[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 155 (Friday, August 12, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 47273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-16001]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Harrison and Stone Counties, MS

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration is issuing this notice to 
advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement will be 
prepared for a State Route 601 Highway Study in the above referenced 
counties in Mississippi.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Cecil Vick, Realty Officer/
Environmental Coordinator, Federal Highway Administration, 666 North 
Street, Suite 105, Jackson, MS 39202-3199, Telephone: (601) 965-4217. 
Contacts at the State and local level, respectively are: Mr. Claiborne 
Barnwell, Environmental/Location Division Engineer, Mississippi 
Department of Transportation, PO Box 1850, Jackson, MS 39215-1850, 
telephone: (601) 359-7920; and Mr. Richard Lee, District 6 Engineer, 
Mississippi Department of Transportation, 6356 Highway 49 North, 
Hattiesburg, MS 39401, telephone (601) 544-6511.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the 
Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) will prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for an approximate 25-mile 
alignment of State Route 601, which will be built to Interstate 
standards through the extreme southern portion of Mississippi, moving 
in a generally north-south alignment. This alignment will have logical 
termini on the southern end at Interstate 10 in Harrison County near 
the existing Canal Road interchange and on the northern end in the City 
of Wiggins in Stone County.
    The purpose of the project is to take traffic off of the heavily 
traveled U.S. Highway 49 and also to link with the proposed Canal Road 
Connector from U.S. Highway 90 in Gulfport to Interstate 10. This new 
alignment will be especially beneficial for large trucks utilizing the 
State port in Gulfport and traveling north as they avoid the congested 
U.S. Highway 49. The highway is a proposed full control of access 
facility and appropriate interchanges will be studied at various 
locations. Alternatives under consideration include (1) taking no 
action and (2) build alternatives.
    The FHWA and MDOT are seeking input as a part of the scoping 
process to assist in determining and clarifying issues relative to this 
project. Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments 
will be sent to appropriate federal, state, and local agencies, Native 
American tribes, private organizations and citizens who have previously 
expressed or are known to have interest in this proposal. A formal 
scoping meeting with federal, state, and local agencies, and other 
interested parties will be held in the near future as well as several 
public involvement meetings held throughout the EIS process. The draft 
EIS will be available for public and agency review and comment prior to 
the official 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.

Andrew H. Hughes,
Division Administrator, Jackson, Mississippi.
[FR Doc. 05-16001 Filed 8-11-05; 8:45 am]
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