronan. All of the urban action alternatives would include reconstruction of some existing roadway through Ronan. The urban action alternatives include two-lane, four-lane, and couplet configurations.

Ronan Preliminary Preferred Alternative
The preliminary preferred alternative is a couplet with two lanes each direction and neighborhood buffers (requires additional right-of-way) on existing US-93 and First Avenue SW. Most of the right-of-way will be purchased from the east side of the proposed southbound lane on First Avenue SW to provide the maximum buffer to neighborhoods living to the west.

Rural Alternatives
There are 10 action alternatives and a no action alternative for the rural portion of the corridor. The rural action alternatives include various combinations of two-lane, two-lane with auxiliary/passing lanes, four-lane undivided, or four-lane divided roadway configurations. Included in all action alternatives are left turn lanes at public road intersections and shoulders of sufficient width to accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians. Wildlife crossing structures are included at several locations.

Rural Section Preliminary Preferred Alternative
The project team and local partners determined that it would be necessary to combine several components from a list of nine alternatives to create a tenth, the Preliminary Preferred Alternative, for the rural section of the Ninepipe/Ronan project. It includes:

SEIS Schedule

Summary of Comments Received from August 9, 2006 Circulation

There were approximately 190 commenters.

Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) and Section 4(f) Evaluation is now available for public review.

The FSEIS document may be viewed at this website and at the following locations after April  4 , 2008:

The final SEIS analyzes and compares the social, economic, and environmental impacts of 10 Rural, 5 Ronan, and No Action alternatives and responds to the public comments received on the draft SEIS published in August 2006. The final SEIS identifies the preferred alternatives as Alternative Rural 3, a widened two-lane roadway with a single north bound climbing/passing lane on Post Creek Hill and a short four-lane divided section south of Ronan; and Alternative Ronan 4, a couplet with improved intersections and two lanes in each direction with northbound lanes on the existing alignment and southbound lanes relocated to 1st Ave SW. In addition, a separated pedestrian/bicycle path will be included for the entire length of the project. Following the public review of the final SEIS, the FHWA will issue a Record of Decision.  If a build alternative is selected, it would then move forward into design and construction upon availability of funding.

Copies of the final SEIS may obtained by contacting Tom Martin, P.E., Chief Environmental Services Bureau, Montana Department of Transportation, 2701 Prospect Ave., P.O. Box 201001, Helena, MT 59620-1001.

The final SEIS is also available for viewing on the internet at the MDT website:

http://www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/eis_ea.shtml

The public review period ends on May 12,2008.

To arrange for special needs for viewing, call MDT at (888) 231-5819. For TTY service call (406) 444-7696 or (800) 335-7592 or by calling Montana Relay #711.

Ninepipe/Ronan Improvement Project Supplemental EIS (10.78MB)
Appendix A (45kb)
Appendix B (1.86MB)
Appendix C (2.09MB)
Appendix D (600kb)
Appendix E (5.56MB)
Appendix F (37kb)
Appendix G (784kb)
Appendix H (100kb)
Appendix I (305kb)
Appendix J (27.37MB)
Appendix K (524kb)
Appendix L (1.01MB)
Appendix M (11.55MB)



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