[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 212 (Monday, November 3, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 59384]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29015]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: Indiana County, PA
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an
Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared for a proposed highway
project in Indiana County, Pennsylvania.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David W. Cough, P.E. District Engineer, Federal Highway Administration,
Pennsylvania Division Office, 228 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101-
1720, Telephone: (717) 221-3411 -OR- Raymond Schilling, P.E., Project
Manager, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, District 10-0,
Route 286 South, Box 429, Indiana, PA 15701, Telephone: (412) 357-2800.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), will prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposal to identify and
evaluate alternatives for transportation improvements to a 13.4
kilometer (8.3 mile) section of US 119 from US 22 at Blairsville,
Pennsylvania to the US 119 intersection with State Route 56 in Homer
City, Pennsylvania. Included in the proposed project will be the
identification of a range of alternatives that meet the identified
project need, and supporting environmental documentation and analysis
to recommend a selected alternative for implementation. A complete
public involvement program is part of the proposed project. Cooperating
agencies for this proposed project are the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the PA
Department of Environmental Protection.
Documentation of the need for the proposed project was completed in
1991. The need for roadway improvements for the proposed project was
based on transportation and public/social service demands, economic
development, and consistency with regional and local land use planning.
A Preliminary Alternative Analysis Report was prepared in 1991 to
identify and evaluate potential alternatives which would meet the
project need. As a result of the preliminary alternatives analysis and
public input, additional alternatives are being studied.
Alternatives under consideration include: No Build; Transportation
System Management (TSM); Widen left on existing alignment; Widen right
on existing alignment; Widening alternative that combines widening left
and right; three eastern off-line alignments; and two western off-line
alignments. These alternatives will be the basis for recommendation of
alternatives to be carried forward for detailed environmental and
engineering studies in the EIS. Incorporated into and studied with the
various build alternatives will be design variations of grade and
alignment.
Letters describing the proposed actions and soliciting comments
will be sent to appropriate federal, state and local agencies and to
private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are
known to have interest in this proposal. Public meetings will be held
in the area throughout the study process. Public involvement and agency
coordination will be maintained throughout the development of the EIS.
To ensure that the full range of issues related to the proposed
action are addressed and all significant issues are identified,
comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties.
Comments or questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS
should be directed to FHWA or PennDOT at the addresses provided above.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205,
Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing
Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on
Federal programs and activities apply to this program)
Issued: October 23, 1997.
J. Stephen Guhin,
FHWA Assistant Division Administrator, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
[FR Doc. 97-29015 Filed 10-31-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M
