[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 29 (Tuesday, February 13, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 6805]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-615]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Alamance County, NC

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: None 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 the relocation of 
highway NC 119 in Mebane, Alamance County, North Carolina (TIP Project 
U-3109).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Clarence Coleman, PE, Operations 
Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 310 New Bern Avenue, Suite 
410, Raleigh, North Carolina 27601, Telephone: (919) 856-4350, 
Extension 133.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the North 
Caroline Department of Transportation (NCDOT), will prepare an 
environment impact statement (EIS) on the relocation of NC 119 in 
Mebane, Alamance County. The proposed action would be the construction 
of a multi-lane divided facility on new location from the I-85 
interchange southwest of Mebane to existing NC 119 near SR 1918 (Mrs. 
White Lane) north of Mebane. Full control of access is proposed at the 
I-85 interchange and limited or partial control of access (access only 
at existing secondary roads [SRs]) is proposed for the remainder of the 
project. The purpose of this project is to relieve traffic congestion 
in the downtown area, provide access to the local area, and provide 
Alamance County with a primary north/south route. The proposed action 
is consistent with the 2030 Long Range Transportation Plan for 
Burlington-Graham Metropolitan Planning Organization last updated in 
May 2005. The proposed action is also consistent with the Burlington-
Graham Urbanized Area Transportation Plan (which the Thoroughfare Plan 
map is a part of) last updated in January 2004. Alternatives under 
consideration include: (1) The ``no-build'', (2) improving existing 
facility, and (3) three limited controlled access highways on new 
location. Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting 
comments were sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies. A 
public meeting and meetings with local officials and neighborhood 
groups were and will continue to be held in the project study area. A 
public hearing will also be held. Information on the time and place of 
the public hearing will be provided in the local news media. The draft 
EIS will be available for public and agency review and comment at the 
time of the hearing. A formal scoping meeting was held on February 15, 
1994.
    A result of the scoping meeting, as well as a meeting held with 
local officials, was an environmental study area comprised of several 
potential alignment corridors for the relocation of NC 119. The project 
study area developed from the initial project scoping process was 
presented to the public at two Citizens Informational Workshops, at 
which time public input on this study area was received. In addition, 
NCDOT held several small group meetings with representatives from the 
various communities in the project study area as a way to gain 
additional input from residents and identify ways to minimize community 
impacts. In early 1997, the majority of the supporting documentation 
for the Environmental Assessment (EA) was completed and at that time, 
the EA was anticipated to be completed in mid 1997.
    In March 1997, NCDOT held a meeting where local residents suggested 
an eastern route for the relocation of NC 119. Over the course of the 
next year, NCDOT studied various alternatives that would relocate NC 
119 to the east side of Mebane. During this process, NCDOT conducted 
several meetings with agency representatives, as well as residents from 
the various communities surrounding the project study area, to discuss 
concerns regarding the proposed relocation of NC 119. Several project 
newsletters were mailed to the area residents and project stake holders 
providing updated information about the project and showing the 
location of the NC 119 Relocation alternatives being considered. In 
July 2003, another Citizens Informational Workshop was held by NCDOT, 
showing the detailed study alternatives to the public and seeking 
public input. Afterwards, the NCDOT decided that an Environmental 
Impact Statement would be prepared for this project instead of the EA.
    In 2004, the NCDOT hired the Wills Duncan Group to manage a 
community facilitation program for the NC 119 Relocation project. The 
intent of this program was to increase citizen involvement and identify 
the most important issues regarding the proposed project from the 
perspective of the various communities within the study area. A series 
of community charettes were conducted by the Wills Duncan Group as part 
of this program and the result was the formation of the NC 119 
Relocation Steering Committee; a diverse group of citizens representing 
the neighborhoods and the business community of the Greater Mebane 
area. The primary responsibility of this Steering Committee was to 
assist in increasing citizen participation in the transportation 
decision making process and to identify the most important issues 
regarding the project from the perspective of the local communities. 
Due to extensive coordination with the resource agencies, local 
officials, and the public during the EA and EIS process for the NC 119 
Relocation project, no additional scoping meetings will be conducted 
for the DEIS.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to the proposed 
action is addressed and all significant issues are identified, comments 
and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments and 
questions concerning the proposed action 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 intergovernmental 
consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this 
program.)

    Issued on: February 6, 2007.
Clarence W. Coleman,
Operations Engineer, Raleigh, North Carolina.
[FR Doc. 07-615 Filed 2-12-07: 8:45 am]
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