[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 79 (Tuesday, April 25, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 23986]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-6141]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Pellissippi Parkway Extension 
(State Route 162), Blount County, TN

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is issuing this 
notice to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) will be prepared for a proposed highway project in Blount County, 
Tennessee.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Karen M. Brunelle, Planning and 
Program Management Team Leader, Federal Highway Administration--
Tennessee Division Office, 640 Grassmere Park Road, Suite 112, 
Nashville, TN 37211, 615-781-5772.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed project would construct an 
extension of Pellissippi Parkway (State Route 162) from State Route 33 
to U.S. 321 (State Route 73) in Blount County, Tennessee, a distance of 
approximately 4.4 miles. The extension of Pellissippi Parkway is 
considered necessary to improve regional and local accessibility for 
the general public as well as emergency vehicles, to improve traffic 
capacity on the existing roadway system, to provide system linkage, and 
to improve safety conditions on U.S. 129 (State Route 115) and U.S. 
321.
    Alternatives under consideration include: (1) No-Build; (2) 
Transportation System Management (TSM) activities; (3) upgrade existing 
roadways; (4) Mass Transit; and (5) one or more alternatives that would 
construct a new roadway on a new location.
    Two public scoping meetings will be held in the project corridor. 
As part of the scoping process, Federal, state, and local agencies and 
officials; private organizations; citizens; and interest groups will 
have an opportunity to provide input into the development of the 
Environmental Impact Statement and identify issues of concern. A Public 
Involvement Plan has been developed to include the public in the 
project development process. This plan proposes utilizing the following 
outreach efforts to provide information and solicit input: newsletters, 
the Internet, e-mail and direct mail, informal meetings and briefings, 
public information meetings, public hearings and other efforts as 
necessary and appropriate. A public hearing will be held upon 
completion of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and public 
notice will be given of the time and place of the hearing. The Draft 
EIS will be available for public and agency review and comment prior to 
the public hearings.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are identified and taken into account, comments and suggestions 
are invited from all interested parties. Comments and questions 
concerning the proposed action should be directed to the FHWA contact 
person identified above at the address provided above.

(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 proposed program.).

    Issued on: April 19, 2006.
Karen M. Brunelle,
Planning and Program Mgmt. Team Leader, Nashville, TN.
[FR Doc. E6-6141 Filed 4-24-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P