[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 102 (Wednesday, May 26, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 30002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-11822]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement, Atchison County, Kansas and 
Buchanan County, Missouri

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice of intent to advise the public 
that an environmental impact statement will be prepared for a proposed 
highway project on U.S. Highway 59 from the four-lane section within 
the City of Atchison in Atchison County, Kansas over the Missouri River 
to the Intersection with State Route 45 in Buchanan County, Missouri.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kurt C. Dunn, P.E., Vital Few Team 
Leader, Federal Highway Administration, 3300 Southwest Topeka 
Boulevard, Suite 1, Topeka, Kansas 66611, Telephone: (785) 267-7281; 
Warren L. Sick, Assistant Secretary and State Transportation Engineer, 
Kansas Department of Transportation, 915 Harrison Street, Topeka, 
Kansas 66612, Telephone: (785) 296-3285.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Kansas 
Department of Transportation (KDOT) and the Missouri Department of 
Transportation (MoDOT), will prepare an environmental impact statement 
(EIS) on a proposal to improve U.S. Highway 59 in Atchison County, 
Kansas and Buchanan County, Missouri. The proposed project would 
involve improvement of the existing U.S. Highway 59 corridor from the 
city of Atchison, Kansas over the Missouri River to the U.S. 59/State 
Route 45 Intersection in Buchanan County, Missouri for a distance of 
about 6.3 kilometers (3.9 miles) in length. The KDOT and MoDOT have 
coordinated with local officials and other interested parties on the 
scope of the proposed project.
    Improvements to the corridor are considered needed to provide for 
the existing and projected traffic demands, improve safety, improve 
access to Atchison, Kansas, promote local and regional economic 
stability, and to address the deficiencies of the Amelia Earhart 
Memorial Bridge over the Missouri River. Alternatives under 
consideration include taking no action and possible roadway alignments 
that will improve the existing 2-lane highway facility to 4-lanes. 
Also, the Amelia Earhart Memorial Bridge alternatives being studied 
include both the removal and rehabilitation of the bridge.
    A scoping process has been initiated that involves all appropriate 
federal, state, and local agencies, consulting parties, private 
organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are known 
to have interest in this proposal. There had been extensive public 
involvement conducted to date on the project including a public meeting 
that has resulted in identification of major issues. A public hearing 
will be held to present the findings of the draft EIS. Public notice 
will be given of the time and place of the hearing. The draft EIS will 
be available for public and agency review and comment prior to the 
public hearing.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed and all major issues are identified in the 
process, comments and suggestions are invited from all interested and/
or potentially affected parties. Comments or questions concerning this 
proposed action and the EIS should be directed to the FHWA or the KDOT 
at the addresses 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 on: May 19, 2004.
J. Michael Bowen,
Division Administrator, Kansas Division, Federal Highway 
Administration, Topeka, Kansas.
[FR Doc. 04-11822 Filed 5-25-04; 8:45 am]
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