[Federal Register: July 25, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 142)]
[Notices]
[Page 40921-40922]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25jy07-110]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement; Buncombe County, NC
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 will be prepared for the proposed
extension of I-26 from I-40 to US 19-23-70, including widening I-240
from the I-26/I-40/I-240 interchange to US 19-23-74 (Patton Avenue),
and construction on new location from US 19-23-74 (Patton Avenue)
across the French Broad River to US 19-23-70 in Buncombe County, North
Carolina.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clarence W. Coleman, P.E., Operations
Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 310 New Bern Avenue, Suite
410, Raleigh, North Carolina 27601-1418, Telephone: (919) 856-4350,
Extension 133.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the North
Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), will prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposal for extending I-26,
partly on new location, from I-40 to US 19-23-70 including the I-26/I-
40/I-240 interchange. The project is commonly referred to as the I-26
Connector and is intended to provide a link between existing I-26 and
US 19-23-70 north of Asheville, completing a gap in the I-26 corridor
through Asheville. The project includes upgrading the I-26/I-40/I-240
interchange and improving I-240 (including the interchanges) north to
the I-240/US 19-23-74A/Patton Avenue interchange west of the French
Broad River. The project also includes construction of a multilane
freeway segment on new location from the I-240/US 19-23-74A/Patton
Avenue interchange across the French Broad River, merging into US 19-
23-70 south of the existing US 19-23-70 interchange with SR 1781
(Broadway). Improvements to the corridor are considered necessary to
provide for the existing and projected traffic demand and improve
connectivity between I-26 south of Asheville and US 19-23-70 north of
Asheville. In addition, upgrades are needed on existing interstates
within the study area to meet current design standards.
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.
From 1989 to 1995, the I-26 Connector was studied as part of the
Asheville Urban Area Corridor Preservation Pilot Project in order to
develop the Asheville Urban Area Thoroughfare Plan, a long-range
regional transportation plan. Extensive public involvement was
incorporated to identify overall transportation goals, specific
projects in the Asheville area that would fulfill those goals (which
identified the I-26 Connector as one of
[[Page 40922]]
those projects) and potential corridors for the I-26 Connector. NCDOT
published a final Phase I Environmental Analysis for the Asheville
Urban Area (Phase I Study) in April 1995.
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 1996 to the local, state,
and federal agencies, by NCDOT. No further scoping actions are planned.
In 1997, the United States Army Corps of Engineer (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.
In addition to the project merger team providing guidance and
input, involvement with the public continued with a Project Educational
Forum and a separate Project Design Forum in 2000. In the summer of
2004, public informational meetings were held to receive public
comments on the functional alternatives presented. The engineering
designs for the project alternatives were then presented at Community
Informational Workshops in October 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 the proposed
action is addressed and all significant issues are identified, comments
and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments and
questions concerning the proposed action should be directed to the FHWA
at the address provided above.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205,
Highway Research Planning and Construction. The regulations
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental
consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this
program.)
Issued on: July 19, 2007.
Clarence W. Coleman,
P.E., Operations Engineer, Raleigh, North Carolina.
[FR Doc. E7-14353 Filed 7-24-07; 8:45 am]
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