[Federal Register: April 29, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 82)]
[Notices]
[Page 21013-21014]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29ap02-123]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Assessment; Pulaski County, KY
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 of its
intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) for a proposed
highway project in the south-central portion of Kentucky, between the
Louis B. Nunn Parkway (Cumberland
[[Page 21014]]
Parkway) at Fishing Creek to Ky 80 east of Somerset.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Evan J. Wisniewski, Project
Development Team Leader, Federal Highway Administration, 330 West
Broadway, Frankfort, Kentucky, 40601, (502) 223-6740, e-mail:
evan.wisniewski@fhwa.dot.gov; or David Beattie, Project Manager,
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, District XX, P.O. Box 780, Somerset,
Kentucky, 40502, (606) 677-4017, e-mail david.beattie@mail.state.ky.us.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Access
An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded by using a
computer, modem and suitable communications software from the
Government Printing Office's Electronic Bulletin Board Service at (202)
512-1661. Internet users may reach the Office of the Federal Register's
home page at http://www.nara.gov/fedreg and the Government Printing
Office's Web page at http://www.access.gpo.gov.nara.
Background
The FHWA, in cooperation with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
(KYTC), will prepare an Environmental Assessment to evaluate
alternatives for a proposed highway project in the vicinity of
Somerset, Kentucky. The proposed project is located in the south-
central portion of Kentucky near and immediately north of Somerset in
Pulaski County and would connect the Louis B. Nunn Parkway (Cumberland
Parkway) at Fishing Creek to KY 80 east of Somerset.
As part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process,
FHWA will be preparing an EA to assess the social, economic, and
environmental impacts of the proposed project. The EA will include a
reasonable range of alternatives that will address the purpose and need
of the project, as well as a no-build alternative. If the EA determines
that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is necessary for the
proposed project, the information gained through the scoping process in
this EA may be used as input to the scoping process for the development
of that EIS. If an EIS is prepared in the future, additional written
comments will still be considered at that time, after the filing of a
Notice of Intent (NOI).
A Public Involvement Plan, including the development of a Citizens
Advisory Council, has been established during the planning phase of
this project and will facilitate public involvement throughout the
project development process. The input of the resource agencies will be
solicited throughout the life of this project. Throughout the
development process, advance notice of the time and place of public
meetings and/or hearings will be given in order to provide an
opportunity for citizen attendance and comments.
The proposed project would service the Somerset area transportation
needs by improving regional access, reducing existing and forecasted
traffic congestion, and strengthening the regional highway network by
improving connectivity to other major roads. This includes connecting
the Louis B. Nunn (Cumberland) Parkway west of Somerset to KY 80 east
of Somerset. While the project would serve the Somerset area, it could
also link portions of the proposed Transamerica Transportation Corridor
(I-66). This Transamerica Transportation Corridor included a ``Southern
Kentucky Corridor'' centered on the cities of Pikeville, Jenkins,
Hazard, London, Somerset, Columbia, Bowling Green, Hopkinsville, Benton
and Paducah.
This I-66 Corridor was defined in an Interstate 66 Feasibility
Study, and extends from the East Coast to the West Coast and generally
is located between I-70 and I-40. This feasibility study focused on the
feasibility of various alternative transportation concepts within that
corridor. The report recognized that further analyzes could find that
some individual segments of the Transamerica Transportation Corridor
would be more feasible than others and would be more desirable from a
state or regional perspective. The Interstate 66 Feasibility Study was
funded through the 1991 U.S. Department of Transportation Appropriation
Act.
The Southern Kentucky Corridor, Economic Justification & Financial
Feasibility Study (dated May, 1997) followed the Interstate 66
Feasibility Study. Then in 2000, the I-66 Southern Kentucky Corridor
Scoping Study (Pulaski-Laurel Counties) was completed. It developed an
environmental footprint, gathered resource agency and public input, and
identified areas of concern, as well as the potential benefits of such
an undertaking within the Southern Kentucky Corridor. The Somerset
Northern Bypass has been prioritized from study because of existing and
future transportation needs in the Somerset area, including traffic
congestion and regional access, and the linkage that it creates between
existing facilities.
Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and to
private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are
known to have interest in this proposal. A series of public meetings
will be held throughout the design process. 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 EA will be available for public
and agency review and comment prior to the public hearing. Formal
scoping will be planned for late spring 2002.
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 EA should be directed
to the FHWA at the address provided under the caption FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
(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.)
(23 U.S.C. 315; 49 CFR 1.48)
Issued on: April 22, 2002.
Evan J. Wisniewski.
Acting Kentucky Division Administrator.
[FR Doc. 02-10409 Filed 4-26-02; 8:45 am]
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