[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 203 (Monday, October 22, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 59583]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-5190]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Calvert and St. Mary's Counties, 
Maryland

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 roadway 
widening and bridge replacement project in Calvert and St. Mary's 
Counties, Maryland. The purpose of the EIS is to provide information 
and analyses for decisions on the project in accordance with the 
policies and purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Daniel W. Johnson, Environmental 
Program Manager, Federal Highway Administration, City Crescent 
Building, 10 South Howard Street, Suite 2450, Telephone (410) 779-7154.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Maryland 
State Highway Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Coast Guard, and Maryland 
Department of the Environment will prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) to improve MD 4 from MD 2 to MD 235 in Calvert and St. 
Mary's Counties, a distance of approximately 2.91 miles.
    Improvements to the corridor are necessary to improve existing 
capacity and traffic operations, and to increase vehicular, pedestrian 
and bicycle safety along MD 4, while supporting existing and planned 
development in the area. Improvements to the bridge are necessary due 
to inadequate shoulder widths, major traffic delays and/or closures 
currently occur along the Thomas Johnson Memorial Bridge during crashes 
and maintenance activities. In addition, the crash rate on MD 4 from 
FDR Boulevard to MD 235, as well as the rear end collision rate across 
the Thomas Johnson Memorial Bridge, is greater than the statewide 
average.
    Alternatives under consideration include taking no action and 
widening existing MD 4 to a four lane divided highway, with various 
options for bridge improvements and/or reconstruction.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and to 
private organizations and citizens and citizen groups who have 
previously expressed or are known to have an interest in this proposal. 
It is anticipated that a Public Hearing will be held in the Fall of 
2009. The draft EIS will be available for public and agency review and 
comment prior to a Public Hearing. Public notice will be given of the 
availability of the Draft EIS for review and of the time and place of 
this hearing. A Scoping Meeting was held in May of 2007, and two Open 
House Workshops will be held in October 2007 to solicit opinions and 
ideas on proposed improvements from local citizens.
    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 these proposed actions and 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 regulation 
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental 
consultation of Federal programs and activities apply to this 
program)

    Issued on: October 10, 2007.
Daniel W. Johnson,
Environmental Program Leader, Baltimore, Maryland.
[FR Doc. 07-5190 Filed 10-19-07; 8:45 am]
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