[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 78 (Monday, April 22, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 17749]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-9763]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Caddo Parish, Louisiana

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 highway 
project in Caddo Parish, Louisiana.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. William A. Sussmann, Division Administrator, Federal Highway 
Administration, Louisiana Division Office, Post Office Box 3929, Baton 
Rouge, Louisiana 70821, Telephone: (504) 389-0464, Facsimile: (504) 
389-0758; or Mr. Vincent Pizzolato, Environmental Engineer 
Administrator, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, 
Post Office Box 94245, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804-9245, Telephone: 
(504) 929-9190, Facsimile: (504) 929-9188.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Louisiana 
Department of Transportation and Development (LDOTD), will prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposal to construct a four-
lane, divided, fully controlled access highway facility located on new 
alignment. The proposed project, known locally as the North-South 
Expressway, is generally located in the U.S. Highway 71 (US 71) 
corridor and extends from the Arkansas state line south to Interstate 
220 in Shreveport, Louisiana. The new roadway includes several 
alternates based on new locations and various interchange access 
points. The approximate length of the project is 65 kilometers (40 
miles).
    The proposed improvements would improve capacity of the existing 
route US 71 and increase regional mobility along a proposed ultimate 
route extending from Kansas City, Missouri to Shreveport, Louisiana. 
This project is one of several projects identified as ``high priority 
corridors'' on the National Highway System that would provide a 
transportation corridor of national significance from Kansas City to 
Shreveport. The proposed improvements will draw new traffic through 
northwest Louisiana, western Arkansas and northeast Texas and serve as 
both a short-term and long-term economic stimulus. Major metropolitan 
areas lying along this ``high priority corridor'' include Kansas City, 
Kansas-Missouri; Joplin, Missouri; Fayetteville, Arkansas; Fort Smith, 
Arkansas; Texarkana, Arkansas-Texas; and Shreveport, Louisiana.
    The northern terminus of the proposed improvement will be at the 
Arkansas state line, and its location determined based on new corridor 
location developed in conjunction with the State of Arkansas. The 
southern terminus of the proposed improvement will connect to the 
Interstate 220 loop in Shreveport, Louisiana between the existing 
interchanges of Interstate 220 with Louisiana Highway 173 (LA 173) and 
Louisiana Highway 1 (LA 1)/US 71.
    Alternatives to be considered are:
    (1) The ``Do-Nothing'' Alternative, where roads are constructed 
according to the regional plan with the exception of the proposed 
facility; and
    (2) The ``Build'' Alternative, considering several different 
alignments and full control of access.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, state, and local agencies and to 
private organizations, including conservation groups and groups of 
individuals who have expressed interest in the project in the past, and 
to major northwest Louisiana newspapers. A series of public 
informational meetings will be held in the project areas which will be 
affected. In addition, a public hearing will be held. Public notice 
will be given of the time and place of the public informational 
meetings and the public hearing. The draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) will be available for public and agency review and 
comment prior to the public hearing. An agency scoping meeting will be 
held at a time and place to be determined at a later date.
    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: April 11, 1996.
William A. Sussmann,
Division Administrator, FHWA, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
[FR Doc. 96-9763 Filed 4-19-96; 8:45 am]
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