Nebraska Highway 12 roadway east and west of the Village of Niobrara, Knox County
Nebraska Department of Transportation Project Web Page (Niobrara East & West - Highway 12)
Summary: Two segments of the existing Nebraska Highway 12 roadway east and west of the Village of Niobrara, in Knox County, Neb., have experienced flooding and damage associated with precipitation events and high water levels on the Missouri River. The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) proposes to rehabilitate N-12 to reduce the risk of flooding, incorporating current safety standards and elevations to the 100-year flood event. Design and construction alternatives will be evaluated in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The road rehabilitation is a change from the previous purpose of the project, therefore a Supplemental Draft EIS will be prepared.
Background: Due to this project's likely impact to wetlands and other waters of the U.S., as well as other potential impacts, an EIS was initiated in 2008 with USACE as the lead Federal agency with authority under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA). In September, 2015, NDOT submitted an application under Section 404 of the CWA for Alternative A7 at the base of the bluffs. A Draft EIS was released October 9, 2015, followed by a Public Hearing on November 9, 2015. NDOT withdrew its application due to public concerns about Alternative A7. NDOT held public meetings to discuss options, and in November 2018, NDOT submitted a notice of intent to pursue a road rehabilitation project designed to a lower roadway elevation, which they propose to construct under traffic.
EIS Milestones |
Completed |
Publish Notice of Intent to Prepare EIS (Federal Register) |
July 25, 2008 |
Public Notice of Intent to Prepare EIS (District Public Notice) |
July 25, 2008 |
Public Scoping |
August 2008 |
Public Meeting |
July 2009 |
Publish Notice of Available Draft EIS (Federal Register) |
October 9, 2015 |
Press Release of Available Draft EIS |
October 9, 2015 |
Public Open House and Hearing |
November 9, 2015 |
Public Comments Due |
November 23, 2015 |
Permit Application Withdrawn; EIS Status Pending |
November 20, 2015 |
Press Release EIS Process Resumes |
March 20, 2015 |
Public Notice of Intent to Prepare Supplemental Draft EIS (Federal Register) |
May 3, 2019 |
Public Notice of Intent to Prepare Supplemental Draft EIS (District Public Notice) |
May 3, 2019 |
Press Release Notice of Intent to Prepare Supplemental Draft EIS and Request for Public Comment |
May 2, 2019 |
Public Scoping |
May 3 - 24, 2019 |
Public Notice of Availability Supplemental Draft EIS (Federal Register) |
January 3, 2020 |
Public Notice of Availability Supplemental Draft EIS (District Public Notice) |
January 3, 2020 |
Press Release Notice of Availability Supplemental Draft EIS |
January 3, 2020 |
Public Comments Due |
February 17, 2020 |
Public Notice of Availability Final EIS (Federal Register) |
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Public Notice of Availability Final EIS (District Public Notice) |
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Press Release Public Notice of Availability Final EIS |
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Record of Decision |
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