PUBLIC NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY of
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT and
De minimis SECTION 4(f) DETERMINATION
for
Petty Creek Road Improvement Project
Missoula County, Montana

The Western Federal Lands Highway Division (WFLHD) of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in partnership with the United States Forest Service (USFS), the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), and Missoula County, MT is proposing improvements to an 11.8-mile segment of the Petty Creek Road.  Improvements are needed to improve Petty Creek Road’s operational safety, reduce its excessive maintenance efforts, and reduce its contribution of sediment to Petty Creek.

The purpose of this public notice is to announce the availability of the Petty Creek Road Improvement Project Environmental Assessment (EA) for public review and comment.  Additionally, a Section 4(f) de minimis evaluation is included in the EA for public review and comment.  Two recreational trails (Petty Pasture Trail and Petty Creek Sheep Viewing Trail) would potentially be impacted by the Petty Creek Road Project.  These trails qualify as Section 4(f) resources under the Department of Transportation Act of 1966.  However, because impacts to these trails would be minor in nature, WFLHD intends to make a finding of de minimis impact for these Section 4(f) resources.  A de minimis finding may be made when uses of Section 4(f) land will have no adverse effect on the protected resources.

The EA is available in electronic form for review at the link below or in hard copy at the following locations:

Alberton, MT town hall/library
607 Railroad Avenue
Alberton, MT 59820

Lolo National Forest
Fort Missoula Building 24
Missoula MT 59804

Missoula County Public Works Department
60889 Training Dr.
Missoula, MT 59808

Comments may be sent by email to pettycreek@mail.wfl.fhwa.dot.gov or by mail to the address below by May 2, 2008.

Contact Information
Western Federal Lands Highway Division
610 East Fifth Street
Vancouver, WA 98661
(360) 619-7700

Available Information