[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 52 (Friday, March 17, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13891-13892]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-3915]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Horry and Georgetown Counties, SC

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 will be prepared for a proposed 
hurricane evacuation route project in Horry and Georgetown Counties, 
South Carolina.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Patrick Tyndall, Environmental 
Program Manager, Federal Highway Administration, Strom Thurmond Federal 
Building, 1835 Assembly Street, Suite 1270, Columbia, SC 29201-2483, 
Telephone: 803-765-5411.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA in cooperation with the South 
Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) will prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposal to establish a 
hurricane evacuation route for the southeastern portion of Horry County 
and the northeastern portion of Georgetown County in South Carolina. 
This project has been locally named the Southern Evacuation Lifeline. 
Horry County and Georgetown County Councils have appointed a Task Force 
of local representatives to guide the development of this project.
    A timely and efficient means of hurricane evacuation is needed for 
the southern portion the South Carolina Grand Strand Area also known as 
the South Strand. This proposed action would establish a hurricane 
evacuation route between U.S. Route (US) 17 (in the

[[Page 13892]]

vicinity of Garden City, SC) and U.S. 501 (in the vicinity of Conway, 
SC). The study area's coastal boundary will be U.S. 17 and the inland 
boundary would extend to near the intersection of U.S. 501 and S.C. 
Route (SC) 22.
    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 the appropriate Federal, State and local agencies, and to 
private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are 
known to have interest in this action. Scoping meetings are currently 
planned for April and May 2006. A series of public information meetings 
will be held in the proposed study area this calendar year. In 
addition, a public hearing will be held after the approval of the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). Public notice will be given 
indicating the time and place of the meetings and the hearing. The DEIS 
will be made available for public and agency review and comment prior 
to the public hearing.
    To ensure the full range of issues related to this proposed action 
are addressed, all significant issues will be identified and evaluated. 
Comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties in the 
development of these issues. 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 regulations 
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental 
consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this 
program.)

    Issued on: March 13, 2006.
Robert D. Thomas,
Assistant Division Administrator, Columbia, SC.
[FR Doc. E6-3915 Filed 3-16-06; 8:45 am]
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