[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 217 (Friday, November 9, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 63642]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-5599]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Worcester County, MD

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 a proposed bridge 
project in Worcester County, Maryland. The purpose of the EIS is to 
provide information and analyses for decisions on the project in 
accordance with the policies and purposes of the National Environmental 
Policy Act.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Daniel W. Johnson, Environmental 
Program Leader, Federal Highway Administration, City Crescent Building, 
10 South Howard Street, Suite 2450, Telephone: (410) 779-7154.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Maryland 
State Highway Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, US 
Environmental Protection Agency, US Coast Guard, Maryland Department of 
the Environment, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Marine 
Fisheries Service will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
for roadway improvements which address operational inadequacies, safety 
concerns, and structural deficiencies of the US 50 crossing of the 
Sinepuxent Bay, Worcester County, MD.
    The study will also address the need to safely accommodate the 
navigational needs of boaters, pedestrian and bicycle traffic, and the 
recreational needs of fishermen. Pedestrians, fishermen, and cyclists 
currently share a narrow five-foot sidewalk along the existing bridge, 
which creates potential conflicts among the various users. Finally, the 
study will investigate aesthetic enhancements to any crossing 
representative of a coastal gateway resort.
    Alternatives under consideration include taking no action and four 
build alternatives with various options for a new bridge or bridge 
reconstruction. Under all of these alternatives, the existing bridge 
would be retained for possible use by pedestrians, cyclists and 
fisherman. The bridge is eligible for inclusion in the National 
Register of Historic Places.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local government agencies, 
and to private organizations and citizens and citizen groups who have 
previously expressed or are known to have an interest in this proposal. 
It is anticipated that a Public Hearing will be held in the Spring of 
2008. A Draft EIS will be available for public and agency review and 
comment prior to the Public Hearing. Public notice will be given of the 
availability of the Draft EIS for review and of the time and place of 
the hearing. A Scoping Meeting was held in March of 2005, and Open 
House Public Workshops were held in Ocean City in June and October of 
2005, June of 2006 and May/June of 2007, to solicit opinions and ideas 
on proposed improvements from local citizens.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments 
and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or 
questions concerning these proposed action and EIS 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 regulation 
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental 
consultation of Federal programs and activities apply to this 
program).


    Issued on: November 5, 2007.
Daniel W. Johnson,
Environmental Program Leader, Baltimore, Maryland.
[FR Doc. 07-5599 Filed 11-8-07; 8:45 am]
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