[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 109 (Monday, June 7, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 31857]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-12739]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; North South Hurricane Evacuation 
Corridor, Houma-Thibodaux to LA 3127; Terrebonne, Lafourche, 
Assumption, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Charles, and St. Mary 
Parishes, LA

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration, (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise interested agencies 
and the public that, an Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared 
for a proposed highway project, a hurricane evacuation route, the 
Houma-Thibodaux to LA 3127 project servicing Terrebonne, Lafourche, 
Assumption, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Charles, and St. Mary 
Parishes in Louisiana.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William C. Farr, Program Operations 
Manager, Federal Highway Administration, 5304 Flanders Drive, Suite A, 
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808, Telephone (225) 757-7615; Facsimile: 
(225) 757-7601 or Michele Deshotels, Environmental Impact Manager 2, 
Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, PO Box 94245, 
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804, Telephone: (225) 242-4506; Facsimile: 
(225) 242-4500. Please refer to project designation numbers State 
Project No. 700-99-0302 & Federal Aid Project No. HP-9902 (518) in any 
correspondence.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Louisiana 
Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD), will prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposal to provide a 
hurricane evacuation route linking the Houma-Thibodaux area to more 
direct access to I-10 via LA 3127. Recent planning efforts for this 
project, known regionally as the Houma-Thibodaux to I-10 Connection 
(North-South Corridor/Hurricane Evacuation) include the development of 
a 1999 Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) 
study, ``Hurricane Evacuation Corridor Study to Connect Relocated US 90 
to LA 3127''. Also used to establish the project construction limits 
for this project was a 2002 LADOTD study, ``Corridor Feasibility Study 
Extension of LA 3235 (Larose to US 90). These planning efforts included 
public involvement. Using these studies, it has been determined that 
the proposed project limits would be US 90 (Future I-49) on the south 
and State Route 3127 on the north. The approximate distance of the 
project is 23 miles.
    This project is intended to serve as a primary north-south 
hurricane evacuation route. It is part of the State's efforts to 
provide more direct access to the system network servicing the I-10 
corridor during emergency evacuation events.
    Alternatives under consideration include (1) taking no action; and 
(2) constructing a four lane highway on new location within the limits 
described above, on various alignments.
    Letters describing this proposal and soliciting comments will be 
sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies and to private 
organizations and individuals that have previously expressed, or are 
known to have, an interest in this proposal. A series of public 
meetings will be held. In addition, a public hearing will be held. 
Public notice will be given, in local newspapers and on the LADOTD Web 
site, of the time and place of the meetings and hearing. The draft EIS 
will be available for public and agency review and comment prior to the 
public hearing. A formal scoping meeting will be held upon initiation 
of this project.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action is addressed, and all significant issues identified, comments 
and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or 
questions concerning this proposed action and the 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 program.)

    Issued on May 24, 2004.
William A. Sussmann,
Division Administrator, FHWA, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
[FR Doc. 04-12739 Filed 6-4-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M