371 impact statement prepared

BAXTER - The Minnesota Department of Transportation has prepared a supplemental final environmental impact statement to document improvements to Highway 371 in Cass and Crow Wing counties.

The Highway 371 project corridor extends about 16 miles from the intersection of Crow Wing County Highway 18 in Nisswa to the intersection of Cass County Roads 2/42 in Pine River. This segment of the roadway was the subject of an Environmental Impact Statement process that was concluded in 2005.

The supplemental final environmental impact statement was prepared to address recent changes to the preferred alternative, based on a request from the city of Pequot Lakes to change from a through-city design, which was the 2005 preferred alternative, to a bypass.

he supplemental final environmental impact statement also includes a re-evaluation of the entire project corridor to document other minor changes that have occurred since the original Record of Decision was signed in 2005.

Copies of the Highway 371 supplemental final environmental impact statement are being distributed to those agencies on the current document review list made available by the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board. The comment period will begin on Monday and extend through Aug. 9.

Written comments on the the supplemental final environmental impact statement should be submitted to James Hallgren, MnDOT project manager, Minnesota Department of Transportation District 3, 7694 Industrial Park Road, Baxter, MN 56425 or by e-mail at james.hallgren@state.mn.us.

Copies of the Highway 371 supplemental final environmental impact statement are available for public review on the project web site at www.dot.state.mn.us/d3/projects/hwy371/index.html and at the following locations:

Brainerd Public Library, 416 5th Street South.

Mn/DOT District 3 Baxter Office, 7694 Industrial Park Road.

Kitchigami Regional Library, 212 Park Avenue.

Pequot Lakes Public Library, 31069 County Road 112.

Pine River City Hall, 200 Front Street North.

Nisswa City Hall, PO Box 410, Nisswa, Minn.

Pequot Lakes City Hall, 4638 County Road 11.

Jenkins City Hall, 33861 Cottage Avenue.

The supplemental final environmental impact statement can be made available in alternative formats to individuals by calling the project manager at (218) 828-5797 or to individuals who are hearing or speech impaired by calling the Minnesota Relay Service at (800) 627-3529 or (651) 296-9930 TTY.