[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 142 (Wednesday, July 25, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40921-40922]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-14353]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Buncombe County, NC

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 the proposed 
extension of I-26 from I-40 to US 19-23-70, including widening I-240 
from the I-26/I-40/I-240 interchange to US 19-23-74 (Patton Avenue), 
and construction on new location from US 19-23-74 (Patton Avenue) 
across the French Broad River to US 19-23-70 in Buncombe County, North 
Carolina.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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 FHWA, in cooperation with the North 
Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), will prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposal for extending I-26, 
partly on new location, from I-40 to US 19-23-70 including the I-26/I-
40/I-240 interchange. The project is commonly referred to as the I-26 
Connector and is intended to provide a link between existing I-26 and 
US 19-23-70 north of Asheville, completing a gap in the I-26 corridor 
through Asheville. The project includes upgrading the I-26/I-40/I-240 
interchange and improving I-240 (including the interchanges) north to 
the I-240/US 19-23-74A/Patton Avenue interchange west of the French 
Broad River. The project also includes construction of a multilane 
freeway segment on new location from the I-240/US 19-23-74A/Patton 
Avenue interchange across the French Broad River, merging into US 19-
23-70 south of the existing US 19-23-70 interchange with SR 1781 
(Broadway). Improvements to the corridor are considered necessary to 
provide for the existing and projected traffic demand and improve 
connectivity between I-26 south of Asheville and US 19-23-70 north of 
Asheville. In addition, upgrades are needed on existing interstates 
within the study area to meet current design standards.
    Opportunities have been provided for involvement with the public in 
defining the project purpose and need and determining the range of 
alternatives to be considered for the project. Further opportunities 
for the public to comment on the environmental review process will be 
provided throughout the remainder of the project development process. 
From 1989 to 1995, the I-26 Connector was studied as part of the 
Asheville Urban Area Corridor Preservation Pilot Project in order to 
develop the Asheville Urban Area Thoroughfare Plan, a long-range 
regional transportation plan. Extensive public involvement was 
incorporated to identify overall transportation goals, specific 
projects in the Asheville area that would fulfill those goals (which 
identified the I-26 Connector as one of

[[Page 40922]]

those projects) and potential corridors for the I-26 Connector. NCDOT 
published a final Phase I Environmental Analysis for the Asheville 
Urban Area (Phase I Study) in April 1995.
    Prior to the initiation of environmental studies in preparation of 
an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), a scoping letter soliciting 
comments on the proposed project was sent in 1996 to the local, state, 
and federal agencies, by NCDOT. No further scoping actions are planned.
    In 1997, the United States Army Corps of Engineer (USACE), FHWA, 
and NCDOT signed an Interagency Agreement integrating Section 404 and 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, known as the 
Section 404/NEPA Merger Process. The agreement requires the 
establishment of a project team at the beginning of each transportation 
project and outlines the coordination process with a series of 
Concurrence Points in order to promote cooperation and coordination 
during the study process and to ensure compatibility with local, state 
and federal planning projects and policies.
    In addition to the project merger team providing guidance and 
input, involvement with the public continued with a Project Educational 
Forum and a separate Project Design Forum in 2000. In the summer of 
2004, public informational meetings were held to receive public 
comments on the functional alternatives presented. The engineering 
designs for the project alternatives were then presented at Community 
Informational Workshops in October 2006. Upon completion of the draft 
EIS, a public hearing will be held, with public notice 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 hearing.
    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. E7-14353 Filed 7-24-07; 8:45 am]
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