[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 119 (Thursday, June 19, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 34979]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-13495]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Bristol County, MA

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Cancellation of the Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: This notice rescinds the previous Notice of Intent (issued 
October 9, 1985) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a 
proposed bridge replacement project--the Elm St and Center St (Berkley-
Dighton) Bridge over the Taunton River--in Bristol County, 
Massachusetts.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John McVann, Field Operations Team 
Leader, Federal Highway Administration, Massachusetts Division Office, 
55 Broadway, 10th floor, Cambridge, MA 02142, Telephone: (617) 494-
2521--or--Diane Madden, Sr. Project Manager, Massachusetts Highway 
Department, Environmental Services, 10 Park Plaza, Room 4260, Boston, 
MA 02116, Telephone (617) 973-7477.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed project has changed 
dramatically from the mid-1980s when FHWA determined that except for 
the historical aspects of the project the proposed action would be 
classified as a categorical exclusion. Early proposals including new 
fixed bridges over 20' in height on northern or southern alignment, 
negatively impacting the adjacent Bridge Village National Register-
eligible Historic District. In 2000, noting extensive changes in the 
district close to the bridge, FHWA concurred with a MassHighway 
petition to de-list the district, which was later redrawn, retaining 
the bridge as a contributing element. Early in 2006, MassHighway 
presented its current proposal to acclaim, proposing to replace the 
bridge on its existing alignment, providing a Temporary Bridge on 
southern alignment to allow public safety mutual aid and vehicular 
travel. The proposed fixed bridge will be 7 feet taller than the 
existing movable bridge in closed position. This proposal reduces 
impacts to the surrounding area, including the re-drawn Bridge Village 
National Register-eligible Historic District. For these reasons, FHWA 
believes that the proper class of action for the current proposal is a 
Categorical Exclusion.

Richard J. Marquis,
Assistant FHWA Division Administrator, Cambridge, MA.
[FR Doc. E8-13495 Filed 6-18-08; 8:45 am]
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