[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 176 (Thursday, September 11, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 47870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24150]



[[Page 47870]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Richmond 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 a proposed highway 
project in Richmond County, North Carolina.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roy C. Shelton, Operations Engineer, 
Federal Highway Administration, 310 New Bern Avenue, Suite 410, 
Raleigh, North Carolina 27601, Telephone: (919) 856-4350.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the North 
Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), will prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposal to improve and/or 
relocate US 1 in Richmond County from Sandhill Road (SR 1971) south of 
Rockingham to Indian Lake Road (SR 1479) north of Marston, a distance 
of approximately 35.4 kilometers (22 miles).
    Improvements to the corridor are deemed necessary to improve travel 
in Richmond County by reducing overall travel time, reducing through 
and truck traffic congestion in downtown Rockingham, and improving 
traffic safety along existing US 1. The proposed project is also 
considered to be a key element in the state's effort to provide a 
multi-lane US 1 facility from the South Carolina state line to the 
Virginia state line.
    The range of alternatives under consideration include the ``no-
action'' or No-Build Alternative, alternates using various other 
transportation modes, widening the existing two-lane highway to a four-
lane or multi-lane facility, and constructing a multi-lane controlled 
access highway on new location. Incorporated into the study of various 
build alternatives will be various grade and alignment designs.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State and local agencies, and to 
private organizations and citizens who have expressed or are known to 
have interest in this proposal. Small group informational meetings and 
citizens information workshops have been established for this project. 
In addition, a corridor public hearing will be held. The public will be 
notified in advance of the workshops and public hearing through the use 
of newspaper advertisements and a direct mailing to persons on the 
project mailing list. The draft EIS will be circulated for public and 
agency review and comment prior to the public hearing. No formal 
scoping meeting is planned at this time.
    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: August 29, 1997.

Roy C. Shelton,
Operations Engineer, Raleigh.
[FR Doc. 97-24150 Filed 9-10-97; 8:45 am]
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