[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 129 (Thursday, July 6, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35255-35256]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-16486]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Currituck County, NC

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration is issuing this notice to 
advise the public that an environmental impact statement will be 
prepared for a Mid-Currituck Sound bridge in Currituck County, North 
Carolina.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Roy C. Shelton, Operations Engineer, 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 impact statement (EIS) on a proposal to build a bridge 
and approach roadway connecting US 158 on the mainland to NC 12 on the 
Outer Banks, crossing Currituck Sound. The proposed project would 
include approximately 3.7 kilometers (2.3 miles) of approach road on 
the mainland and a bridge across the sound of approximately 7.6 
kilometers (4.7 miles).
    The proposed project is considered necessary to relieve forecast 
congestion on US 158 and NC 12, to improve access to public services 
for Outer Bank residents and to improve future emergency evaluation 
times. Alternatives under consideration include (1) taking no action 
and (2) building a bridge in one of six corridors made up of differing 
combinations of three mainland approach corridors and two Outer Bank 
termini.
    The alternatives to be evaluated in the EIS were chosen based on 
the results of an alternatives study conducted in 1994 and 1995. Nine 
bridge alternatives and several no-bridge alternatives were studied. 
The no-bridge alternatives were: improve existing roads, improving 
public services on the Outer Banks, altering storm evacuation plans and 
a ferry alternative. The reasonableness of widening existing roads in 
lieu of building the bridge will be examined further. Improving public 
services on the Outer Banks and altering storm evacuation plans are 
options Currituck County could implement if the no action alternative 
was found to be unreasonable.
    In April 1994, a letter describing the proposed action and 
soliciting comments was sent to appropriate federal, state and local 
agencies. An interagency scoping meeting was held on May 26, 1994 to 
introduce the project to federal and state regulatory agencies. Key 
environmental issues raised during the meeting were (1) the potential 
for secondary and cumulative impacts, particularly in terms of the 
potential for the bridge to alter existing development trends in 
Currituck County, (2) the need to evaluate no bridge alternatives, (3) 
disturbance of existing communities on the mainland by the approach 
road and its associated traffic and (4) the sensitivity and importance 
of Currituck Sound, Maple Swamp and the Outer Banks as natural 
resources.
    During the alternative study, two sets of citizen informational 
workshops (August 1994 and April 1995) and one additional interagency 
meeting (November 1994) were held. Prior to selection of the 
alternatives to be 

[[Page 35256]]
evaluated in the EIS, the results of the alternatives study were 
discussed at the second workshop and second interagency meeting.
    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 EIS 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: June 27, 1995.
Roy C. Shelton,
Operations Engineer, Raleigh, North Carolina.
[FR Doc. 95-16486 Filed 7-5-95; 8:45 am]
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