[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 138 (Thursday, July 17, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41165-41166]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-16371]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Project Number STP-0022-01 (059)]


Environmental Impact Statement: Stone, Perry, George, and Greene 
Counties, MS

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration is issuing this notice to 
advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement will be 
prepared to study improvements to State Route 15 to provide a four-lane 
facility beginning in the vicinity of Ramsey Springs, Mississippi and 
terminating on U.S. Highway 98 near Beaumont, Mississippi, a distance 
of approximately 35 miles.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Cecil Vick, Project Development 
Team Leader, Federal Highway Administration, 666 North Street, Suite 
105, Jackson, MS 39202-3199, Telephone: (601) 965-4217. Contacts at the 
State and local level, respectively are: Mr. Claiborne Barnwell, 
Environmental/Location Division Engineer, Mississippi Department of 
Transportation, P.O. Box 1850, Jackson, MS 39215-1850, telephone: (601) 
359-7920; and Mr. Steven Twedt, District 6 Engineer, Mississippi 
Department of Transportation, 6356 Highway 49 North, Hattiesburg, MS 
39403-0551, telephone (601) 544-6511.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, Mississippi Division Office will 
serve as the lead Federal agency for this project while the Mississippi 
Department of Transportation (MDOT) will serve as joint lead agency. 
The FHWA, in cooperation with MDOT, will prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) to study potential improvements to State Route 
15 (SR 15) in order to provide a four-lane facility. This approximately 
35-mile long corridor has logical termini near Ramsey Springs in Stone 
County and on U. S. Highway 98 near Beaumont, MS in Perry County.
    The purpose of the EIS is to address the transportation, 
environmental, and safety issues of such a transportation corridor. The 
Transportation facility will greatly enhance Hurricane evacuation from 
the Mississippi Gulf, provide a new four-lane facility, and meet 
legislative intent. Alternatives under consideration include (1) taking 
no action and (2) build alternatives.
    The FHWA and MDOT are seeking input as a part of the scoping 
process to assist in determining and clarifying issues relative to this 
project. Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments 
will be sent to appropriate federal, state, and local agencies, Native 
American tribes, private organizations and citizens who have previously 
expressed or are known to have interest in this proposal. A formal 
scoping meeting with federal, state, and local agencies, and other 
interested parties will be held in the near future. Public involvement 
meetings will be held during the EIS process. The draft EIS will be 
available for public and agency review and

[[Page 41166]]

comment prior to the official public hearing.
    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 this proposed action and the EIS should be 
directed to the FHWA at the address provided above.

Andrew H. Hughes,
Federal Highway Administration, Division Administrator, Mississippi 
Division, Jackson, Mississippi.
[FR Doc. E8-16371 Filed 7-16-08; 8:45 am]
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