Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement; Graham County, NC, 40922-40923 [E7-14352]
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / Notices
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
those projects) and potential corridors
for the I–26 Connector. NCDOT
published a final Phase I Environmental
Analysis for the Asheville Urban Area
(Phase I Study) in April 1995.
Prior to the initiation of
environmental studies in preparation of
an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS), a scoping letter soliciting
comments on the proposed project was
sent in 1996 to the local, state, and
federal agencies, by NCDOT. No further
scoping actions are planned.
In 1997, the United States Army
Corps of Engineer (USACE), FHWA, and
NCDOT signed an Interagency
Agreement integrating Section 404 and
the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969, known as the Section
404/NEPA Merger Process. The
agreement requires the establishment of
a project team at the beginning of each
transportation project and outlines the
coordination process with a series of
Concurrence Points in order to promote
cooperation and coordination during the
study process and to ensure
compatibility with local, state and
federal planning projects and policies.
In addition to the project merger team
providing guidance and input,
involvement with the public continued
with a Project Educational Forum and a
separate Project Design Forum in 2000.
In the summer of 2004, public
informational meetings were held to
receive public comments on the
functional alternatives presented. The
engineering designs for the project
alternatives were then presented at
Community Informational Workshops in
October 2006. Upon completion of the
draft EIS, a public hearing will be held,
with public notice of the time and place
of the hearing. The draft EIS will be
available for public and agency review
and comment prior to the public
hearing.
To ensure that the full range of issues
related to the proposed action is
addressed and all significant issues are
identified, comments and suggestions
are invited from all interested parties.
Comments and questions concerning the
proposed action should be directed to
the FHWA at the address provided
above.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program Number 20.205, Highway Research
Planning and Construction. The regulations
implementing Executive Order 12372
regarding intergovernmental consultation on
Federal programs and activities apply to this
program.)
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:31 Jul 24, 2007
Jkt 211001
Issued on: July 19, 2007.
Clarence W. Coleman,
P.E., Operations Engineer, Raleigh, North
Carolina.
[FR Doc. E7–14353 Filed 7–24–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Supplemental Final Environmental
Impact Statement; Graham County, NC
Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA), Department of
Transportation.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this
notice to advise the public that a
Supplemental Final Environmental
Impact Statement (Supp. FEIS) will be
prepared for the proposed relocation of
U.S. 74 from U.S. 129 in Robbinsville to
NC 28 in Stecoah, Graham County,
North Carolina. The proposed project
would be the construction of a four-lane
divided highway approximately 11
miles in length. This project is
identified as TIP Project No. A–9 B&C.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Clarence W. Coleman, P.E., Operations
Engineer, Federal Highway
Administration, 310 New Bern Avenue,
Suite 410, Raleigh, North Carolina
27601–1418, telephone: (919) 856–4350,
Extension 133.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
proposed relocation is part of the North
Carolina Department of Transportation
(NCDOT) Transportation Improvement
Program (TIP) Project No. A–9, which
includes four different relocation
projects, identified as TIP Project Nos.
A–9 A, B, C, & D. The ‘‘A’’ portion of
the project begins in Cherokee County
with a proposed terminus in Andrews
and extends into Graham County with a
proposed terminus in Robbinsville. The
proposed relocation from Robbinsville
to Stecoah is the ‘‘B & C’’ portion of the
project. The ‘‘D’’ portion of the project
begins in Stecoah and extends east into
Swain County, terminating in Almond;
most of this segment is complete.
An FEIS for the entire A–9 project
was completed in 1984. Federal
regulations impose a three-year
restriction, commencing from the time a
document is signed, for action to be
taken on a project. If action is not taken
within this period, a reevaluation of the
FEIS is required. The Supp. FEIS will
serve as this reevaluation (40 CFR
1502.9). The FEIS identified a Preferred
Corridor for the entire A, B, C, & D
corridor from Andrews to Almond. A
PO 00000
Frm 00098
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
reevaluation was completed for A–9D (a
widening project), while A–9 A, B, & C
(the new location portion) was subject
to further analysis due to the project’s
potential impacts. The Supp. FEIS and
its associated technical memorandum
(indirect and cumulative effects report,
air analysis, noise analysis, etc.) are
being prepared only for the B & C
portion of the project. The A portion of
the project is currently unfunded. The
project includes a tunnel under Stecoah
Gap where an easement will be obtained
from the U.S. Forest Service. The project
corridor follows the existing NC 143
alignment in some areas; however, the
majority of the project is on new
location, as is the area through Stecoah
Gap. The project also includes several
new stream crossings including a bridge
over Stecoah Creek.
The purpose of this project is to
improve the US 74 corridor throughout
the state providing better system
linkage, economic and social
development, highway capacity, and
safety resulting in road user savings
from a more efficient highway facility.
It will also provide better accessibility
with highway connections for Graham
County. The proposed US 74 relocation
is part of the Appalachian Development
Highway System (ADHS), which would
complete a missing link in the
Appalachian Highway Corridor K. In
summary, the purpose of the ADHS is
to improve the economic conditions of
the region by providing the
infrastructure necessary for economic
and human resource development.
A scoping letter was sent to federal
and state resource agencies on
December 5, 1995, and an interagency
scoping meeting held on January 4,
1996. Additional interagency meetings
were held on July 31, 1996, December
9, 1999, January 20, 2004, and
September 19, 2006. An interagency
meeting is currently scheduled for
August 14, 2007. Public involvement
has occurred for this project. The first
Citizens Informational Workshop was
held in two locations to accommodate
interests at each end of the entire ABC
project study area. The first workshop
was held on March 11, 1996, at the
Robbinsville High School in
Robbinsville; the second was held at the
Andrews Community Center in
Andrews. The second Citizens
Informational Workshop was also held
in two locations on subsequent days.
The workshop in Robbinsville was held
October 28, 1996, at the Robbinsville
High School; the second on October 29,
1996, at the Andrews Community
Center in Andrews. The third Citizens
Informational Workshop was also held
on subsequent days in Robbinsville and
E:\FR\FM\25JYN1.SGM
25JYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / Notices
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
Andrews. The workshop in Robbinsville
was held March 14, 2000, at the
Robbinsville High School; the second on
March 15, 2000, at the Andrews
Community Center in Andrews. The
most recent Citizens Informational
Workshop was held on November 28,
2006, at the Graham County Community
Building in Robbinsville. Local Officials
Meetings were held immediately before
the Citizens Informational Workshops
with the exception of the November 28,
2006, workshop.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:31 Jul 24, 2007
Jkt 211001
40923
To ensure that the full range of issues
related to the proposed action is
addressed and all significant issues are
identified, comments and suggestions
are invited from all interested parties.
Comments and questions concerning the
proposed action should be directed to
the FHWA at the address provided
above.
regarding intergovernmental consultation on
Federal programs and activities apply to this
program.)
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program Number 20.205, Highway Research
Planning and Construction. The regulations
implementing Executive Order 12372
BILLING CODE 4910–22–P
PO 00000
Frm 00099
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Issued on: July 19, 2007.
Clarence W. Coleman,
P.E., Operations Engineer, Raleigh, North
Carolina.
[FR Doc. E7–14352 Filed 7–24–07; 8:45 am]
E:\FR\FM\25JYN1.SGM
25JYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 142 (Wednesday, July 25, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40922-40923]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-14352]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement; Graham County,
NC
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of
Transportation.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a
Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement (Supp. FEIS) will be
prepared for the proposed relocation of U.S. 74 from U.S. 129 in
Robbinsville to NC 28 in Stecoah, Graham County, North Carolina. The
proposed project would be the construction of a four-lane divided
highway approximately 11 miles in length. This project is identified as
TIP Project No. A-9 B&C.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Clarence W. Coleman, P.E.,
Operations Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 310 New Bern
Avenue, Suite 410, Raleigh, North Carolina 27601-1418, telephone: (919)
856-4350, Extension 133.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed relocation is part of the North
Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Transportation
Improvement Program (TIP) Project No. A-9, which includes four
different relocation projects, identified as TIP Project Nos. A-9 A, B,
C, & D. The ``A'' portion of the project begins in Cherokee County with
a proposed terminus in Andrews and extends into Graham County with a
proposed terminus in Robbinsville. The proposed relocation from
Robbinsville to Stecoah is the ``B & C'' portion of the project. The
``D'' portion of the project begins in Stecoah and extends east into
Swain County, terminating in Almond; most of this segment is complete.
An FEIS for the entire A-9 project was completed in 1984. Federal
regulations impose a three-year restriction, commencing from the time a
document is signed, for action to be taken on a project. If action is
not taken within this period, a reevaluation of the FEIS is required.
The Supp. FEIS will serve as this reevaluation (40 CFR 1502.9). The
FEIS identified a Preferred Corridor for the entire A, B, C, & D
corridor from Andrews to Almond. A reevaluation was completed for A-9D
(a widening project), while A-9 A, B, & C (the new location portion)
was subject to further analysis due to the project's potential impacts.
The Supp. FEIS and its associated technical memorandum (indirect and
cumulative effects report, air analysis, noise analysis, etc.) are
being prepared only for the B & C portion of the project. The A portion
of the project is currently unfunded. The project includes a tunnel
under Stecoah Gap where an easement will be obtained from the U.S.
Forest Service. The project corridor follows the existing NC 143
alignment in some areas; however, the majority of the project is on new
location, as is the area through Stecoah Gap. The project also includes
several new stream crossings including a bridge over Stecoah Creek.
The purpose of this project is to improve the US 74 corridor
throughout the state providing better system linkage, economic and
social development, highway capacity, and safety resulting in road user
savings from a more efficient highway facility. It will also provide
better accessibility with highway connections for Graham County. The
proposed US 74 relocation is part of the Appalachian Development
Highway System (ADHS), which would complete a missing link in the
Appalachian Highway Corridor K. In summary, the purpose of the ADHS is
to improve the economic conditions of the region by providing the
infrastructure necessary for economic and human resource development.
A scoping letter was sent to federal and state resource agencies on
December 5, 1995, and an interagency scoping meeting held on January 4,
1996. Additional interagency meetings were held on July 31, 1996,
December 9, 1999, January 20, 2004, and September 19, 2006. An
interagency meeting is currently scheduled for August 14, 2007. Public
involvement has occurred for this project. The first Citizens
Informational Workshop was held in two locations to accommodate
interests at each end of the entire ABC project study area. The first
workshop was held on March 11, 1996, at the Robbinsville High School in
Robbinsville; the second was held at the Andrews Community Center in
Andrews. The second Citizens Informational Workshop was also held in
two locations on subsequent days. The workshop in Robbinsville was held
October 28, 1996, at the Robbinsville High School; the second on
October 29, 1996, at the Andrews Community Center in Andrews. The third
Citizens Informational Workshop was also held on subsequent days in
Robbinsville and
[[Page 40923]]
Andrews. The workshop in Robbinsville was held March 14, 2000, at the
Robbinsville High School; the second on March 15, 2000, at the Andrews
Community Center in Andrews. The most recent Citizens Informational
Workshop was held on November 28, 2006, at the Graham County Community
Building in Robbinsville. Local Officials Meetings were held
immediately before the Citizens Informational Workshops with the
exception of the November 28, 2006, workshop.
To ensure that the full range of issues related to the proposed
action is addressed and all significant issues are identified, comments
and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments and
questions concerning the proposed action should be directed to the FHWA
at the address provided above.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205,
Highway Research Planning and Construction. The regulations
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental
consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this
program.)
Issued on: July 19, 2007.
Clarence W. Coleman,
P.E., Operations Engineer, Raleigh, North Carolina.
[FR Doc. E7-14352 Filed 7-24-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P
