Environmental Impact Statement: Washington and Bolivar Counties, MS, 71597 [E5-6645]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 228 / Tuesday, November 29, 2005 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration [Project Number STPD–1069–00 (006)] Environmental Impact Statement: Washington and Bolivar Counties, MS Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice of intent. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration is issuing this notice to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared for a proposed connector route from the proposed Interstate 69 to U.S. Highway 82 near the City of Greenville, MS in the above referenced counties. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Cecil Vick, Realty Officer/ Environmental Coordinator, Federal Highway Administration, 666 North Street, Suite 105, Jackson, MS 39202– 3199, Telephone: (601) 965–4217. Contacts at the State and local level, respectively are: Mr. Claiborne Barnwell, Environmental/Location Division Engineer, Mississippi Department of Transportation, P. O. Box 1850, Jackson, MS, 39215–1850, telephone: (601) 359–7920; and Mr. Walter Lyons, District 3 Engineer, Mississippi Department of Transportation, 1240 Highway 49 West, Yazoo City, MS 39194, telephone (662) 746–2513. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for an approximate 20-mile alignment of the I–69 Connector, which will be built to Interstate standards through the Delta region east of the Mississippi River, moving in a generally north-south alignment. This alignment will have logical termini on the southern end at U.S. Highway 82 in Greenville in Washington County and on the northern end at the proposed Interstate 69 near Benoit in Bolivar County. The purpose of the EIS is to address the transportation, environmental, and safety issues of a connector route to the projected I–69. The connection will also significantly improve mobility and access Statewide and beyond, creating a valuable transportation network. The need will be further heightened due to the increased traffic along the projected I–69. The connector route will spur economic activity for the City of Greenville and surrounding areas in the Mississippi Delta region. The highway VerDate Aug<31>2005 20:13 Nov 28, 2005 Jkt 208001 is a proposed full control of access facility and appropriate interchanges will be studied at various locations. Alternatives under consideration include (1) taking no action and (2) build alternatives. The FHWA and MDOT are seeking input as a part of the scoping process to assist in determining and clarifying issues relative to this project. Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, Native American tribes, private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are known to have interest in this proposal. A formal scoping meeting with Federal, state, and local agencies, and other interested parties will be held in the near future as well as several public involvement meetings held throughout the EIS process. The draft EIS will be available for public and agency review and comment prior to the official public hearing. To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed action are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS should be directed to the FHWA at the address provided above. Andrew H. Hughes, Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Mississippi Division, Jackson, Mississippi. [FR Doc. E5–6645 Filed 11–28–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–22–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration Environmental Impact Statement; Skowhegan Transportation Study; Skowhegan and Madison, Somerset County, MA Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of intent. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for a proposed highway project in the Towns of Skowhegan and Madison, Maine. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Hasselmann, Right of Way and Environmental Programs Manager, Maine Division, Federal Highway Administration, 40 Western Ave., Augusta, Maine 04330, Tel. 207/622– 8350, Ext. 101; Raymond Faucher, PO 00000 Frm 00139 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 71597 Project Manager, Maine Department of Transportation, State House Station 16, Augusta, Maine 04333–0016, Tel. 207/ 624–3300. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 14, 2005, FHWA Maine Division informed MaineDOT that they had completed their review of the NEPA process to date for the Skowhegan Transportation Study and decided that an Environmental Impact Statement will be required before location and design approval. The principal reason for this decision is the public controversy that has been generated late in the NEPA process regarding proposed highway alignments. The FHWA, in cooperation with the Maine Department of Transportation, will prepare an EIS to evaluate transportation alternatives to enhance mobility, safety, and accessibility through and around Skowhegan. The EIS will examine both new highway alignments and infrastructure improvements. The EIS will study corridor alternatives, including upgrades within existing highway corridors, corridors on new location, and the no-build alternative. The area under consideration extends from Route 2/201A west of the Town of Skowhegan easterly and northerly around Skowhegan and then westerly to Route 201 in Madison just north of Skowhegan. The length of the corridor is approximately 6.5 miles. Goals for the study include: (1) Improving safety and relieving congestion on U.S. Routes 2 and 201, and State Routes 104 and 150, (2) improving regional east-west and north-south traffic flow, (3) improving emergency cross-river access and response capabilities, and (4) providing the capacity to meet current and future traffic demands. The work completed to date in the Skowhegan Transportation Study will provide the foundation for the EIS analysis. This project was initiated as a transportation planning study in 1998, with agency scoping and coordination initiated at interagency meetings in that year and the intent to prepare a NEPA document. Public participation was also initiated in 1998 with the formation of a Public Advisory Committee, a July 28 public scoping meeting, and the development of a study purpose and need. A wide range of alternatives was developed and evaluated. Preparation of an Environmental Assessment began in March of 2002. In July of 2005, Alternative E3E received a preliminary determination from the Army Corps of Engineers that it is the Least Environmentally Damaging Practicable Alternative (LEDPA). E:\FR\FM\29NON1.SGM 29NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 29, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 71597]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-6645]



[[Page 71597]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Project Number STPD-1069-00 (006)]


Environmental Impact Statement: Washington and Bolivar Counties, 
MS

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration is issuing this notice to 
advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement will be 
prepared for a proposed connector route from the proposed Interstate 69 
to U.S. Highway 82 near the City of Greenville, MS in the above 
referenced counties.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Cecil Vick, Realty Officer/
Environmental Coordinator, Federal Highway Administration, 666 North 
Street, Suite 105, Jackson, MS 39202-3199, Telephone: (601) 965-4217. 
Contacts at the State and local level, respectively are: Mr. Claiborne 
Barnwell, Environmental/Location Division Engineer, Mississippi 
Department of Transportation, P. O. Box 1850, Jackson, MS, 39215-1850, 
telephone: (601) 359-7920; and Mr. Walter Lyons, District 3 Engineer, 
Mississippi Department of Transportation, 1240 Highway 49 West, Yazoo 
City, MS 39194, telephone (662) 746-2513.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the 
Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) will prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for an approximate 20-mile 
alignment of the I-69 Connector, which will be built to Interstate 
standards through the Delta region east of the Mississippi River, 
moving in a generally north-south alignment. This alignment will have 
logical termini on the southern end at U.S. Highway 82 in Greenville in 
Washington County and on the northern end at the proposed Interstate 69 
near Benoit in Bolivar County.
    The purpose of the EIS is to address the transportation, 
environmental, and safety issues of a connector route to the projected 
I-69. The connection will also significantly improve mobility and 
access Statewide and beyond, creating a valuable transportation 
network. The need will be further heightened due to the increased 
traffic along the projected I-69. The connector route will spur 
economic activity for the City of Greenville and surrounding areas in 
the Mississippi Delta region. The highway is a proposed full control of 
access facility and appropriate interchanges will be studied at various 
locations. Alternatives under consideration include (1) taking no 
action and (2) build alternatives.
    The FHWA and MDOT are seeking input as a part of the scoping 
process to assist in determining and clarifying issues relative to this 
project. Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments 
will be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, Native 
American tribes, private organizations and citizens who have previously 
expressed or are known to have interest in this proposal. A formal 
scoping meeting with Federal, state, and local agencies, and other 
interested parties will be held in the near future as well as several 
public involvement meetings held throughout the EIS process. The draft 
EIS will be available for public and agency review and comment prior to 
the official public hearing.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments 
and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or 
questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS should be 
directed to the FHWA at the address provided above.

Andrew H. Hughes,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Mississippi 
Division, Jackson, Mississippi.
[FR Doc. E5-6645 Filed 11-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P
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