[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 106 (Tuesday, June 3, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 33221]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-13794]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Draft Environmental Impact Statement Draft Section 4(f) 
Evaluation: Montgomery & Prince George's Counties, MD

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 a 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Draft Section 4(f) 
Evaluation will be prepared for a proposed transportation project in 
Montgomery and Prince George's Counties, Maryland.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nelson J. Castellanos, Division 
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, The Rotunda--Suite 220, 
711 West 40th Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21211, Telephone: (410) 962-
4440.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Maryland 
Department of Transportation and the Maryland State Highway 
Administration is preparing a Draft EIS/Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation 
for the proposed Intercounty Connector (ICC) transportation improvement 
project. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency will be invited to participate as cooperating 
agencies. The proposed ICC project is intended to provide a multi-modal 
highway between I-270 in Montgomery County and I-95/US 1 in Prince 
George's County, Maryland, a distance of about 18 miles. The project 
has been designated a high priority project for expedited agency 
reviews under Executive Order 13274, Environmental Stewardship and 
Transportation Infrastructure Project Reviews.
    Project studies pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) concerning the ICC project were most recently conducted in the 
early to late-1990s resulting in the completion of a Draft EIS/Draft 
Section 4(f) Evaluation in 1997. Study alternatives were presented at 
four Location/Design Public Hearings in May and June 1997. The State of 
Maryland put the ICC project on hold shortly after the hearings.
    The ICC project will involve the consideration of a reasonable 
range of alternatives that address the project goals. Consistent with 
NEPA, a full range of multi-modal highway alternatives will be 
considered, ranging from a No-Action Alternative to a limited access 
roadway on new location.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State and local agencies, private 
organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are known 
to have an interest in this project. Public information Meetings are 
tentatively scheduled for Summer 2003 with a Location/Design Public 
Hearing tentatively scheduled for late Fall/early Winter 2004. Public 
notice will be given of the time and place for the Public Information 
Meetings, Location/Design Public Hearing and other public meetings as 
they occur.
    The Draft EIS/Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation will be available for 
public and agency review and comment prior to the public hearing. 
Several scoping meetings for the public, agencies, and Metropolitan 
Washington Council of Governments will be conducted prior to 
publication of the Draft EIS/Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation. 
Informational meetings and public outreach will be conducted throughout 
the project.
    Comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties to 
ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed action 
are identified and addressed. Comments or questions concerning these 
proposed actions and the proposed Draft EIS/Draft Section 4(f) 
Evaluation should be directed to the FHWA at the address provided 
previously.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations 
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental 
consultation of Federal Programs and activities apply to this 
program)
    Issued on: May 27, 2003.

Nelson J. Castellanos,
Division Administrator, Baltimore, Maryland.
[FR Doc. 03-13794 Filed 6-2-03; 8:45 am]
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