[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 116 (Monday, June 16, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34065-34066]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-13444]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION [4910-22]

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Currituck and Dare Counties, 
North Carolina

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI).

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

SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for a proposed 
project in Currituck and Dare Counties, North Carolina.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. George Hoops, P.E., Major Projects 
Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 310 New Bern Avenue, Suite 
410, Raleigh, North Carolina 27601-1418, Telephone: (919) 747-7022.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Title 23, Code of Federal 
Regulations, Part 771, Environmental Impact and Related Procedures, the 
FHWA, in cooperation with the North Carolina Turnpike Authority (NCTA) 
and the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), will 
prepare an EIS addressing proposed improvements in the Currituck Sound 
area. The proposed study area includes U.S. 158 from NC 168 to NC 12 
(including the Wright Memorial Bridge) and NC 12 north of its 
intersection with U.S. 158 to its terminus in Currituck County. The 
proposed action is included in NCDOT's 2007-2013 State Transportation 
Improvement Program (STIP), as well as NCDOT's Draft 2009-2015 STIP, 
and the Thoroughfare Plan for Currituck County.
    On July 6, 1995, FHWA published a notice of intent to prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) for a Mid-Currituck Sound Bridge 
project in Currituck County, North Carolina. The Mid-Currituck Sound 
Bridge project involved a proposal to build a bridge and approach 
roadways connecting U.S. 158 on the mainland to

[[Page 34066]]

NC 12 on the Outer Banks. The FHWA, in cooperation with the North 
Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), issued a Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on the project in January 1998. 
FHWA and NCDOT held public hearings and provided a comment period on 
the DEIS. Since the 1998 DEIS, there have been several changes in the 
project. These changes led to the decision to rescind the 1995 notice 
of intent and the 1998 DEIS (Federal Register Vol. 73, No. 107, page 
31733) and to issue this notice of intent.
    Before releasing this notice of intent, FHWA and NCTA began 
coordinating with Federal and state environmental regulatory and 
resource agencies and the public in the development of the purpose and 
need for the proposed action and a conceptual range of alternatives in 
the project study area. The draft purpose and need for the proposed 
action includes the following elements: (i) Improving traffic flow on 
the project area's thoroughfares (NC 12 and U.S. 158), (ii) reducing 
travel time for persons traveling between Currituck County mainland and 
Currituck County Outer Banks, and (iii) reducing hurricane clearance 
times for residents and visitors who use NC 168 and U.S. 158 during a 
coastal evacuation.
    The EIS for the proposed action will consider alternatives that 
include improving existing roadways (NC 12 and U.S. 158), as well as 
alternatives that involve building a new Mid-Currituck Sound bridge in 
combination with improving existing roads. The analysis will also 
include a range of non-highway improvement alternatives, including no-
build, ferry service, expanding transit service, transportation demand 
management/shifting rental unit start times, and transportation systems 
management (TSM) alternatives. In addition, NCTA is considering a range 
of alternatives for the proposed bridge crossing, including (1) Two, 
three, or four-lane bridges; (2) various interchange configurations for 
the bridge's connections to the existing roadway network; and (3) a 
range of potential corridors for the bridge. As part of the EIS, NCTA 
will also study the feasibility and impacts of developing the proposed 
project as a tolled facility.
    FHWA and NCTA will continue to provide the agencies, local 
governments, and the public with opportunities for involvement through 
informational workshops, project newsletters, informational mailings, 
and other means. Information on the dates, times, and locations of 
future citizens informational workshops will be posted on the NCTA Web 
site and will be advertised in the local news media, and newsletters 
will be mailed to those on the project mailing list. If you wish to be 
placed on the mailing list, contact Jennifer Harris at the address 
listed below or by submitting an e-mail to [email protected]. 
Once completed, the Draft EIS will be available for public and agency 
review and comment prior to the public hearing.
    To ensure the full range of issues related to the proposed action 
are addressed and all significant issues 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 or directed to: Ms. Jennifer Harris, 
P.E., Staff Engineer, North Carolina Turnpike Authority, 5400 Glenwood 
Avenue, Suite 400, Raleigh, North Carolina 27612, Telephone (919) 571-
3000.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations 
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental 
consultation of Federal programs and activities apply to this 
program.)

    Issued on: June 10, 2008.
George Hoops,
Major Projects Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, Raleigh, North 
Carolina.
[FR Doc. E8-13444 Filed 6-13-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P