[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 142 (Wednesday, July 25, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40922-40923]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-14352]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement; Graham County, 
NC

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of 
Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a 
Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement (Supp. FEIS) will be 
prepared for the proposed relocation of U.S. 74 from U.S. 129 in 
Robbinsville to NC 28 in Stecoah, Graham County, North Carolina. The 
proposed project would be the construction of a four-lane divided 
highway approximately 11 miles in length. This project is identified as 
TIP Project No. A-9 B&C.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Clarence W. Coleman, P.E., 
Operations Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 310 New Bern 
Avenue, Suite 410, Raleigh, North Carolina 27601-1418, telephone: (919) 
856-4350, Extension 133.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed relocation is part of the North 
Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Transportation 
Improvement Program (TIP) Project No. A-9, which includes four 
different relocation projects, identified as TIP Project Nos. A-9 A, B, 
C, & D. The ``A'' portion of the project begins in Cherokee County with 
a proposed terminus in Andrews and extends into Graham County with a 
proposed terminus in Robbinsville. The proposed relocation from 
Robbinsville to Stecoah is the ``B & C'' portion of the project. The 
``D'' portion of the project begins in Stecoah and extends east into 
Swain County, terminating in Almond; most of this segment is complete.
    An FEIS for the entire A-9 project was completed in 1984. Federal 
regulations impose a three-year restriction, commencing from the time a 
document is signed, for action to be taken on a project. If action is 
not taken within this period, a reevaluation of the FEIS is required. 
The Supp. FEIS will serve as this reevaluation (40 CFR 1502.9). The 
FEIS identified a Preferred Corridor for the entire A, B, C, & D 
corridor from Andrews to Almond. A reevaluation was completed for A-9D 
(a widening project), while A-9 A, B, & C (the new location portion) 
was subject to further analysis due to the project's potential impacts. 
The Supp. FEIS and its associated technical memorandum (indirect and 
cumulative effects report, air analysis, noise analysis, etc.) are 
being prepared only for the B & C portion of the project. The A portion 
of the project is currently unfunded. The project includes a tunnel 
under Stecoah Gap where an easement will be obtained from the U.S. 
Forest Service. The project corridor follows the existing NC 143 
alignment in some areas; however, the majority of the project is on new 
location, as is the area through Stecoah Gap. The project also includes 
several new stream crossings including a bridge over Stecoah Creek.
    The purpose of this project is to improve the US 74 corridor 
throughout the state providing better system linkage, economic and 
social development, highway capacity, and safety resulting in road user 
savings from a more efficient highway facility. It will also provide 
better accessibility with highway connections for Graham County. The 
proposed US 74 relocation is part of the Appalachian Development 
Highway System (ADHS), which would complete a missing link in the 
Appalachian Highway Corridor K. In summary, the purpose of the ADHS is 
to improve the economic conditions of the region by providing the 
infrastructure necessary for economic and human resource development.
    A scoping letter was sent to federal and state resource agencies on 
December 5, 1995, and an interagency scoping meeting held on January 4, 
1996. Additional interagency meetings were held on July 31, 1996, 
December 9, 1999, January 20, 2004, and September 19, 2006. An 
interagency meeting is currently scheduled for August 14, 2007. Public 
involvement has occurred for this project. The first Citizens 
Informational Workshop was held in two locations to accommodate 
interests at each end of the entire ABC project study area. The first 
workshop was held on March 11, 1996, at the Robbinsville High School in 
Robbinsville; the second was held at the Andrews Community Center in 
Andrews. The second Citizens Informational Workshop was also held in 
two locations on subsequent days. The workshop in Robbinsville was held 
October 28, 1996, at the Robbinsville High School; the second on 
October 29, 1996, at the Andrews Community Center in Andrews. The third 
Citizens Informational Workshop was also held on subsequent days in 
Robbinsville and

[[Page 40923]]

Andrews. The workshop in Robbinsville was held March 14, 2000, at the 
Robbinsville High School; the second on March 15, 2000, at the Andrews 
Community Center in Andrews. The most recent Citizens Informational 
Workshop was held on November 28, 2006, at the Graham County Community 
Building in Robbinsville. Local Officials Meetings were held 
immediately before the Citizens Informational Workshops with the 
exception of the November 28, 2006, workshop.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to the proposed 
action is addressed and all significant issues are identified, comments 
and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments and 
questions concerning the proposed action 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: July 19, 2007.
Clarence W. Coleman,
P.E., Operations Engineer, Raleigh, North Carolina.
 [FR Doc. E7-14352 Filed 7-24-07; 8:45 am]
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