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Environmental Impact Statement; Desha County, Arkansas and Bolivar County, Mississippi

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

 [Federal Register: December 19, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 244)]
[Notices]
[Page 79450]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19de00-117]

[[Page 79450]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Desha County, Arkansas and
Bolivar County, Mississippi

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 a proposed location
of I-69 from US 65 in Desha County, Arkansas to State Highway 1 in
Bolivar County, Mississippi, including a crossing of the Mississippi
River.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Randal Looney, Environmental
Specialist, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Office
Building, 700 West Capitol Avenue, Room 3130 Little Rock, Arkansas
72201-3298, Telephone: (501) 324-6430; Mr. Bill Richardson, Asst.
Division Head, Environmental Division, Arkansas Highway and
Transportation Department (AHTD), 10324 Interstate 30, Little Rock,
Arkansas 72201-2398, Telephone: (501) 569-2379; or Mr. Claiborne
Barnwell, Environmental Division Engineer, Office of Intermodal
Planning, Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT), 401 North
West Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39215-1850, Telephone: (601) 359-
7920.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Arkansas
Highway and Transportation Department and the Mississippi Department of
Transportation will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on
a proposal to build a section of independent utility (SIU) for the
proposed Interstate 69. The new facility would include a new roadway
and bridge crossing of the Mississippi River connecting U.S. Highway 65
in Arkansas with Route 1 in Mississippi. Project distance is
approximately 25 miles. Information developed by a previous EIS for the
location of the Great River Bridge and other preliminary documents
pertaining to the I-69 corridor will be used in this study.
    Alternatives under consideration include: (1) The no build and (2)
constructing a four-lane, limited access highway within the limits
described above, on various alignment alternatives.
    A scoping process has been initiated that involves all appropriate
federal and state agencies and Native American Tribes. This will
continue throughout the study as an ongoing process. A formal scoping
meeting will be held for the project. A public information effort will
be initiated in December, 2000, to include those agencies, local
agencies, and private organizations and citizens who have previously
expressed, or are known to have, interest in this proposal. This will
include all coordination required under Section 106 of the Historic
Preservation Act. Public informational meetings will be held in the
study area to engage the regional community in the decision-making
process and to obtain public input. In addition, public hearings will
be held to present information developed by the environmental studies
and to obtain comments and recommendations from the public. Public
notice will be given concerning the time and place of informational
meetings and public hearings. The Draft EIS will be made available for
public and agency review and comment prior to the public hearings.
    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 EIS should be directed to
the FHWA, or AHDT, or MDOT at the addresses 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: December 11, 2000.
Gary A. DalPorto,
Planning and Research Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, Little
Rock, Arkansas.
[FR Doc. 00-32206 Filed 12-18-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M

 
 

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