[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 57 (Thursday, March 25, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14481-14482]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-6536]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Houma-Thibodaux to LA 3127 
Connection; Terrebonne, Lafourche, Assumption, St. James, St. John the 
Baptist, St. Charles, and St. Mary Parishes, LA

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Revised Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this Revised Notice of Intent (NOI) to 
advise the public and interested agencies of modifications to the scope 
and environmental review process for the Houma-Thibodaux to LA 3127 
Connection Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The project study area 
has been expanded due to resource agency concerns to include a 
potential alternative to the west in the vicinity of the LA 1 and LA 
308 corridor to the Sunshine Bridge. FHWA also intends to utilize the 
environmental review provisions afforded under Section 6002 of the 
Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A 
Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). The EIS will build upon the 
environmental and technical studies and public comments and outreach 
conducted to date. This NOI revises the NOI that was

[[Page 14482]]

published in the Federal Register on June 7, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl M. Highsmith, Project Delivery 
Team Leader, Federal Highway Administration, 5304 Flanders Drive, Suite 
A, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808, Telephone 225-757-7615; Facsimile: 
(225) 757-7601 or Noel Ardoin, Environmental Engineer Administrator, 
Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, PO Box 94245, 
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804, Telephone: (225) 242-4501; Facsimile: 
(225) 242-4500. Please refer to project designation numbers State 
Project No. 700-99-0302 & Federal Aid Project No. HP-9902(518) in any 
correspondence.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Louisiana 
Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD), will prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposal to provide a 
functional north-south transportation link between the Houma-Thibodaux 
area and LA 3127 and to provide more direct access to I-10 to the north 
and future I-49 to the south. The proposed link would also serve as a 
hurricane evacuation route. The original NOI for this project was 
published in the Federal Register: June 7, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 
109). Subsequent to scoping meetings and a public meeting that occurred 
after the original NOI, the project area was expanded west to address 
resource agency concerns. An additional alternatives screening study, 
which analyzed potential alternatives traversing the Bayou Lafourche 
Ridge, was conducted with the input of the public and resource 
agencies. As a result of the recommendations of the study, the project 
scope was revised to include an alternative within the expanded study 
area. Coordination with the resource agencies and the public will be 
conducted in early March 2010 to notify them that the project has 
restarted and to advise them that additional coordination will occur 
during the development of the reasonable range of alternatives for the 
project. In addition, previous studies conducted for the project are 
being updated.
    Letters describing this proposal and soliciting comments will be 
sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies and to private 
organizations and individuals that have previously expressed, or are 
known to have, an interest in this proposal. A series of agency and 
public meetings as well as a public hearing will be held. 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 action is 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 10, 2010.
Charles ``Wes'' Bolinger,
Division Administrator, FHWA, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
[FR Doc. 2010-6536 Filed 3-24-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P