[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 160 (Friday, August 18, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47861-47862]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-7012]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Smith County, TX

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 (EIS) will be prepared for the proposed 
U.S. Highway (U.S.) 69/Loop 49 North Lindale Reliever Route (LRR) 
project in Smith County, Texas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donald E. Davis, District Engineer, 
Federal Highway Administration--Texas Division, 300 E. 8th Street, 
Austin, Texas 78701, Telephone: 512-536-5960.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Texas 
Department of Transportation (TxDOT), will prepare an environmental 
impact statement (EIS) for a proposal to construct a Lindale Reliever 
Route in Smith County, Texas. The proposed improvement would involve 
construction of a new location roadway

[[Page 47862]]

from the planned Loop 49 West/IH 20 interchange to connect with the 
existing U.S. 69 north of the City of Lindale, a roadway distance of 
approximately 5-6 miles.
    The proposed Lindale Reliever Route would serve as a connector 
between Loop 49 and U.S. 69 and address safety, mobility, connectivity 
and capacity needs.
    Alternatives under consideration include (1) taking no action (the 
no-build alternative), (2) constructing a proposed Lindale Reliever 
Route facility built to current highway standards, and (3) improvements 
to existing highways. The proposed facility will be evaluated as a toll 
road project. A Feasibility Study prepared in 2001 evaluated four 
corridor alternatives along new location right-of-way and a No-Build 
alternative, resulting in the identification of a recommended study 
corridor. Subsequent public involvement opportunities have identified 
additional study corridors. Evaluation of a reasonable number of 
alignment alternatives will be documented in the EIS, as well as the 
no-build and existing highway improvement alternatives, based on input 
from federal, state, and local agencies, as well as private 
organizations and concerned citizens.
    The EIS will evaluate potential impacts from construction and 
operation of the proposed roadway including, but not limited to, the 
following: Impacts to residences and businesses, including potential 
relocations and displacements; transportation impacts (construction 
detours, construction traffic, and mobility improvement); air and noise 
impacts from construction equipment and operation of the roadway; 
social and economic impacts; impacts to cultural resources; water 
quality impacts from construction and roadway runoff; impacts related 
to tolling; and impacts to waters of the U.S. including wetlands from 
right-of-way encroachment.
    Correspondence describing the proposed project and soliciting 
comments will be sent to appropriate federal, state, and local 
agencies, and to private organizations and citizens who have previously 
expressed interest in the proposal. TxDOT completed a Feasibility Study 
for the project in May 2001. In conjunction with the Feasibility Study, 
TxDOT developed a steering committee, provided project information at 
two public meetings, and met with interested stakeholders. An agency 
scoping meeting is anticipated to be held by TxDOT in September 2006 to 
coordinate and solicit agency representatives' input on project plans 
including the purpose and need and the range of alternatives, introduce 
project team members, obtain comments pertaining to the scope of the 
EIS, identify important issues, set goals, develop project schedule, 
and respond to questions. A continuing public involvement program will 
include a project mailing list, project newsletters, a public scoping 
meeting (public notice will be given of the time and place), and 
numerous informal meetings with interested citizens and stakeholders. 
In addition, a public hearing will be held after the publication of the 
Draft EIS. Public notice will be given 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 Research Planning and Construction. The regulations 
implementing Executive Order 12373 regarding intergovernmental 
consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this 
program.)

Donald E. Davis,
District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 06-7012 Filed 8-17-06; 8:45 am]
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