[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 220 (Friday, November 14, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 64674]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-28541]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Interstate 81 Corridor 
Improvement Study, Virginia

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is issuing this 
notice to advise the public that a Tier 1 Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) will be prepared for the I-81 Corridor Improvement 
Study in Virginia.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Simkins, I-81 Corridor 
Environmental Project Manager, Federal Highway Administration, Post 
Office Box 10249, Richmond, Virginia 23240-0249. Telephone: (804) 775-
3342.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Virginia 
Department of Transportation (VDOT), will prepare a Tier 1 EIS for the 
I-81 Corridor Improvement Study in Virginia. The Tier 1 EIS will study 
a range of improvement concepts that will address the purpose and need, 
including highway concepts, rail concepts, and combinations of highway 
and rail concepts. The effects of tolling with regard to the 
improvement concepts will also be studied. In addition, the 
consequences of making no improvements to the I-81 corridor will be 
studied. At the conclusion of the Tier 1 study, decisions will be made 
on the improvements concepts, the independent highway and rail 
components to be studied in Tier 2 National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) document(s), and the type of NEPA document(s) for those 
components. Site-specific analyses and approvals will be elements of 
subsequent Tier 2 studies.
    The FHWA and the VDOT are seeking input as part of the scoping 
process to assist in determining and clarifying issues relative to the 
study. Letters describing the study and soliciting input will be sent 
to the appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and to private 
organizations and other interested parties as part of the scoping 
effort. An agency scoping meeting as well as multiple public scoping 
meetings are being planned and will be announced by the VDOT when 
schedules have been confirmed. In addition, multiple public hearings 
will be held for which public notice will be given on the time and 
place. The Tier 1 Draft EIS will be available for public and agency 
review and comment prior to the public hearings.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this study is 
addressed and all significant issues identified, comments and 
suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or 
questions concerning this study and the Tier 1 EIS should be directed 
to the FHWA at the address 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 proposed action.)

    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 49 CFR 1.48.

    Issued on: November 6, 2003.
John Simkins,
I-81 Corridor Environmental Project Manager.
[FR Doc. 03-28541 Filed 11-13-03; 8:45 am]
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