[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 86 (Thursday, May 3, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22282-22283]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-11047]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Shelby County, Tennessee and 
Desoto County, Mississippi

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 Section 9 of 
proposed Interstate 69 in Desoto County, MS and Shelby County, TN 
beginning near Hernando, MS and extending to Millington, TN.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mark Doctor, Field Operations Team 
Leader, Federal Highway Administration, 640 Grassmere Park, Suite 112, 
Nashville, Tennessee 37211, Telephone: (615) 781-5788

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Tennessee 
Department of Transportation and Mississippi Department of 
Transportation will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on 
a proposal to provide a divided freeway facility from Interstate 55 (I-
55) and State Route (S.R.) 304 near Hernando in Desoto County, 
Mississippi to US 51/S.R. 385 near Millington in Shelby County, 
Tennessee. Two general corridors, A and B, are being studied. Corridor 
A will pass through the city of Memphis and will generally follow the 
existing interstate system from I-55/S.R. 304 in Hernando, MS to US 51/
S.R. 385 near Millington. Corridor B will be east of Memphis and will 
begin at I-55/S.R. 304 in Hernando, MS and end at US 51/S.R. 385 near 
Millington. The proposed project will be 64 to 96 kilometers (40 to 60 
miles) in length depending on which alternative alignment is selected.
    This proposed improvement is a section of independent utility of 
the Congressionally-designated High Priority Corridor 18, or future 
Interstate 69 which proposes to construct Interstate 69 from Port 
Huron, Michigan to the lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. The overall 
purpose of this corridor is to improve international and interstate 
trade and to facilitate economic development.
    Alternatives to be considered are: (1) Taking no action (no-build); 
(2) three build alternatives in Corridor A and three build alternatives 
in Corridor B. All alternatives will have a full control of access 
freeway design and will be on both existing and new location and (3) 
other alternatives that may arise from public and agency input. 
Incorporated into and studied with the build alternatives will be 
design variations of grade and alignment.
    Initial coordination 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 
previously expressed or are known to have an interest in this proposal. 
A public hearing will be held upon completion of the Draft EIS and 
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. A formal scoping meeting and public 
involvement meetings are planned for late Spring 2001.
    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.


[[Page 22283]]


(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: April 26, 2001.
Gary D. Corino,
Tennessee Assistant Division Administrator, Nashville.
[FR Doc. 01-11047 Filed 5-2-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P