[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 221 (Monday, November 17, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64943-64944]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-28631]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Bartow County, GA

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Georgia Department of 
Transportation (GDOT).

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a 
supplemental draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be 
prepared for the proposed new location extension of US 411 in Bartow 
County, Georgia.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert M. Callan, P.E., Division 
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, 61 Forsyth Street, SW., 
Suite 17T100, Atlanta, GA 30303-3104, Telephone (404) 562-3630 and/or 
Mr.

[[Page 64944]]

Harvey Keepler, State Environmental/Location Engineer, Georgia 
Department of Transportation, Office of Environmental/Location, 3993 
Aviation Circle, Atlanta, Georgia 30336, Telephone (404) 699-4400.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the GDOT, will 
prepare a supplemental draft EIS to construct a new location roadway 
between US 41 and I-75 in Bartow County, Georgia for a distance of 
approximately 7.5 miles. This new location extension of US 411 is 
needed to provide additional capacity and congestion relief for the 
existing roadway network, which currently includes common sections of 
US 411, SR 61 and SR 20 to access I-75. This project would provide 
direct, multi-lane access from Rome to I-75 and is one of the final 
connecting links in the Memphis to Atlanta Connector.
    A Final EIS for this project was approved January 9, 1989, and the 
Record of Decision was signed May 25, 1989. In 1991, a suit was filed 
against the USDOT, FHWA and the GDOT on this project. In 1993, the 
United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia 
acknowledged the need for the project and confirmed its independent 
utility from a larger east-west connector known as teh Northern Arc. 
However, the document was ruled inadequate because it failed to 
adequately study a full range of alternatives. The proposed 
Supplemental draft EIS will address and study a full range of 
alternatives for this corridor and will provide updated studies and 
analyses on the alternatives originally studied.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies. A public 
hearing will be held and a public notice will be given of the time and 
place of the hearing.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
project is addressed and all significant issues identified in the EIS, 
formal scoping will be reinitiated. Additionally, comments and 
suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or 
questions concerning this proposed action should be directed to the 
FHWA at the address provided above.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Research, Planning and Construction. Georgia's approved 
clearinghouse review procedures apply to this program.)

    Issued on: November 5, 2003.
Jennifer L. Giersch,
Environmental Coordinator, Atlanta, Georgia.
[FR Doc. 03-28631 Filed 11-14-03; 8:45 am]
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