[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 140 (Thursday, July 20, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 45126]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-18385]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Bossier, Caddo, & DeSoto 
Parishes, Louisiana

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared for a proposed 
Interstate highway project in Bossier, Caddo, and DeSoto Parishes, 
Louisiana.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Farr, Program Operations 
Manager, Federal Highway Administration, 5304 Flanders Avenue, Suite A, 
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808, Telephone: (225) 767-7615, or Vincent 
Russo, Environmental Engineer Administrator, Louisiana Department of 
Transportation and Development, Post Office Box 94245, Baton Rouge, 
Louisiana 70804-9245, Telephone: (225) 929-9190.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Louisiana 
Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), will prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposal to construct a 
segment of the proposed Interstate Highway 69 (I-69) in Bossier, Caddo, 
and DeSoto Parishes, Louisiana. This proposal will provide a divided 
four-lane, limited access highway on new location between US Highway 
171 (US 171) near the Town of Stonewall in DeSoto Parish, to Interstate 
Highway 20 (I-20) near the Town of Haughton in Bossier Parish, a 
distance of approximately 30 miles. The proposed new highway is a 
portion of the planned improvements to Congressionally-designated High 
Priority Corridor Number 18, which will link Indianapolis, Indiana to 
the lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. The purpose of this proposal is 
to improve international and interstate trade in accordance with 
national and state goals and to facilitate economic development in 
accordance with state, regional, and local policies, plans, and surface 
transportation consistent with national, state, regional, and local 
needs and with the Congressional designation of the corridor.
    The location of the proposed new highway generally follows a 
proposed alignment as developed in the City of Shreveport's 1992 study 
entitled ``Interstate 69 and the Inner Loop Extension: Compatibility 
Report''. However, social, economic, and environmental considerations 
will determine the number and location of alternatives to be developed 
during the preparation of the EIS. The western terminus of the proposed 
highway will be an interchange at US 171 near the Town of Stonewall in 
DeSoto Parish. The eastern terminus of the proposed highway will be an 
interchange at I-20 near the Town of Haughton in Bossier Parish.
    Alternatives under consideration include (1) the construction of a 
new controlled access highway, including interchanges providing access 
at I-20, US Highway 71, Louisiana Highway 1, Interstate Highway 49 and 
US 171, and (2) taking no action and using existing road network to 
connect the other segments of the proposed highway in the corridor. 
Incorporated into and studied with the various build alternatives will 
be design variations of grade and alignment.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to the 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. Federal and State agencies 
with jurisdiction by law with regards to the social, economic and 
environmental impact of this proposal will be requested to act as a 
Cooperating Agency in this matter in accordance with 40 CFR 1501.6. 
Numerous public involvement initiatives, including public meetings, 
newsletters, and advisory committee meetings will be held throughout 
the course of this study. Additionally, a Public Hearing will be held. 
Public notice will be given, in local newspapers, of the time and place 
of the meetings and hearing. The Draft EIS will be available for public 
and agency review prior to the Public Hearing. A formal scoping meeting 
will be held upon initiation of this project.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposal 
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 DOTD at the address above.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations 
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental 
consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this 
program).

    Issued on: July 10, 2000.
William A. Sussmann,
Division Administrator, FHWA.
[FR Doc. 00-18385 Filed 7-19-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M