[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 171 (Tuesday, September 5, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 52369]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-14621]



[[Page 52369]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Clay and St. Johns Counties, 
Florida

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 Clay and St. Johns Counties, Florida.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg Hall, Transportation Engineer, 
Federal Highway Administration, 545 John Knox Road, Suite 200, 
Tallahassee, Florida 32303, Telephone 850-942-9650.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Florida 
Department of Transportation, will prepare an EIS for a proposal to 
connect the proposed SR 21/SR 23 Interchange (Blanding Boulevard/
Branan-Field Chaffee Road) in Clay County eastward across the St. Johns 
River to either I-95, or to the southern extension of SR 9B in the 
vicinity of Racetrack Road in St. Johns County. The proposed action is 
based upon the population growth projections and regional 
transportation system needs. Alternatives under consideration include 
(1) Taking no action; (2) four lane roadways in Clay and St. Johns 
Counties with the St. Johns River crossing parallel to the existing 
Shands Bridge, and (3) four lane roadways in Clay and St. Johns 
counties with the St. Johns River crossing between the Buckman Bridge 
and the Shands Bridge.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and to 
private organizations and citizens who have expressed interest in this 
proposal. Public meetings were held in Clay and St. Johns Counties in 
November 2005 and August 2006. Public Workshops were held in Clay, St. 
Johns, and Duval Counties in August 2006. A Public Hearing will also be 
conducted. Public notice will be given of the time and place of the 
hearing. The Draft EIS will be made available for public and agency 
review and comment. An interagency coordination meeting was conducted 
in June 2006. The proposed project has received comment from agencies 
participating in Florida's Efficient Transportation Decision Making 
(ETDM) Process. These comments, and a summary of project related 
issues, can be viewed in the Environmental Screening Tool at http://etdmpub.fla-etat.org/. Additional project related information may also 
be viewed at the St. Johns River Crossing, Project Development & 
Environmental Study Web site at http://www.sjrbridge.com/documents.htm. 
There are no plans to hold a formal scoping meeting after this notice 
of intent to prepare an EIS. The information gained through agency 
meetings, the ETDM process, and public involvement will be used for 
scoping.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to the proposed 
action is 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 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 inter-governmental 
consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this 
program.)

    Issued On: August 29, 2006.
Robert S. Wright,
Assistant Division Director, Tallahassee, Florida.
 [FR Doc. E6-14621 Filed 9-1-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P