[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 8 (Monday, January 13, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1801-1802]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-678]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Allegheny and Washington 
Counties, Pennsylvania

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 proposed 
transportation improvements between I-79 and the Mon/Fayette Toll 
Expressway, known locally as a Southern Beltway Transportation Project, 
in Washington County, Pennsylvania. This notice supersedes the Notice 
of Intent published in the Federal Register, Volume 58, Number 154, 
Page 43005, on August 12, 1993, for the Southern Beltway.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David W. Cough, District Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 228 
Walnut Street, Room 558, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17101-1720, 
Telephone: (717) 782-3411; Daryl L. Kerns, Turnpike Liaison Engineer, 
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, 113 Transportation & Safety 
Building, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120, Telephone: (717) 787-0185; or 
Paul A. Edmunds, Acting Chief Engineer, Pennsylvania Turnpike 
Commission, P.O. Box 67676, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17106-7676, 
Telephone: (717) 939-9551.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the 
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Pennsylvania Turnpike 
Commission will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a 
proposal for a limited access toll highway in Washington County, south 
of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The proposed highway would extend from the 
Interstate south of the Allegheny County and Washington County line, 
easterly to the Mon/Fayette Expressway, about 21 kilometers (13 miles) 
south of Pittsburgh. The study corridor is about 19 kilometers (12 
miles) long and about 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) wide.
    The proposed highway is considered necessary to improve the 
movement of people and goods from the Mon Valley to Interstate 79 in 
the area south of Pittsburgh. Preliminary studies and public and agency 
input have indicated that the project needs cannot be met by 
Transportation System Management (TSM) activities, upgrading existing 
roadways or mass transit improvements. Alternatives now under 
consideration are various alignments for a new tolled expressway and 
taking no action.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments have 
been sent to appropriate Federal, State, and Local agencies and to 
private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are 
known to have interest in this proposal. A series of public meetings 
will be held in the project area during the development of the project. 
In addition, 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. A Scoping Meeting was held on August 18 and 19, 1993, 
in Washington, Pennsylvania. Federal, state, regional, county, and 
municipal agencies attended and participated.
    To insure 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 interest 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 Construction. The regulations implementing 
Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation of 
Federal

[[Page 1802]]

programs and activities apply to this program)
J. Stephen Guhin,
Assistant Division Administrator, Pennsylvania Division, FHWA.
[FR Doc. 97-678 Filed 1-10-97; 8:45 am]
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