[Federal Register: March 18, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 51)]
[Notices]
[Page 11625-11626]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18mr09-97]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: Davidson County and Forsyth
County, NC
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 will be prepared for the proposed
roadway improvements to NC 109 between Old Greensboro Road (SR 1798) in
Davidson County and I-40/US 311 in Forsyth County, North Carolina.
[[Page 11626]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clarence W. Coleman, PE, Director of
Preconstruction and Environment, Federal Highway Administration, 310
New Bern Avenue, Suite 410, Raleigh, North Carolina 27601-1418,
Telephone: (919) 747-7014, or Vincent J. Rhea, PE, Project Engineer,
North Carolina Department of Transportation, 1548 Mail Service Center,
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1548, Telephone: (919) 733-7844, ext.
261.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the North
Carolina Department of Transportation, will prepare an environmental
impact statement (EIS) on a proposal for improving NC 109, through
widening and/or constructing new roadway, between Old Greensboro Road
and I-40/US 311. The project is included in the North Carolina
Department of Transportation (NCDOT) 2009-2015 Transportation
Improvement Program (TIP) as TIP No. R-2568C. Improvements to the
section of NC 109 south of Old Greensboro Road, extending south to
Business I-85 in the City of Thomasville, were completed in 2007. The
current project includes one alternative mainly on existing location
and four alternatives mainly on new location. The project would be
constructed as a four-lane, median-divided roadway with partial control
of access. Directional crossovers with offset left turns will be used
at many of the major intersections. Improvements to NC 109 are
considered necessary to improve traffic flow and service and to reduce
conflicts between through traffic and local traffic. As required by
Section 6002 of the Safe Accountable Flexible Efficient Transportation
Equity Act: ``A Legacy for Users'', opportunities have been provided
for involvement with the public in defining the project purpose and
need and determining the range of alternatives to be considered for the
project. Further opportunities for the public to comment on the
environmental review process will be provided throughout the remainder
of the project development process.
Prior to the initiation of environmental studies in preparation of
an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), a scoping letter soliciting
comments on the proposed project was sent in December 2003 to the
local, state, and federal agencies by NCDOT. The agency scoping meeting
for the project was held in January 2004. No further scoping actions
are planned.
Since the start of the project, NCDOT has hosted two rounds of
Citizens Informational Workshops. The first round was held in April
2004 to announce the start of the project and to obtain public input
concerning the location of potential alternatives. The second round was
held in November 2005 to present and obtain public comments on five
alternative corridors identified for the project.
In 1997, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE), FHWA, and NCDOT
signed an Interagency Agreement integrating Section 404 and the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, known as the Section
404/NEPA Merger Process. The agreement requires the establishment of a
project team at the beginning of each transportation project and
outlines the coordination process with a series of Concurrence Points
in order to promote cooperation and coordination during the study
process and to ensure compatibility with local, state and federal
planning projects and policies. To date, project merger team meetings
have been held in September 2004 and August 2006. Upon completion of
the draft EIS, a public hearing will be held, with public notice 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.
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: March 12, 2009.
Clarence W. Coleman,
Director of Preconstruction & Environment, Raleigh, North Carolina.
[FR Doc. E9-5800 Filed 3-17-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P