95-14088. Environmental Impact Statement: Suffolk County, New York

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 111 (Friday, June 9, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 30677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-14088]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Suffolk County, New York

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 Suffolk County, New York.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Harold J. Brown, Division 
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, New York Division, Leo 
W. O'Brien Federal Building, 9th Floor, Clinton Avenue and North Pearl 
Street, Albany, New York 12207, Telephone: [phone], or Philip J. 
Clark, Director, Design Division, New York State Department of 
Transportation, State Campus, 1220 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 
12232, Telephone: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), 
in cooperation with the New York State Department of Transportation 
(NYSDOT) will be preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a 
proposal to improve the Route 347 corridor in Suffolk County. The 
proposed improvement will involve the reconstruction of the existing 
route between its termini at the Northern State Parkway and Route 25A, 
a distance of approximately 15 miles, in the Towns of Smithtown, Islip 
and Brookhaven. Improvements to Route 347 are considered necessary to 
address the existing and projected traffic demand and traffic-related 
problems.
    Alternatives being processed for detailed study in the 
Environmental Impact Statement include:

Section A--Northern State Parkway to Route 454 Diverge

    1. No build;
    2. Transportation Demand Management (TDM)/Transportation System 
Management (TSM);
    3. Six lane (convert one existing General Use Lane [GUL] to one 
High Occupancy Vehicle [HOV] lane each direction) limited access 
expressway with two lane flanking service roads (includes TDM/TSM);
    4. Six lane (GUL's) limited access expressway with two lane 
flanking service roads (includes TDM/TSM);
    5. Eight lane (add one HOV lane each direction or GUL's) restricted 
access expressway (includes TDM/TSM).

Section B--Route 454 Diverge to Route 25A

    1. No build;
    2. TDM/TSM;
    3. Four Lane (GUL's) arterial with restricted access by closing 
median openings and having grade separated interchanges (includes TDM/
TSM);
    4. Six lane (add one HOV lane each direction) arterial with some 
grade separations and jughandles (includes TDM/TSM);
    5. Six lane (GUL's) arterial with some grade separations and 
jughandles (includes TDM/TSM).
    One of the early opportunities for the public to be involved is in 
the scoping of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). Scoping 
is the process by which the important issues to be considered in the 
environmental analyses are identified. The purpose of scoping is to 
ensure that the DEIS is a concise, accurate and complete document that 
covers all concerns and issues for public and agency review.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting scoping 
comments will be sent to appropriate Federal, State and local agencies, 
public officials and various organizations that may have interest in 
this proposal. In addition to scoping discussions with these interested 
parties, the general public will have the opportunity to make scoping 
comments both in writing and at a Public Information/Scoping Meeting in 
Spring, 1995, exact time and location to be announced.
    After the DEIS is prepared, it will be available for public and 
agency review and comment. This will be followed by a Public Hearing 
for which a public notice will be given of the time and place of the 
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 or NYSDOT 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 on: May 30, 1995.
Harold J. Brown,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Albany, New 
York.
[FR Doc. 95-14088 Filed 6-8-95; 8:45 am]
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