The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) was published on April 20, 2012 and the 60-day public comment period closed on June 18, 2012. This page has information on the Draft EIS (including how it will be used and what it contains), the full document, and a summary of the comments collected during the 60-day public comment period.
The Draft EIS includes the impacts of 8 alternatives plus a no-build alternative, while the Final EIS includes the locally preferred alternative and responds to Draft EIS comments from the public and local agencies.
A Draft EIS is a report that explains the impacts (pros and cons) of each bridge alternative in areas such as land use, property impacts, traffic congestion, water resources, and other topic areas. Your comments on the Draft EIS helped identify the Preferred Alternative and shape the Final EIS. Both the Draft and Final EIS are required by the federal government when a significant impact to the environment may occur.
The Draft EIS and the public comments collected about the document were used by local decision-makers to inform their recommendation. Each of the bridge crossing locations (“range of alternatives”) were studied using the goals and objectives developed earlier in the project. The Preferred Alternative was recommended based on the comments collected during this process and the technical information found in the Draft EIS.
The Final EIS will include all comments collected and written responses to those comments, which will become part of the public record. Anonymous comments will not be part of the document, nor will they have standing to appeal the final decision (36 CFR 215). The goal of the Final EIS is to provide a complete understanding of the issues and impacts. Your comments helped reach that goal.
If you have more questions, review the frequently asked questions.
The Draft EIS examines three crossing locations over the Willamette River for a new bridge in Salem, as well as a “No Build” option. Within the three crossing locations are variations in bridge alignments, or connections to the existing road system, resulting in eight different alternatives. This document provides information on the different alternatives and how they might impact people who live in the area or travel the roads, as well as possible impacts to the natural environment. View all of the alternatives.
The Draft EIS was published in the Federal Register on April 20, 2012, beginning the 60-day public comment period, which ended on June 18, 2012.
The public comments collected during the 60-day comment period were used by local decision makers to understand the feelings of local residents, businesses, and agencies regarding the bridge alternatives.
