[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 29 (Thursday, February 12, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7191-7192]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3590]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Montgomery County, Maryland

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 project 
in Montgomery County, Maryland.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Renee Sigel, Planning, Research, and Environment Team Leader, 
Federal Highway Administration, The Rotunda Suite 220, 711 West 40th 
Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21211. Telephone: (410) 962-4440.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Maryland 
Department of Transportation, will prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) on a proposal to improve MD 97 in Montgomery County, 
Maryland. Proposed alternates will address congestion and safety 
problems on existing MD 97 in the historic Town of Brookeville. The 
project limits are from Gold Mine Road to north of Holiday Drive, a 
distance of approximately two miles.
    Alternatives under consideration include taking no action and 
constructing bypasses around Brookeville. Five bypass alternatives, 
proposing a two lane access controlled roadway on new location, have 
been retained for detailed study. Four alternatives would bypass 
Brookeville to the west and one would bypass Brookeville to the east.
    Alternatives to improve the existing alignment through Brookeville 
were initially considered but were eliminated due to the resulting 
adverse effects on the historic district.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and to 
private organizations and citizens and citizen groups who have 
previously expressed or are known to have an interest in this proposal. 
It is anticipated that a Public Hearing will be held in 1998. The draft 
EIS will be available for public and agency review and comment prior to 
a Public Hearing. Public notice will be given of the availability of 
the Draft EIS for review and of the time and place of this hearing. An 
Alternates Public Meeting was held in May 1996. No formal scoping 
meeting is planned at this time.

[[Page 7192]]

    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments 
and suggestion are invited from all interested parties. Comments or 
questions concerning these proposed actions and 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 of Federal programs and activities apply to this 
program)

    Issued on: February 3, 1998.
Renee Sigel,
Planning, Research and Environment Team Leader, Baltimore.
[FR Doc. 98-3590 Filed 2-11-98; 8:45 am]
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