[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 18, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11625-11626]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-5800]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Davidson County and Forsyth 
County, NC

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 the proposed 
roadway improvements to NC 109 between Old Greensboro Road (SR 1798) in 
Davidson County and I-40/US 311 in Forsyth County, North Carolina.

[[Page 11626]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clarence W. Coleman, PE, Director of 
Preconstruction and Environment, Federal Highway Administration, 310 
New Bern Avenue, Suite 410, Raleigh, North Carolina 27601-1418, 
Telephone: (919) 747-7014, or Vincent J. Rhea, PE, Project Engineer, 
North Carolina Department of Transportation, 1548 Mail Service Center, 
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1548, Telephone: (919) 733-7844, ext. 
261.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the North 
Carolina Department of Transportation, will prepare an environmental 
impact statement (EIS) on a proposal for improving NC 109, through 
widening and/or constructing new roadway, between Old Greensboro Road 
and I-40/US 311. The project is included in the North Carolina 
Department of Transportation (NCDOT) 2009-2015 Transportation 
Improvement Program (TIP) as TIP No. R-2568C. Improvements to the 
section of NC 109 south of Old Greensboro Road, extending south to 
Business I-85 in the City of Thomasville, were completed in 2007. The 
current project includes one alternative mainly on existing location 
and four alternatives mainly on new location. The project would be 
constructed as a four-lane, median-divided roadway with partial control 
of access. Directional crossovers with offset left turns will be used 
at many of the major intersections. Improvements to NC 109 are 
considered necessary to improve traffic flow and service and to reduce 
conflicts between through traffic and local traffic. As required by 
Section 6002 of the Safe Accountable Flexible Efficient Transportation 
Equity Act: ``A Legacy for Users'', opportunities have been provided 
for involvement with the public in defining the project purpose and 
need and determining the range of alternatives to be considered for the 
project. Further opportunities for the public to comment on the 
environmental review process will be provided throughout the remainder 
of the project development process.
    Prior to the initiation of environmental studies in preparation of 
an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), a scoping letter soliciting 
comments on the proposed project was sent in December 2003 to the 
local, state, and federal agencies by NCDOT. The agency scoping meeting 
for the project was held in January 2004. No further scoping actions 
are planned.
    Since the start of the project, NCDOT has hosted two rounds of 
Citizens Informational Workshops. The first round was held in April 
2004 to announce the start of the project and to obtain public input 
concerning the location of potential alternatives. The second round was 
held in November 2005 to present and obtain public comments on five 
alternative corridors identified for the project.
    In 1997, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE), FHWA, and NCDOT 
signed an Interagency Agreement integrating Section 404 and the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, known as the Section 
404/NEPA Merger Process. The agreement requires the establishment of a 
project team at the beginning of each transportation project and 
outlines the coordination process with a series of Concurrence Points 
in order to promote cooperation and coordination during the study 
process and to ensure compatibility with local, state and federal 
planning projects and policies. To date, project merger team meetings 
have been held in September 2004 and August 2006. Upon completion of 
the draft EIS, a public hearing will be held, with public notice of the 
time and place of the hearing. The draft EIS will be available for 
public and agency review and comment prior to the 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.

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

    Issued on: March 12, 2009.
Clarence W. Coleman,
Director of Preconstruction & Environment, Raleigh, North Carolina.
 [FR Doc. E9-5800 Filed 3-17-09; 8:45 am]
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