Federal Register: April 27, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 81)
DOCID: FR Doc 06-3949
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
NOTICE: NOTICES
ACTION: Environmental statements; notice of intent:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice of intent.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Environmental impact statement: Gaston and Mecklenburg Counties, NC
DOCUMENT 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 Gaston and Mecklenburg Counties, North Carolina.
SUMMARY:
Gaston and Mecklenburg Counties, NC,
DOCUMENT BODY:
[[Page 24910]]
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
The FHWA, in cooperation with the North
Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and the North Carolina
Turnpike Authority (NCTA), will prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS) addressing proposed improvements to eastwest
transporation mobility in the area around the City of Gastonia and
other municipalities in southern Gaston County. As part of this
proposed action, the NCDOT also proposes to improve mobility, access
and connectivity between southern Gaston County and Mecklenburg County.
The proposed project study area consists of the following general
boundaries: I85 to the north, the South Carolina State line to the
south, the CharlotteDouglas International Airport to the east, and the
I85 and US 2974 junction to the west. The proposed action is
consistent with the thoroughfare plans approved by the Gaston Urban
Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the MecklenburgUnion MPO.
Alternatives to be studied in detail include:
1. NoBuild.
2. Construction of a new location highway. Sixteen detailed study alternatives or corridors will be studied in the Draft EIS.
The proposed project is being developed as a candidate toll road. Accordingly, in conjunction with development of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and other ongoing project development activities, NCTA is conducting a study to evaluate the feasibility of developing the proposed highway as a toll road and funding it, in whole or in part, through the issuance of ``revenue bonds.''
Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments have been sent to appropriate Federal, State and local agencies. Citizens' informational workshops, meetings with local officials, and a public hearing will be held. Information on the dates, times and locations of the citizens' informtional workshops and public hearings will be advertised in the local news media, and newsletters will be mailed to those on the project mailing list. 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: April 20, 2006.
Clarence W. Coleman,
Operations Engineer, Raleigh, North Carolina.
[FR Doc. 063949 Filed 42606; 8:45am]
BILLING CODE 491022M
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Clarence W. Coleman, P.E., Operations Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 310 New Bern Avenue, Ste 410, Raleigh, North Carolina 276011418, Telephone: (919) 8564346.