01-11047. Environmental Impact Statement: Shelby County, Tennessee and Desoto County, Mississippi

AGENCY:

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of intent.

SUMMARY:

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for Section 9 of proposed Interstate 69 in Desoto County, MS and Shelby County, TN beginning near Hernando, MS and extending to Millington, TN.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Mark Doctor, Field Operations Team Leader, Federal Highway Administration, 640 Grassmere Park, Suite 112, Nashville, Tennessee 37211, Telephone: [phone]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The FHWA, in cooperation with the Tennessee Department of Transportation and Mississippi Department of Transportation will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposal to provide a divided freeway facility from Interstate 55 (I-55) and State Route (S.R.) 304 near Hernando in Desoto County, Mississippi to US 51/S.R. 385 near Millington in Shelby County, Tennessee. Two general corridors, A and B, are being studied. Corridor A will pass through the city of Memphis and will generally follow the existing interstate system from I-55/S.R. 304 in Hernando, MS to US 51/S.R. 385 near Millington. Corridor B will be east of Memphis and will begin at I-55/S.R. 304 in Hernando, MS and end at US 51/S.R. 385 near Millington. The proposed project will be 64 to 96 kilometers (40 to 60 miles) in length depending on which alternative alignment is selected.

This proposed improvement is a section of independent utility of the Congressionally-designated High Priority Corridor 18, or future Interstate 69 which proposes to construct Interstate 69 from Port Huron, Michigan to the lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. The overall purpose of this corridor is to improve international and interstate trade and to facilitate economic development.

Alternatives to be considered are: (1) Taking no action (no-build); (2) three build alternatives in Corridor A and three build alternatives in Corridor B. All alternatives will have a full control of access freeway design and will be on both existing and new location and (3) other alternatives that may arise from public and agency input. Incorporated into and studied with the build alternatives will be design variations of grade and alignment.

Initial coordination letters describing the proposed action 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 an interest in this proposal. A public hearing will be held upon completion of the Draft EIS and public notice will be given 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. A formal scoping meeting and public involvement meetings are planned for late Spring 2001.

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.

(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 on: April 26, 2001.

Gary D. Corino,

Tennessee Assistant Division Administrator, Nashville.