[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 29, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 71597]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-6645]



[[Page 71597]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Project Number STPD-1069-00 (006)]


Environmental Impact Statement: Washington and Bolivar 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 proposed connector route from the proposed Interstate 69 
to U.S. Highway 82 near the City of Greenville, MS in the above 
referenced counties.

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, P. O. Box 1850, Jackson, MS, 39215-1850, 
telephone: (601) 359-7920; and Mr. Walter Lyons, District 3 Engineer, 
Mississippi Department of Transportation, 1240 Highway 49 West, Yazoo 
City, MS 39194, telephone (662) 746-2513.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the 
Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) will prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for an approximate 20-mile 
alignment of the I-69 Connector, which will be built to Interstate 
standards through the Delta region east of the Mississippi River, 
moving in a generally north-south alignment. This alignment will have 
logical termini on the southern end at U.S. Highway 82 in Greenville in 
Washington County and on the northern end at the proposed Interstate 69 
near Benoit in Bolivar County.
    The purpose of the EIS is to address the transportation, 
environmental, and safety issues of a connector route to the projected 
I-69. The connection will also significantly improve mobility and 
access Statewide and beyond, creating a valuable transportation 
network. The need will be further heightened due to the increased 
traffic along the projected I-69. The connector route will spur 
economic activity for the City of Greenville and surrounding areas in 
the Mississippi Delta region. 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, Federal Highway Administration, Mississippi 
Division, Jackson, Mississippi.
[FR Doc. E5-6645 Filed 11-28-05; 8:45 am]
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