[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 12 (Friday, January 19, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2582-2583]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-196]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Mecklenburg and Union Counties, 
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 (EIS) will be prepared for a proposed 
project in Mecklenburg and Union Counties, North Carolina.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. George Hoops, Major Projects 
Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 310 New Bern Avenue, Suite 
410, Raleigh, North Carolina 27601-1418, Telephone: (919) 856-4350 
extension 104.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Title 23, Code of Federal 
Regulations, Part 771, Environmental Impact and Related Procedures, the 
FHWA, in cooperation with the North Carolina Turnpike Authority (NCTA) 
and the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), will 
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) addressing proposed 
improvements in the US 74 corridor from I-485 in Mecklenburg County to 
the vicinity of the Town of Marshville, which is east of the City of 
Monroe (the County seat) in Union County. The proposed project study 
extends from I-485 in the west to the vicinity of the Town of 
Marshville in the east and extends north and south of US 74. The 
proposed action is included in the long range transportation plan 
approved by the Mecklenburg-Union Metropolitan Planning Organization 
(MUMPO).
    This study is a combination of two projects previously analyzed by 
NCDOT, the Monroe Bypass (NCDOT Transportation Improvement Program 
[TIP] Project R-2559) and the Monroe Connector (NCDOT TIP Project R-
3329). The Monroe Bypass study addressed in the US 74 corridor from 
just west of the City of Monroe to just west of the Town of Marshville. 
An Environmental Assessment for this project was approved in March 
1996, and a Finding

[[Page 2583]]

of No Significant Impact was issued in June 1997. The Monroe Connector 
study previously addressed improvements in the US 74 corridor from I-
485 to US 601 in the City of Monroe, where it ended at the proposed 
Monroe Bypass. A Draft EIS for this project was approved in November 
2003; however, a public hearing was never held. In February 2005, the 
NCTA adopted the Monroe Connector as a toll candidate facility, and in 
January 2006, the Notice of Intent for the Monroe Connector EIS was 
rescinded (Federal Register Vol. 71, No. 19, page 4958). Subsequently, 
NCTA adopted the Monroe Bypass project as a toll candidate facility in 
October 2006. The Monroe Connector and Monroe Bypass projects have been 
combined into a single project and will be evaluated in a single EIS.
    The EIS for the proposed action will consider alternatives for 
improvements in the US 74 corridor from I-485 to US 74 in the vicinity 
of the Town of Marshville. Alternatives, including a ``No-Build'' 
Alternative (continuation of the existing condition), improving the 
existing US 74 corridor, and constructing a new location facility, will 
be considered. Several alternative corridors for a new location 
facility will be studied. As part of the EIS, NCTA will study the 
feasibility and impacts of developing the proposed project, in whole or 
in part, as a toll road.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State and local agencies. Scoping will 
occur over a series of meetings with the agencies and citizens 
informational workshops with the public. Information on the dates, 
times, and locations of the citizens informational workshops will be 
advertised in the local news media and newsletters will be mailed to 
those on the project mailing list. If you wish to be placed on the 
mailing list, contact Jennifer Harris at the address listed below. The 
Draft EIS will be available for public and agency review and comment 
prior to the public hearing.
    To ensure the full range of issues related to the proposed action 
are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments and 
suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments and 
questions concerning the proposed action should be directed to the FHWA 
at the address provided above or directed to: Ms. Jennifer Harris, 
Staff Engineer, North Carolina Turnpike Authority, 5400 Glenwood 
Avenue, Suite 400, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27612. Telephone: (919) 
571-3004.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations 
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental 
consultation of Federal programs and activities apply to this 
program.)
George Hoops,
Major Projects Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, Raleigh, North 
Carolina.
[FR Doc. 07-196 Filed 1-18-07; 8:45 am]
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