[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 18, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71666-71667]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24446]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement/Section 404 Permit Application for the Southern Beltway 
Transportation Project From I-79 to the Mon/Fayette Expressway, 
Washington County, PA

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in cooperation with the 
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, as a Cooperating Agency, have prepared a Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement/Section 404 Permit Application (DEIS) for the Southern 
Beltway Transportation Project from I-79 to the Mon/Fayette Expressway 
in Washington County, PA. The overall purpose of the project is to 
provide transportation mobility safety improvements, to relieve 
congestion, and to support economic development plans in southwestern 
Pennsylvania. The DEIS assesses the environmental effects of the 
various alternatives developed to address the project needs.

DATES: Comments concerning this DEIS should be submitted by February 8, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to Scott A. Hans, Acting Chief, 
Regulatory Branch, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District, 
Moorhead Federal Building, 1000 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-
4186 or to David P. Willis, Environmental Manager, Pennsylvania 
Turnpike Commission, P.O. Box 67676, Harrisburg, PA 17106.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions or comments regarding the 
DEIS should be directed to Mr. John S. Weres, Project Manager, at SAI 
Consulting Engineers, Inc., 1350 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 
(412-392-8750).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. Authorization: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh 
District, Regulatory Branch is considering an application from the 
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, 700 South Eisenhower Boulevard, P.O. 
Box 67676, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7676 under section 404 of the Clean 
Water Act to construct the Proposed Action. The primary Federal concern 
is the discharge of fill materials (including permanent inundation) 
within waters of the United States, and potential impacts on the human 
environment from such activities. The Corps' decision will be to either 
issue or deny a Department of the Army permit for the Proposed Action.
    The DEIS has been prepared in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 
4332(2)(c) and Executive Order 11990; and with other appropriate 
federal laws and regulations, policies, and procedures of the Corps for 
compliance with those regulations.
    2. Scoping Process: The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has held a 
series of Public Plans Displays and Public Meetings in the project area 
during the past several years, including a series of three meetings in 
August 2005 to present the alternatives developed in detail in the 
DEIS. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) published a Notice of 
Intent (NOI) in the Federal Register on October 23, 2007 (FR Doc. E7-
20812).
    3. Public Hearing. A formal public hearing to receive comments on 
the DEIS will be held by the Army Corps of Engineers and the 
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission on Thursday, January 24, 2008. The 
location and time for the public hearing is as follows:
     Canon-McMillan Senior High School, Elm Street Extension, 
Canonsburg, PA 15317. An open house plans presentation will be 
conducted from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The formal presentation will be 
conducted at 6 p.m.
    The public hearing will be announced in the local news media, and 
separate notice will also be sent to all parties on

[[Page 71667]]

the project mailing list and to property owners adjacent to the 
Recommended Preferred Alternative. Participation by all interested 
individuals, groups or agencies is encouraged.
    The public review period will conclude on February 8, 2008, more 
than 45 days after publication of this notice. The U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission will consider 
concerns expressed on the DEIS, and such issues will be incorporated 
into the Final EIS as appropriate. Comments, suggestions, and requests 
to be placed on the mailing list for announcements and for the Final 
EIS, should also be sent to Mr. Hans or Mr. Willis.
    4. Availability of the Draft EIS: The Draft EIS and appendices are 
available for review and downloading from the Pennsylvania Turnpike 
Commission's project Web site at the following address: http://www.paturnpike.com/monfaySB/. Copies of the DEIS are available for 
public review at local municipal offices and public libraries in the 
project area. Copies of the technical support data and all documents 
referenced in the DEIS are available for public review by appointment 
at the Pittsburgh office of SAI Consulting Engineers, Inc., 1350 Penn 
Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Please contact Mr. John Weres at (412) 
392-8750 to set up an appointment. Please note that only qualified 
individuals will be allowed to review the confidential cultural 
resources appendices. Additional information on the project and 
availability of the DEIS can also be found in the Corps' Public notice 
at the following link: http://www.lrp.usace.army.mil/or/or-f/07-59.pdf.

Scott A. Hans,
Acting Chief, Regulatory Branch, Pittsburgh District--U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers.
[FR Doc. E7-24446 Filed 12-17-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-85-P