[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 233 (Thursday, December 4, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 67864]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30181]



[[Page 67864]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Town Boone, Watauga County, NC

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 an 
Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared for a proposed highway 
project within Watauga County, North Carolina.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Emily O. Lawton, Operations 
Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 310 New Bern Avenue, Suite 
410, Raleigh, North Carolina 27601, Telephone (919) 856-4350.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the North 
Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), will prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed improvement of US 
421 to multi-lanes from NC 105 Bypass to east of SR 1514 (Bamboo Road) 
in Watauga County (approximately 5.3 miles). The proposed action is to 
upgrade this section of US 421 to a high speed, multi-lane facility. US 
421, the primary east-west corridor in the north-western part of the 
state, connects the North Carolina coastal region (Wilmington) to the 
western part of the state and, ultimately, to Tennessee. This proposed 
project is a portion of the projects proposed for US 421 in the NCDOT's 
2004-2010 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).
    Alternatives under consideration include: (1) ``no-build'', (2) 
widening the existing facility, and (3) multiple bypass alternatives 
for a four-lane divided facility control of access.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments have 
been sent to appropriate Federal, State and local agencies. A Citizens 
Informational Workshop and meetings with local officials and 
neighborhood groups will be held in the study area. Public hearings 
will also be held. Information on the time and place of the public 
hearings will be provided in the local news media and project 
newsletters. The draft EIS will be available for public and agency 
review and comment at the time of the hearing. No formal scoping 
meeting is planned at this time.
    To ensure the full range of issues related to the proposed action 
are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments and 
suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments and 
questions concerning the 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. The regulations 
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental 
consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this 
program).


Emily O. Lawton,
Operations Engineer, Raleigh, North Carolina.
[FR Doc. 03-30181 Filed 12-3-03; 8:45 am]
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