[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 131 (Monday, July 10, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 38964]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-6057]



[[Page 38964]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Draft Environmental Impact Statement: Pulaski and Laurel 
Counties, KY

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), USDOT.

ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA).

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SUMMARY: This announces the availability of the Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed interstate facility in the 
south-central portion of Kentucky, between the Somerset Northern Bypass 
(I-66) and London, KY. In accordance with the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), this DEIS examines the potential social, 
economic, and environmental impacts of the proposed build alternatives 
and includes the no-build alternative.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Mary Murray, Transportation 
Engineer/Project Manager, Federal Highway Administration, 330 West 
Broadway, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, (502) 223-6745, by e-mail to 
[email protected]; or Mr. Joe Cox, Kentucky Transportation 
Cabinet (KYTC), District 8, PO Box 780, Somerset, KY 42501, by e-mail 
to [email protected], by fax to (606) 677-4013.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The Transamerica Transportation Corridor (I-66) was defined in an 
Interstate 66 Feasibility Study. This study focused on the feasibility 
of various alternative transportation concepts. The report recognized 
that further analyses could find that some individual segments of the 
Transamerica Transportation Corridor would be more feasible than others 
and would be more desirable from a State or regional perspective. The 
Interstate 66 Feasibility Study was funded through the 1991 U.S. 
Department of Transportation Appropriation Act.
    The Transamerica Transportation Corridor extended from the East 
Coast to the West Coast, and was generally located between I-70 and I-
40. It included a ``Southern Kentucky Corridor'' centered on the cities 
of Pikeville, Jenkins, Hazard, London, Somerset, Columbia, Bowling 
Green, Hopkinsville, Benton and Paducah.
    The Southern Kentucky Corridor, Economic Justification & Financial 
Feasibility Study, May 1997, followed the Interstate 66 Feasibility 
Study. This study included public participation through an advisory 
committee, public meetings, press releases, and newsletters sent to all 
parties who expressed an interest in the Southern Kentucky Corridor. 
The study identified the Somerset to London segment of the proposed I-
66 Southern Kentucky Corridor as a high priority segment.
    In June 2000, the I-66 Southern Kentucky Corridor Scoping Study 
(Pulaski and Laurel Counties, KY) was completed. The document developed 
an environmental footprint, gathered resources agency and public input, 
and identified areas of concern, as well as the potential benefits of 
an interstate facility within the Southern Kentucky Corridor.
    The Federal Highway Administration issued a Notice of Intent to 
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the segment of I-66 
between Somerset and London, Kentucky, on April 29, 2002 [FR Doc. 02-
10410].
    This DEIS addresses the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts 
from the proposed project on the natural and human environments. Six 
Pulaski County and five Laurel County alternatives were analyzed in 
detail. The DEIS addresses impacts from each of the interstate build 
alternatives and, in addition, discusses the no-build alternative.
    Public involvement was integral throughout the development of the 
DEIS. Nine Citizens Advisory Group meetings were held with members 
representing the concerns of Businesses, Economic Development, 
Communities, and the Environment, in order to solicit input and provide 
project development information prior to the publication of the DEIS. 
Additional public involvement included public meetings, project 
newsletters, press releases, and Section 106 consulting party meetings.
    Resource agencies were consulted and invited to comment during 
resource agency meetings held on December 14, 1999, March 14, 2000, and 
July 10-11, 2003.
    A public hearing Pulaski and Laurel counties will be held in 
August, 2006. Public notice will be given of the time and place of the 
hearings. All comments on the DEIS are to be sent to the Federal 
Highway Administration, KY Division Office, 330 W. Broadway Street, 
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601 (Attn: Jose Sepulveda).

Electronic Access

    A copy of the DEIS has been sent to affected Federal, State and 
local agencies and made available for public review. In addition, the 
document will be available electronically on the following Web site: 
http://www.interstate66.com
    An electronic copy of this NOA may be downloaded from the Office of 
the Federal Register's home page at http://www.archives.gov/federal-register and the Government Printing Office's Web page at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html.

(Catalogue 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) (23 U.S.C. 
315; 49 CFR 1.48)

    Dated: June 29, 2006.
Jose Sepulveda,
Kentucky Division Administrator.
[FR Doc. 06-6057 Filed 7-7-06; 8:45 am]
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