[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 82 (Monday, April 29, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 21013]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-10410]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Pulaski and Laurel Counties, KY

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 of its 
intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a 
proposed highway project in the south-central portion of Kentucky, 
between the proposed Somerset Northern Bypass and London.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Evan Wisniewski, Project Development 
Team Leader, Federal Highway Administration, 300 West Broadway, 
Frankfort, Kentucky, 40601, (502) 223-6740, e-mail: 
[email protected]; or David Beattie, Project Manager, 
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, District 8, P.O. Box 780, Somerset, 
Kentucky, 42501, (606) 677-4017, e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:   

Electronic Access

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded by using a 
computer, modem and suitable communications software from the 
Government Printing Office's Electronic Bulletin Board Service at (202) 
512-1661. Internet users may reach the Office of the Federal Register's 
home page at http://www.nara.gov/fedreg and the Government Printing 
Office's Web page at http://www.access.gpo.gov.nara.

Background

    The FHWA, in cooperation with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet 
(KYTC), will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 
proposed project to study potential transportation improvements in the 
northern corridor identified in the I-66 Southern Kentucky Corridor 
Scoping Study, completed in June 2000. This corridor is located in the 
south-central portion of Kentucky, between Somerset in Pulaski County 
and London in Laurel County.
    As part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, 
FHWA will be preparing an EIS to assess the social, economic, and 
environmental impacts of the proposed project. The EIS will include a 
reasonable range of alternatives that will address the purpose and need 
of the project as well as a no-build alternative.
    A Public Involvement Plan, including the development of a Citizens 
Committee, will be established and will facilitate public involvement 
throughout the project development process. The resource agencies will 
be solicited for their input throughout the life of this project. 
Throughout the development process, advance notice of the time and 
place of public meetings and/or hearings will be given in order to 
provide an opportunity for citizen attendance and comments.
    The Transamerica Transportation Corridor (I-66) was defined in an 
Interstate 66 Feasibility Study. This study focused on the feasibility 
of various alternative transportation concepts. The report recognized 
that further analyses could find that some individual segments of the 
Transamerica Transportation Corridor would be more feasible than others 
and would be more desirable from a state or regional perspective. The 
Interstate 66 Feasibility Study was funded through the 1991 U.S. 
Department of Transportation Appropriation Act.
    The Transamerica Transportation Corridor extended from the East 
Coast to the West Coast, and was generally located between I-70 and I-
40. It included a ``Southern Kentucky Corridor'' centered on the cities 
of Pikeville, Jenkins, Hazard, London, Somerset, Columbia, Bowling 
Green, Hopkinsville, Benton and Paducah.
    The Southern Kentucky Corridor, Economic Justification & Financial 
Feasibility Study, May 1997, followed the Interstate 66 Feasibility 
Study. This study included public participation through an advisory 
committee, public meetings, press releases, and newsletters sent to all 
parties who expressed an interest in the Southern Kentucky Corridor. 
The study identified the Somerset to London segment (connecting the 
Louie B. Nunn Parkway with the Daniel Boone Parkway) of the proposed I-
66 Southern Kentucky Corridor as a priority segment.
    In June 2000, the I-66 Southern Kentucky Corridor Scoping Study 
(Pulaski-Laurel Counties) was completed. It developed an environmental 
footprint, gathered resource agency and public input, and identified 
areas of concern, as well as the potential benefits of such an 
undertaking within the Southern Kentucky Corridor.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be 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 throughout the design process. 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 formal 
scoping meeting with resource agencies will be planned for late spring 
2002. Resource agencies will be notified 30 days prior to the meeting 
date.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
project are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments 
and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or 
questions concerning this proposed project and EIS should be directed 
to the FHWA at the address 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)

(23 U.S.C. 315; 49 CFR 1.48)


    Issued on: April 22, 2002.
Evan J. Wisniewski,
Acting Kentucky Division Administrator.
[FR Doc. 02-10410 Filed 4-26-02; 8:45 am]
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