[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 28 (Friday, February 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 5058]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-2781]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Jefferson County, WV

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 for a proposed 
highway project in Jefferson County, West Virginia.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David A. Leighow, Division Environmental Coordinator, Federal Highway 
Administration, 550 Eagan Street, Suite 300, Charleston, West Virginia 
25301, Telephone (304) 347-5329; or, Ben L. Hark, Environmental Section 
Chief, roadway Design Division, West Virginia Department of 
Transportation, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard East, Building 5, Room A-416, 
Capitol Complex, Charleston, West Virginia 25305-0430, Telephone (304) 
558-2885.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the West 
Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT), will prepare an EIS for 
the US 340 Virginia Line to Charles Town project in Jefferson County, 
West Virginia. The proposed limits extend from the existing four-lane 
section of US 340 southwest of the Virginia/West Virginia state line to 
the existing four lane section of the Charles Town Bypass (US 340) in 
Wheaton, West Virginia, approximately 3 kilometers (2 miles) north of 
Rippon. The total length of the proposed project is approximately 6.5 
kilometers (4 miles). The project will be processed as a merged NEPA/
404 project.

    Alternatives under consideration include but are not limited to (1) 
taking no action, (2) minimal improvement of the existing road, (3) 
where possible, widening the existing two-lane highway to four lanes, 
and (4) constructing a four-lane, partially controlled access highway 
on new location. Additional alignments may be evaluated based upon the 
results of the preliminary engineering studies and the public and 
agency involvement process. Incorporated into and studied with the 
various build alternatives will be design variations of grade and 
alignment. Multi-modal forms of transportation, such as mass transit, 
will be considered and addressed as appropriate.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate federal, state, and local agencies, and to 
private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed, or 
are known to have interest in this project. A formal scoping meeting 
will be scheduled, along with a field view. Public meetings and a 
public hearing will be held during the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) review period. Public notice will be given of the 
times and places for the meetings and hearing. The DEIS 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 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 Research Planning and Construction. The regulation 
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental 
consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this 
program.)

    Issued on: January 29, 1996.
David A. Leighow,
Environmental Coordinator, Charleston, West Virginia.
[FR Doc. 96-2781 Filed 2-8-96; 8:45 am]
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