[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 23, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60008-60009]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20812]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Southern Beltway Transportation Project From I-79 to the Mon/Fayette 
Expressway, Washington County, PA

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is issuing this 
notice to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) will be prepared for proposed transportation improvements between 
Interstate 79 (I-79) and the Mon/Fayette Expressway (Turnpike 43), 
known locally as a Southern Beltway Transportation Project, in 
Washington County, Pennsylvania.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Hans, Acting Chief, Regulatory 
Branch, Department of the Army, Pittsburgh District Corps of Engineers, 
William S. Moorhead Federal Building, 1000 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, 
Pennsylvania 15222-4186, Telephone: (412) 395-7154; or David P. Willis, 
Environmental Manager, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, P.O. Box 
67676, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17106-7676, Telephone: (717) 939-9551.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Corps, in cooperation with the 
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, will now prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposal for a limited access toll highway 
in Washington County, south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The proposed 
highway would extend from Interstate 79 south of the Allegheny County 
and Washington County line, easterly to the Mon/Fayette Expressway 
(Turnpike 43), near Finleyville, Washington County. The study corridor 
is approximately 19 kilometers (12 miles) long and 2.5 kilometers (1.5 
miles) wide. Previously, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) 
served as the lead federal agency, with the Corps as a cooperating 
agency. The Financial Plan most recently submitted by the Pennsylvania 
Turnpike Commission to the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC), 
the local Metropolitan Planning Organization, was not considered 
reasonable by SPC. As a result, the I-79 to Mon/Fayette Expressway 
Project was not included on SPC's Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) 
when it was updated and adopted in July 2007. Subsequently, the FHWA

[[Page 60009]]

has withdrawn its involvement from the EIS process. In order to advance 
this project, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has decided to 
continue project development without federal funding and FHWA 
oversight. Since this project will require a Section 404 permit from 
the Corps, the Corps will become the lead federal agency.
    The proposed highway is considered necessary to improve the 
movement of people and goods from the Mon Valley to Interstate 79 in 
the area south of Pittsburgh. Preliminary studies and public and agency 
input have indicated that the project needs cannot be met by 
Transportation System Management (TSM) activities, upgrading existing 
roadways or mass transit improvements. Several new tolled expressway 
alternatives are under consideration. The No Build Alternative is also 
under consideration. Descriptions of these alternatives, the results of 
the engineering, traffic, and environmental studies, and the 
environmental impacts of the alternatives will be presented in the 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
    A scoping meeting was held on this project on August 18 and 19, 
1993 in Washington, Pennsylvania. Federal, state, regional, county, and 
municipal agency representatives attended and participated in this 
scoping meeting. In addition, an active public participation program 
was implemented on this project, including Special Agency Coordination 
Meetings, special purpose meetings with locally elected officials, 
Executive Committee Meetings, maintenance of a project website, and 
implementation of a toll-free phone number. A series of public meetings 
have also been held to ensure public input and participation. The Draft 
EIS will be available for public and agency review and comment prior to 
a public hearing. Public notice will be given of the time and place of 
the hearing.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are identified and addressed, comments and suggestions are 
invited from all interested parties. Comments or questions concerning 
this proposed action and the EIS should be directed to the Corps at the 
address provided above.

Scott A. Hans,
Acting Chief, Regulatory Branch, Pittsburgh District, U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers.
[FR Doc. E7-20812 Filed 10-22-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-85-P