96-18250. Environmental Impact Statement; St. Johns County, Florida

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 143 (Wednesday, July 24, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 38511]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18250]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; St. Johns County, Florida

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 (EIS) will be prepared for a proposed 
highway project in St Johns County, Florida concerning the Bridge of 
Lions.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Mark Bartlett, Supervisory Transportation Engineer, Federal Highway 
Administration, 227 N. Bronough Street, Room 2015, Tallahassee, Florida 
32301-2015, Telephone; [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Florida 
Department of Transportation and the United States Coast Guard will 
prepare an EIS for a proposal to rehabilitate or replace the Bridge of 
Lions crosses the Matanzas River (Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway) and 
connects the City of St Augustine with Anastasia Island. The structure 
exhibits severe deterioration and does not meet current load capacity 
standards. The proposed project is considered necessary to maintain 
this important river crossing. The existing Bridge of Lions is listed 
on the National Register of Historic Places and the western bridge 
abutment is adjacent to the St Augustine Historic District, a National 
Historic Landmark. The existing bridge does not meet the current U.S. 
Coast Guard Guide Clearances for marine navigation along the 
Intracoastal Waterway.
    Alternatives under consideration include: (1) taking no action; (2) 
rehabilitating the existing bridge; (3) replacing the existing bridge.
    Coordination and informal scoping with appropriate Federal, State, 
and local agencies and private citizens who have expressed interest in 
this proposal has been undertaken and will continue. A series of public 
meetings have been held and additional meetings are planned for the 
future in St Johns County. In addition, a public hearing will be held. 
Public notice will be given of the time and place of the meetings and 
hearing. The Draft EIS will be made available for public and agency 
review and comment.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to the 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 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 3, 1996.
Robert M. Callan,
Acting Division Administrator, Tallahassee, Florida.
[FR Doc. 96-18250 Filed 7-23-96; 8:45 am]
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