[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 172 (Friday, September 5, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52815-52816]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-22657]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Sussex County, DE

AGENCIES: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Delaware 
Department of Transportation (DelDOT).

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 a proposed 
highway improvement project in northern Sussex County, Delaware.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert F. Kleinburd, Realty and 
Environmental Program Manager, Federal Highway Administration, Delaware 
Division, J. Allen Frear Federal Building, 300 South New Street, Room 
2101, Dover, DE 19904; Telephone: (302) 734-2966; or Mr. Monroe C. 
Hite, III, P.E., Project Manager, Delaware Department of 
Transportation, 800 Bay Road, P.O. Box 778, Dover, DE 19903; Telephone: 
(302) 760-2120. DelDOT Public Relations office (800) 652-5600 (in DE 
only).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), 
in cooperation with the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), 
will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to consider the 
construction of a potential new alignment in northern Sussex County, 
Delaware. The proposed limited access facility could connect two 
existing highways (U.S. Route 113 and Delaware Route 1), which pass 
through a rapidly developing commercial area in the City of Milford, 
Delaware.
    DelDOT is currently undertaking a planning study (US 113 North/
South Study) to consider improvements for the U.S. Route 113 corridor 
from the vicinity of Delaware Route 1 north of the City of Milford 
south to the Delaware/Maryland State Line. The US 113 North/South Study 
is the next step in the overall planning process for this corridor. 
This effort will be a follow-up to a previously completed feasibility 
study (Sussex County North-South Transportation Feasibility Study) in 
July 2001. The data and findings from the feasibility study indicate 
that a new alignment bypassing the existing U.S. Route 113 may be 
considered in the Milford Area.
    The US 113 North/South Study recommends that the Milford Area (area 
in and around the City of Milford located in northern Sussex County, 
Delaware) should be studied separately from the remaining U.S. Route 
113 corridor, south to the Maryland State Line. Because of the 
potential for a new alignment alternative and the resulting potential 
for significant impacts on the human environment, the FHWA has 
determined that an EIS is the appropriate documentation for the Milford 
Area study.
    A program of public involvement and coordination with Federal, 
State, and local agencies has been initiated. Both agency and public 
involvement will continue throughout project development. Comments are 
being solicited from 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. Public scoping meetings 
will be held. Additional informational meetings will be scheduled 
during the course of the study. In addition, a formal public hearing 
will be held after the draft EIS

[[Page 52816]]

has been prepared. Public notice will be given of the time and place of 
the scoping meetings, and the formal public hearing. The draft EIS will 
be available for public and agency review and comment prior to the 
public hearing on the draft EIS.
    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 or DelDOT at the addressed 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.)


    Issued by: August 18, 2003.
Thomas D. Myers,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Dover, 
Delaware.
[FR Doc. 03-22657 Filed 9-4-03; 8:45 am]
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