[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 209 (Friday, October 27, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 64474]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27669]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Hillsborough and Rockingham 
Counties, NH

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) is being prepared for a proposed 
highway project in Hillsborough and Rockingham Counties, New Hampshire. 
A Notice of Intent for the project was previously published on February 
21, 1992. Subsequently the project was put on hold pending development 
of a Statewide Transportation Model.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. William F. O'Donnell, P.E., 
Environmental Program Manager, Federal Highway Administration, 279 
Pleasant Street, Suite 204, Concord, New Hampshire, 03301-7502, 
Telephone: (603) 228-0417, or Mr. William R. Hauser, Administrator, 
Bureau of Environment, New Hampshire Department of Transportation, P.O. 
Box 483, John O. Morton Building, Concord, New Hampshire 03302-0483, 
Telephone: (603) 271-3226.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the New 
Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT), is in the process of 
preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) for a proposal for 
construction on a section of an existing highway facility (I-93 
extending from the Massachusetts/New Hampshire State Line in Salem to 
just south of Exit 6 in Manchester) that serves as a major 
transportation link for the State of New Hampshire.
    The proposed action would relieve traffic congestion, reduce travel 
time, improve safety and accommodate projected increases in traffic 
demand.
    Alternatives to be considered include (1) taking no action; (2) 
upgrading the existing route (approximately 18 miles in length) to add 
capacity; (3) constructing high occupancy vehicle lanes, as well as 
other Transportation Demand Management (TDM) measures such as carpool 
parking lots; (4) constructing mass transportation facilities in or 
adjacent to the existing corridor; and (5) combinations of these 
alternatives. Various designs of grade, alignment, geometry and access 
will be evaluated. An Advisory Task Force has been established with 
representation from the regional planning agencies, state and local 
officials, business and industry and local citizens.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments were 
previously sent to appropriate federal, state and local agencies, and 
to private organizations and citizens who have interest in this 
proposal. Public informational, community and Advisory Task Force 
meetings have been held in study area and will continue as the project 
progresses, in order to include public input in the project development 
process. A public hearing will be held following distribution of the 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). Public notice will be 
given regarding the time and location of this hearing. The DEIS will be 
available for review and comment by the public and interested agencies 
prior to the public hearing.
    Because this project has been on hold for a substantial period of 
time, a second formal scoping meeting will be held at 4:00 pm. on 
December 6, 2000, the 3rd floor Auditorium of the University of NH-
Manchester Campus, 3000 Commercial Street in Manchester, New Hampshire. 
The purpose of this meeting is to (1) reaffirm the limits of the 
project study area; (2) refine the study framework and the impacts to 
be analyzed; and (3) redefine a reasonable range of alternatives to be 
considered.
    Agencies participating as cooperating agencies are the U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers (ACOE), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA), the New Hampshire State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and 
the New Hampshire Wetlands Bureau.
    To ensure 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 proposal and the EIS should be directed to 
the FHWA or the NHDOT at the addresses 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: October 20, 2000.
Kathleen O. Laffey,
Division Administrator, Concord, New Hampshire.
[FR Doc. 00-27669 Filed 10-26-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M