[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 18, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71666-71667]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24446]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement/Section 404 Permit Application for the Southern Beltway
Transportation Project From I-79 to the Mon/Fayette Expressway,
Washington County, PA
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in cooperation with the
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, as a Cooperating Agency, have prepared a Draft Environmental
Impact Statement/Section 404 Permit Application (DEIS) for the Southern
Beltway Transportation Project from I-79 to the Mon/Fayette Expressway
in Washington County, PA. The overall purpose of the project is to
provide transportation mobility safety improvements, to relieve
congestion, and to support economic development plans in southwestern
Pennsylvania. The DEIS assesses the environmental effects of the
various alternatives developed to address the project needs.
DATES: Comments concerning this DEIS should be submitted by February 8,
2008.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to Scott A. Hans, Acting Chief,
Regulatory Branch, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District,
Moorhead Federal Building, 1000 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-
4186 or to David P. Willis, Environmental Manager, Pennsylvania
Turnpike Commission, P.O. Box 67676, Harrisburg, PA 17106.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions or comments regarding the
DEIS should be directed to Mr. John S. Weres, Project Manager, at SAI
Consulting Engineers, Inc., 1350 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
(412-392-8750).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Authorization: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh
District, Regulatory Branch is considering an application from the
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, 700 South Eisenhower Boulevard, P.O.
Box 67676, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7676 under section 404 of the Clean
Water Act to construct the Proposed Action. The primary Federal concern
is the discharge of fill materials (including permanent inundation)
within waters of the United States, and potential impacts on the human
environment from such activities. The Corps' decision will be to either
issue or deny a Department of the Army permit for the Proposed Action.
The DEIS has been prepared in accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), pursuant to 42 U.S.C.
4332(2)(c) and Executive Order 11990; and with other appropriate
federal laws and regulations, policies, and procedures of the Corps for
compliance with those regulations.
2. Scoping Process: The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has held a
series of Public Plans Displays and Public Meetings in the project area
during the past several years, including a series of three meetings in
August 2005 to present the alternatives developed in detail in the
DEIS. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) published a Notice of
Intent (NOI) in the Federal Register on October 23, 2007 (FR Doc. E7-
20812).
3. Public Hearing. A formal public hearing to receive comments on
the DEIS will be held by the Army Corps of Engineers and the
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission on Thursday, January 24, 2008. The
location and time for the public hearing is as follows:
Canon-McMillan Senior High School, Elm Street Extension,
Canonsburg, PA 15317. An open house plans presentation will be
conducted from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The formal presentation will be
conducted at 6 p.m.
The public hearing will be announced in the local news media, and
separate notice will also be sent to all parties on
[[Page 71667]]
the project mailing list and to property owners adjacent to the
Recommended Preferred Alternative. Participation by all interested
individuals, groups or agencies is encouraged.
The public review period will conclude on February 8, 2008, more
than 45 days after publication of this notice. The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission will consider
concerns expressed on the DEIS, and such issues will be incorporated
into the Final EIS as appropriate. Comments, suggestions, and requests
to be placed on the mailing list for announcements and for the Final
EIS, should also be sent to Mr. Hans or Mr. Willis.
4. Availability of the Draft EIS: The Draft EIS and appendices are
available for review and downloading from the Pennsylvania Turnpike
Commission's project Web site at the following address: http://www.paturnpike.com/monfaySB/. Copies of the DEIS are available for
public review at local municipal offices and public libraries in the
project area. Copies of the technical support data and all documents
referenced in the DEIS are available for public review by appointment
at the Pittsburgh office of SAI Consulting Engineers, Inc., 1350 Penn
Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Please contact Mr. John Weres at (412)
392-8750 to set up an appointment. Please note that only qualified
individuals will be allowed to review the confidential cultural
resources appendices. Additional information on the project and
availability of the DEIS can also be found in the Corps' Public notice
at the following link: http://www.lrp.usace.army.mil/or/or-f/07-59.pdf.
Scott A. Hans,
Acting Chief, Regulatory Branch, Pittsburgh District--U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers.
[FR Doc. E7-24446 Filed 12-17-07; 8:45 am]
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