[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 201 (Friday, October 17, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59840-59841]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26273]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Somerset County, Pennsylvania and 
Garrett County, MD

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
Environmental Impact Statement will be

[[Page 59841]]

prepared for a proposed transportation project along Section 019 of 
U.S. 219. This section extends from the southern terminus of the 
Meyersdale Bypass in Somerset County, Pennsylvania to I-68 in Garrett 
County, Maryland.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David W. Cough P.E., Director of 
Operations, Federal Highway Administration, Pennsylvania Division 
Office, 228 Walnut Street, Room 508, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17101-
1720, Telephone: (717) 221-3411; David L. Sherman, P.E., Project 
Manager, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Engineering 
District 9, 1620 North Juniata Street, Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, 
16648, Telephone: (814) 696-7170; or Russell Walto, P.E., Project 
Manager, Maryland State Highway Administration, 707 North Calvert 
Street, Mailstop C-301, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, Telephone: (410) 
545-8547.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the 
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT) and the Maryland 
State Highway Administration (SHA), will conduct a Design Location 
Study and will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to 
evaluate alternatives that upgrade the current two-lane transportation 
system. The study area will extend from the southern terminus of the 
Meyersdale Bypass in Somerset County, Pennsylvania to I-68 in Garrett 
County, Maryland. The corridor is approximately 8.1 miles in length.
    The initial stage of this process is for development of conceptual 
alternatives. A range of conceptual alternatives will be developed and 
examined within the context of the identified project needs, 
environmental and socioeconomic constraints, and public input, as well 
as their consistency with county and municipal plans and policies. 
Alternatives to be examined will include the No-Build Alternative as 
well as Build Alternatives. This analysis will be used to refine the 
alternatives or eliminate a particular alternative(s) from further 
consideration due to the potential for socio-economic, environmental, 
or engineering impacts. This stage of the study will result in a 
Preliminary Alternatives Analysis Report.
    Following the preliminary analysis, the alternatives that are 
recommended for further study will be developed in greater detail and 
the environmental impacts for each will be assessed and described in 
the Environmental Impact Statement.
    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 express an interest in the 
proposal. Public involvement and inter-agency coordination will be 
maintained throughout the development of the study. Public notices of 
the time and place of the public meetings and any required public 
hearings will be provided.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action is addressed and that all significant issues are identified, 
comments and suggestions are invited form interested parties. Comments 
or questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS should be 
directed to the FHWA, PENNDOT, or MDSHA at the addresses 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.)

    Dated: October 10, 2003.
David C. Lawton,
Assistant Division Administrator, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
[FR Doc. 03-26273 Filed 10-16-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M