[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 219 (Monday, November 13, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 67791]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-28871]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement (EIS); Sarasota and Charlotte 
Counties, FL

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI).

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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 
highway project in Sarasota and Charlotte Counties, Florida.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Donald Davis, Programs Operation 
Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 227 N. Bronough Street, Suite 
Room 2015, Tallahassee, Florida 32301-2015, Telephone: (850) 942-9650, 
Extension 3031.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in consultation with the Florida 
Department of Transportation, will prepare an EIS for a proposal to 
develop a north-south arterial linking S.R. 776 in the Englewood area 
of Charlotte County, Florida to I-75 in Sarasota County, Florida. The 
project area is approximately 48 square miles, which is four miles wide 
by 12 miles in length. The project limits are from the vicinity of the 
S.R. 776/Pine Street intersection to the I-75 interchange at River 
Road. This project is commonly referred to as the Englewood Interstate 
Connector. This project has been identified as a high priority by both 
the Sarasota/Manatee and Charlotte County-Punta Gorda Metropolitan 
Planning Organizations and is needed to accommodate future growth and 
to serve as an additional hurricane evacuation route. Alternatives to 
be considered for this arterial will include a new roadway 
alignment(s), utilizing the existing River Road alignment and a 
combination of each. A no-build alternative will also be considered.
    Letters describing the appropriate action and soliciting comments 
will be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and to 
private organizations and citizens who have expressed an interest in 
this proposal. Public meetings will be held in the study area until 
June 2001. In addition, a Public Hearing will be held in the study 
area. Public notice will be given of the time and place of the meetings 
and hearings. The Draft EIS will be made available to the public and 
organizations for their review and comments. The formal scoping meeting 
date is not available at this time.
    To ensure that 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 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 12372 regarding inter-governmental 
consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this 
program.)

    Issued On: November 1, 2000.
Donald Davis,
Program Operations Engineer, Tallahassee, Florida.
[FR Doc. 00-28871 Filed 11-9-00; 8:45 am]
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