[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 44 (Thursday, March 6, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10775-10776]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-5125]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Bossier, Webster, and Claiborne 
Parishes, Louisiana and Union and Columbia Counties, Arkansas

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, Claiborne, and Webster Parishes, 
Louisiana and in Union and Columbia Counties, Arkansas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. William Farr, Program Operations 
Manager, Federal Highway Administration, 5304 Flanders Drive, Suite A, 
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808, Telephone: (225) 757-7615, or Mr. Vincent 
Russo, Environmental Engineer Administrator, Louisiana Department of 
Transportation and Development, Post Office Box 94245, Baton Rouge, 
Louisiana 70804-9245, Telephone: (225) 248-4190, or Mr. Randal Looney, 
Environmental Specialist, Federal Highway Administration, Federal 
Office Building, 700 West Capitol Avenue, Room 3130 Little Rock, 
Arkansas 72201, Telephone: (501) 324-6430 or Mr. Bill Richardson, Asst. 
Division Head, Environmental Division, Arkansas Highway and 
Transportation Department, 10324 Interstate 30, Little Rock, Arkansas 
72201, Telephone: (501) 569-2379. Project information may be obtained 
from the project Internet web site at www.i69arkla.com and the project 
hotline at 1-877-886-9233.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Louisiana 
Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) and the Arkansas 
Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD), will prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposal to construct section 
of independent utility (SIU) Number 14 for the proposed Interstate 
Highway 69 (I-69) in Bossier, Webster, and Claiborne Parishes, 
Louisiana and in Union and Columbia Counties, Arkansas. This proposal 
will provide a divided four-lane, limited access highway on new 
location between Interstate Highway 20 (I-20) near the Town of Haughton 
in Bossier Parish, Louisiana to U.S. Highway 82 (U.S. 82) near the Town 
of El Dorado in Union County, Arkansas, a distance of approximately 80 
miles. The proposed new highway is a portion of the planned 
improvements to Congressionally-designated High Priority Corridor 
Numbers 18/20, which will link Indianapolis, Indiana to the Texas/
Mexico border. The purpose of this proposal is to improve international 
and interstate trade in accordance with national and state goals; to 
facilitate economic development in accordance with state, regional, and 
local policies and plans; and to improve surface transportation 
consistent with national, state, regional, and local needs and with the 
Congressional designation of the corridor.
    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 I-20 near the Town of Haughton in Bossier 
Parish, Louisiana. The eastern terminus of the proposed highway will be 
an interchange at U.S. 82 near the town of El Dorado in Union County, 
Arkansas.
    Alternatives under consideration include (1) the no build and (2) 
constructing a four-lane, limited access highway within the limits 
described above, on various alignment alternatives.
    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 socials, economic and 
environmental impact of his 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.
    Three public scoping meetings will be held with the intent of 
soliciting public concerns related to issues that should be evaluated 
in detail in the study. Dates, times and locations of these meetings 
follow:
    [sbull] Tuesday, March 25, 2003, 4-7 p.m.: South Arkansas Community 
College, West Campus Library Auditorium, 3200 Southwest Avenue, El 
Dorado, Arkansas 71730;
    [sbull] Wednesday, March 26, 2003, 4-7 p.m.: Claiborne Parish Fair 
Barn Complex, 1563 Fairgrounds Drive, Haynesville, Louisiana 71038; and
    [sbull] Thursday, March 27, 2003, 4-7 p.m.: Minden Civic Center 
Complex Court/Meeting Room, 520 Broadway, Minden, Louisiana 71055.
    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

[[Page 10776]]

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: February 27, 2003.
Jose Bloise,
Assistant Division Administrator, FHWA.
[FR Doc. 03-5125 Filed 3-5-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M