[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 140 (Friday, July 22, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42407-42408]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-14486]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: South Carolina

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent (revised).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 42408]]

SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared with a revised 
terminus for the proposed Interstate 73 (I-73) highway project in 
eastern South Carolina.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Patrick Tyndall, Environmental 
Program Manager, Federal Highway Administration, 1835 Assembly Street, 
Suite 1270, Columbia, South Carolina 29201, telephone: (803) 765-5411, 
e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the South 
Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT), previously published a 
Notice of Intent in the Federal Register (August 9, 2004; 69 FR 48271) 
to prepare a Tier 1 EIS from the South Carolina/North Carolina state 
line to the vicinity of I-95, a distance of approximately 35 miles. 
This revised notice provides for an EIS, not tiered, from the vicinity 
of Hamlet, North Carolina (southeast of Rockingham) to I-95 in South 
Carolina, a distance of approximately 40 miles.
    Improvements to the corridor are considered necessary to improve 
national and regional connectivity to the Conway/Myrtle Beach area of 
South Carolina by providing a direct link from North Carolina. This 
link will enhance economic opportunities and tourism in South Carolina. 
The proposed project would fulfill congressional intent, as originally 
proposed in the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act 
(ISTEA) of 1991 (Pub. L. 102-240; 105 Stat. 1914) and confirmed in the 
Transportation Equity Act (TEA-21) of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-178; 112 Stat. 
107). Alternatives to be evaluated include the no action alternative, 
the upgrade of existing roads, construction on new alignment, and 
combinations of upgrades and new alignments.
    The FHWA and SCDOT are seeking input as a part of the scoping 
process to assist in identifying issues relative to this project. 
Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will be 
sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and to private 
organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are known 
to have interest in this proposal. An interagency coordination process 
will begin soon, with the invitations to Cooperating Agencies and a 
formal scoping meeting to occur in Fall 2005. A public involvement plan 
is being developed for this project and will include a variety of 
opportunities for interested parties to be involved in the project. Two 
public interest group/public scoping meetings will be held in late 
summer 2005 at one location in northeastern South Carolina and one in 
Southern North Carolina. These meetings will be well publicized in 
advance, giving the location and time for each meeting. 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 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 Research Planning and Construction. The regulation 
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental 
consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this 
program).

    Issued on: July 18, 2005.
Patrick L. Tyndall,
Acting Division Administrator, FHWA, Columbia, South Carolina.
[FR Doc. 05-14486 Filed 7-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P