[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 93 (Friday, May 15, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23003-23004]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-11371]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: St. John the Baptist and St. 
James Parishes, LA

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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

SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for the proposed 
enhanced commercial interstate access in St. John the Baptist Parish, 
Louisiana.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Carl M. Highsmith, Project 
Delivery Team Leader, Federal Highway Administration, 5304 Flanders 
Drive, Suite A, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808, Telephone: (225) 757-
7600; Ms. Noel Ardoin, Environmental Administrator, Louisiana 
Department of Transportation and Development, 1201 Capitol Access Road 
(P.O. Box 94245), Baton Rouge, LA 70802, Telephone: (225) 242-4501; or 
Ms. Rebecca Otte, Environmental Planner, Regional Planning Commission, 
1340 Poydras, Suite 2100, New Orleans, LA 70112, Telephone: (504) 568-
6622.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the

[[Page 23004]]

Regional Planning Commission for Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. 
Bernard, and St. Tammany Parishes (RPC), and in conjunction with the 
Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD), will 
prepare an EIS on alternatives for enhanced commercial interstate 
access for the Port of South Louisiana and St. John the Baptist Parish 
between Airline Highway (U.S. 61) and Interstate 10. While port 
facilities exist along a 54-mile stretch of the Mississippi River, the 
main focus of port activities and need for port access has been focused 
in the Reserve area. Reserve has no direct connection to the interstate 
system. Interchanges with I-10, the nearest interstate highway, lie 
either eight miles to the east at Highway 3188 or twelve miles to the 
west at Highway 641. Access to I-10 from the port facilities at Reserve 
via either of these routes is rather cumbersome, using one of three 
state highways to access U.S. 61, then traveling either west or east 
along this congested commercial thoroughfare to the state highways 
linking to I-10. The routes also pass through residential areas. The 
proposed EIS will explore not only enhanced I-10 access for the Port of 
South Louisiana, but also enhanced access for general commercial and 
non-commercial traffic in the Parish.
    The study area limits of the EIS extend from \1/4\ mile to the east 
of U.S. 51 on the east to \1/4\ mile to the west of LA 3213/641 on the 
west, and from \1/4\ mile north of I-10 on the north to \1/4\ mile 
south of U.S. 61 on the south. It is anticipated that alternatives 
explored may include new roadways, possible new interchanges with I-10, 
improvements to existing roadways, as well as Transportation System 
Management (TSM) options. No transit alternatives are envisioned at 
this time.
    Major arterials that may be traversed, incorporated into, or 
considered within this study area include: Interstate 10, Interstate 
55, U.S. 61, U.S. 51, LA 3213, LA 641, LA 3188, LA 637, LA 54, LA 3179, 
LA 3223, and LA 3224.
    The EIS will be initiated with a scoping process. The scoping 
process will include a program of public outreach and agency 
coordination which will be conducted over the next several months in 
order to elicit input on project purpose and need, potential 
alternatives, significant and insignificant issues, and collaborative 
methods for analyzing transportation alternatives and environmental 
impacts.
    As part of scoping, RPC and LADOTD will hold a public scoping 
meeting and will contact and meet with local, State, and Federal 
agencies and officials as well as private individuals and organizations 
concerned with the project. Public notice will be given of the time and 
place of the public scoping meeting and hearing. The information gained 
during the scoping process will be widely disseminated and used to 
guide the development of the EIS. All comments and input received 
during the scoping will be considered and documented.
    Beginning with scoping, continuous and regular public involvement 
and agency coordination will continue throughout the preparation of the 
EIS. Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments 
will be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, tribes, 
elected officials and to private organizations and citizens who have 
previously expressed or are known to have interest in this proposal. 
Numerous public meetings will be held throughout the term of the 
project. In addition, a public hearing will be held after the draft EIS 
is made available for public review. Public notice will be given of the 
time and place of the meetings and 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 
project 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 LADOTD at the address provided above.

    Issued on May 8, 2009.
Charles W. Bolinger,
Division Administrator, FHWA.
[FR Doc. E9-11371 Filed 5-14-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P