[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 29, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71597-71598]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-23415]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Skowhegan Transportation Study; 
Skowhegan and Madison, Somerset County, MA

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 (EIS) will be prepared for a proposed 
highway project in the Towns of Skowhegan and Madison, Maine.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Hasselmann, Right of Way and 
Environmental Programs Manager, Maine Division, Federal Highway 
Administration, 40 Western Ave., Augusta, Maine 04330, Tel. 207/622-
8350, Ext. 101; Raymond Faucher, Project Manager, Maine Department of 
Transportation, State House Station 16, Augusta, Maine 04333-0016, Tel. 
207/624-3300.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 14, 2005, FHWA Maine Division 
informed MaineDOT that they had completed their review of the NEPA 
process to date for the Skowhegan Transportation Study and decided that 
an Environmental Impact Statement will be required before location and 
design approval. The principal reason for this decision is the public 
controversy that has been generated late in the NEPA process regarding 
proposed highway alignments.
    The FHWA, in cooperation with the Maine Department of 
Transportation, will prepare an EIS to evaluate transportation 
alternatives to enhance mobility, safety, and accessibility through and 
around Skowhegan. The EIS will examine both new highway alignments and 
infrastructure improvements. The EIS will study corridor alternatives, 
including upgrades within existing highway corridors, corridors on new 
location, and the no-build alternative. The area under consideration 
extends from Route 2/201A west of the Town of Skowhegan easterly and 
northerly around Skowhegan and then westerly to Route 201 in Madison 
just north of Skowhegan. The length of the corridor is approximately 
6.5 miles. Goals for the study include: (1) Improving safety and 
relieving congestion on U.S. Routes 2 and 201, and State Routes 104 and 
150, (2) improving regional east-west and north-south traffic flow, (3) 
improving emergency cross-river access and response capabilities, and 
(4) providing the capacity to meet current and future traffic demands. 
The work completed to date in the Skowhegan Transportation Study will 
provide the foundation for the EIS analysis.
    This project was initiated as a transportation planning study in 
1998, with agency scoping and coordination initiated at interagency 
meetings in that year and the intent to prepare a NEPA document. Public 
participation was also initiated in 1998 with the formation of a Public 
Advisory Committee, a July 28 public scoping meeting, and the 
development of a study purpose and need. A wide range of alternatives 
was developed and evaluated. Preparation of an Environmental Assessment 
began in March of 2002. In July of 2005, Alternative E3E received a 
preliminary determination from the Army Corps of Engineers that it is 
the Least Environmentally Damaging Practicable Alternative (LEDPA).

[[Page 71598]]

    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State and local agencies and private 
organizations that have previously expressed or are known to have 
interest in the proposed action. All public and agency comments, 
including early scoping comments, received during the NEPA process will 
be addressed in the EIS. The draft EIS will be available for public and 
agency review and comment prior to a 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 and/or 
MaineDOT at the addresses provided above.
    FHWA anticipates that the following Federal approvals will be 
necessary for the proposed project.

Section 404 Clean Water Act permit
Design, Right of Way, and Construction Funding Authorization

    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 49 CFR 1.48.

(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: November 17, 2005.
Jonathan McDade,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Augusta, Maine.
[FR Doc. 05-23415 Filed 11-28-05; 8:45 am]
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