[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 66 (Monday, April 7, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16861-16862]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-8331]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: St. Charles and Jefferson 
Parishes, LA

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) will be prepared for proposed road 
project (State Project No. 700-92-0011 and Federal Aid Project No. NH-
9201(501)) in St. Charles and Jefferson Parishes, Louisiana.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William C. Farr, Program operation 
Manager, Federal Highway Administration, 5304 Flanders Drive, Suite A, 
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802, Telephone: (225) 757-7615; and Vince 
Russo, Environmental Engineer

[[Page 16862]]

Administrator, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, 
5040 Florida Boulevard, Room 204A, POB 94245, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 
70804, Telephone: (225) 248-4190. Additional information may also be 
obtained at the I-49 Web site: http://www.i49south.org.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to title 23, Code of Federal 
Regulations, part 771, Environmental Impact and Related Procedures, the 
FHWA, in cooperation with the Louisiana Department of Transportation 
and Development, will prepare an EIS in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) on a proposal to improve U.S. Route 90 
(U.S. 90) in St. Charles and Jefferson Parishes, Louisiana. The 
proposed improvement would involve an upgrade of the existing roadway 
to Federal Interstate Standards on existing alignment and/or new 
alignment and name the new facility Interstate 49 (I-49). The proposed 
project is between LA 306 to the west of the I-310 Interchange to the 
West Bank Expressway with a length of approximately 20 miles.
    Improvements to the corridor are considered necessary to provide 
for the existing and projected traffic demand, and hurricane 
evacuation. Also, included in this proposal is a new improved 
interchange with Interstate Highway 310 (I-310) just west of Boutte, 
Louisiana. Alternatives under consideration include (1) taking no 
action (no-build); (2) improving the existing facility on existing 
alignment from a four-lane open access roadway to a full control of 
access roadway according to Federal Interstate Standards; and (3) 
improving the existing facility on existing alignment to the maximum 
extent practicable and on new alignment where required from a four-lane 
open to limited access roadway to a full control of access roadway 
according to Federal Interstate Standards, and (4) building a new full 
control of access four--lane roadway all on new alignment according to 
Federal Interstate Standards. Incorporated into and studied with the 
various build alternatives will be design variations of grade and 
alignment along with various geometric concepts on the segment U.S. 90/
I-49 between the Huey P. Long Bridge and the end of the project to the 
east.
    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 three (3) public 
meetings will be held in the project area in St. Charles and Jefferson 
Parishes in 2003 and early 2004. In addition, a Public Hearing will be 
held. Public notice will be given of the time and place of the meetings 
and the Hearing. The draft EIS will be available for public and agency 
review and comment prior to the Public Hearing. A formal scoping 
meeting is planned for April or May of 2003. Public notice will be 
given of the time and place of the scoping meeting.
    To ensure that 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 proposed action and the EIS should be 
directed to the FHWA at the address provided above. Anyone wishing to 
be placed on the mailing list for future notices and announcements 
concerning this project may request so by writing the FHWA at the 
address provided 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 April 1, 2003.

William A. Sussmann,
Division Administrator, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
[FR Doc. 03-8331 Filed 4-4-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M