[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 42 (Monday, March 4, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9801-9802]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-5005]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Campbell County, VA and City of 
Lynchburg

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is issuing this 
notice to advise the public of its intent to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) in cooperation with the Virginia Department of 
Transportation (VDOT) for a proposed Route 29 South Bypass Improvement 
Project in Campbell County and the City of Lynchburg to address safety 
and capacity issues and to enhance mobility and economic 
competitiveness.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerry Combs, Transportation 
Specialist, Federal Highway Administration, Post Office Box 10249, 
Richmond, Virginia 23240-0249, Telephone (804) 775-3340 or Jeffrey L. 
Rodgers, Environmental Specialist II, Virginia Department of 
Transportation, 1401 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, 23219-2000, 
Telephone (804) 371-6785.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the VDOT, will 
prepare an EIS for the proposed Route 29 South Bypass Improvement 
Project in Campbell County and City of Lynchburg. The proposed project 
would connect Route 29 south of Lynchburg with Route 460 and the Route 
29 Madison Heights Bypass east of Lynchburg with a combination of 
improvements including the construction of a four-lane divided limited 
access highway on new location and the improvement of existing 
facilities. Where alternatives overlap existing Route 460, a six-to-
eight lane typical section on Route 460 would be necessary. The length 
of the proposed improvement ranges from 12.8 miles to 21 miles 
depending upon the alternative being considered.
    Recognizing that the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
process requires the consideration of a reasonable range of 
alternatives that will address the purpose and need, the EIS will 
include a range of alternatives for study consisting of a no-build 
alternative as well as five build alternatives with each consisting of 
improvements to existing roadways and new alignment facilities. Other 
alternatives, such as mass transit, transportation system management 
options, access management, upgrade of existing facilities and other 
alignments to the east and to the west considered and eliminated from 
consideration as reasonable alternatives. The five build alternatives 
and the no-build alternative will be forwarded for analysis in the 
draft EIS based on their ability to address the purpose and need while 
avoiding known and sensitive resources.
    Route 29 is a designated corridor of national and state 
significance with the South Lynchburg Bypass being recognized as a key 
element with needed improvements. Location and environmental studies 
began as far back as 1994. A citizen information meeting was held in 
January 1994 to solicit input for the studies and again on January 19 
and 21, 1999, to discuss the eastern and western alternatives that were 
developed as a result of the comments received from the first meeting. 
This proposed project was presented at the regularly scheduled VDOT 
interagency coordination meeting on February 16, 1999. Partnering 
meetings were held on May 18 and September 21, 1999. This EIS will 
build upon the scoping, engineering, and environmental work as well as 
the public involvement effort conducted to date. Coordination with the 
appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, private organizations, 
citizens, and interest groups who have expressed or are known to have 
an interest in this proposal will continue.
    Notices of public hearing will be given through various forums 
providing the time and place of the meeting along with other relevant 
information. The draft EIS will be available for public and agency 
review and comment prior to the public hearing.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are identified and taken into account,

[[Page 9802]]

comments and input are invited from all interested parties. Comments 
and questions concerning the proposed action and draft EIS should be 
directed to FHWA at the address provided above and should be submitted 
within 30 days of its publication in the Federal Register.

(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 proposed action.)

    Authority: 23 USC 315; 49 CFR 1.48

    Issued on: February 25, 2002.
Jerry Combs,
Transportation Specialist.
[FR Doc. 02-5005 Filed 3-1-02; 8:45 am]
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