[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 8 (Monday, January 13, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1802-1803]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-681]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Environmental Impact Statement: Allegheny and Washington 
Counties, Pennsylvania

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 proposed 
transportation improvements between US Route 22 and I-79, known locally 
as a Southern Beltway Transportation Project, in Allegheny and 
Washington Counties, Pennsylvania. This notice supersedes the Notice of 
Intent published in the Federal Register Volume 58, Number 154, Page 
43005, on August 12, 1993, for the Southern Beltway.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David W. Cough, District Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 228 
Walnut Street, Room 558, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17101-1720, 
Telephone: (717) 782-3411; Daryl L. Kerns, Turnpike Liaison engineer, 
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, 1113 Transportation & Safety 
Building, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120, Telephone: (717) 787-0185; or 
Paul A. Edmunds, Acting Chief Engineer, Pennsylvania Turnpike 
Commission, P.O. Box 67676, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17106-7676, 
Telephone: (717) 939-9551.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the 
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Pennsylvania Turnpike 
Commission will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a 
proposal for a limited access toll highway in Allegheny and Washington 
Counties, southwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The proposed highway 
would extend from US Route 22, west of Pittsburgh, south easterly to 
Interstate 79, south of the Allegheny County-Washington County line, 24 
kilometers (15 miles) southwest of Pittsburgh. The study corridor is 
about 19 kilometers (12 miles) long and up to 5.6 kilometers (3.5 
miles) wide.
    The proposed highway is considered necessary to improve the 
movement of people and goods in a rapidly growing area southwest of 
Pittsburgh. Preliminary studies and public and agency input have 
indicated that the project needs cannot be met by Transportation System 
Management (TSM) activities, upgrading existing roadways or mass 
transit improvements. Alternatives now under consideration are various 
alignments for a new tolled expressway and taking no action.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments have 
been 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 proposal. A series of public meetings 
will be held in the project area

[[Page 1803]]

during the development of the project. In addition, a public hearing 
will be held. Public notice will be given of the time and place of the 
meetings and hearing. The Draft EIS will be available for public and 
agency review and comment prior to the public hearing. A Scoping 
Meeting was held on August 18 and 19, 1993, in Washington, 
Pennsylvania. Federal, state, regional, county, and municipal agencies 
attended and participated.
    To insure 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 Construction. The regulations implementing 
Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on 
Federal programs and activities apply to this program)
J. Stephen Guhin,
Assistant Division Administrator, Pennsylvania Division, FHWA.
[FR Doc. 97-681 Filed 1-10-97; 8:45 am]
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