[Federal Register: September 17, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 180)]
[Notices]               
[Page 50549]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17se99-106]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

 
Environmental Impact Statement; Aroostook County, ME

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 to improve 
transportation efficiency in Aroostook County, Maine. The EIS will 
examine highway infrastructure improvements to enhance transportation 
mobility and accessibility to and from Aroostook County, as well as 
within the County. These improvements are being considered as a means 
to improve the region's economy by improving access to jobs and 
services and by reducing travel time to markets outside Maine's 
northern-most county. The purpose of this study is to identify a 
Preferred Corridor only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James F. Linker Manager, Right of 
Way and Environmental Programs, Maine Division, Federal Highway 
Administration, 40 Western Ave. Augusta, Maine 04330, Tel. 207/622-
8355, ext. 23; Ray Faucher, Project Manager, Maine Department of 
Transportation, State House Station 16, Augusta, Maine 04333-0016, Tel. 
207/287-3172.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of this EIS is to establish a 
one-half mile wide corridor for future highway development. The area 
under consideration, from the towns of Smyrna Mills to Madawaska, is 
quite large and is bounded on the west by Route 11, on the south by I-
95, and on the north and east by the Canadian border. The enclosed area 
is roughly twice the size of the state of Rhode Island. The EIS will 
study up to seven corridors alternatives, including upgrades within 
existing highway corridors and corridors on new location. The seven 
corridors, plus the no-action alternative, will be selected through a 
screening process of up to 20 preliminary corridors. The corridors will 
be selected for review based on their ability to provide transportation 
benefits and their environmental impacts. It is anticipated that 
highway segments with logical termini and independent utility will be 
constructed in the future within the selected corridor. Each segment 
will be supported by a separate environmental document in the later 
construction phase.
    An 18-member public advisory committee has been established to 
represent the interests within the study area and to assist in the 
preparation of the EIS. Public scoping meetings will be held and are 
scheduled for the following locations: the Frenchville Community Center 
in Frenchville, September 14, 1999; the Northern Maine Technical 
College in Presque Isle, September 15, 1999; and the Miller Civil 
Center in Houlton on September 16, 1999.

    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 49 CFR 1.48.

    Issued on: August 27, 1999.
Paul L. Lariviere,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Augusta, Maine.
[FR Doc. 99-24228 Filed 9-16-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M