Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement:
Rutherford County, NC
[Federal Register: April 19, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 75)]
[Notices]
[Page 20961]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19ap04-115]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement:
Rutherford 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 assessment or environmental impact statement will be
prepared for a proposed highway project in Rutherford County, North
Carolina.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. Emily O. Lawton, Operations
Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 310 New Bern Avenue, Suite
410, Raleigh, North Carolina 27601, Telephone: (919) 856-4350.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the North
Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), will prepare an
environmental assessment (EA) or environmental impact statement (EIS)
addressing proposed improvements to the U.S. 221 corridor from U.S. 74
Bypass to SR 1355 (Mountain Creek Road) in Rutherford County. The
proposed action would involve the construction of a multi-lane divided,
controlled access highway, possibly on new location. The proposed
project will be approximately 12.3 miles long depending on the
alternative chosen. The proposed facility is considered necessary to
reduce congestion, improve safety, and improve travel time for traffic
using the U.S. 221 corridor in the vicinity of Rutherfordton. The
proposed action is consistent with the thoroughfare plan approved by
the towns of Rutherfordton and Spindale, Rutherford County, and the
North Carolina Department of Transportation.
Alternatives under consideration include:
1. Do-Nothing
2. Alternative Modes of Transportation
3. Construction on New Alignment
4. Improve existing U.S. 221
Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments have
been sent to appropriate Federal, State and local agencies. Public
information meetings, meetings with local officials, and a public
hearing will be held. Information on the time and place of the public
information meetings and public hearing will be provided in the local
news media. The EA or draft EIS will be available for public and agency
review and comment prior to the public hearing.
To ensure the full range of issues related to the proposed action
are addressed and all significant issues 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 Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing
Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on
Federal programs and activities apply to this program)
Issued on: April 5, 2004.
Emily O. Lawton,
Operations Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, Raleigh, North
Carolina.
[FR Doc. 04-8619 Filed 4-16-04; 8:45 am]
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