[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 71 (Thursday, April 13, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 18877]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-9124]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Environmental Impact Statement: Newport County, Rhode Island

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 the proposed 
construction of a marine terminal facility in Newport, Rhode Island.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gordon G. Hoxie, Division 
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, 380 Westminster Mall, 
Room 547, Providence, Rhode Island, Telephone: (401) 528-4541, or 
Marjorie Keefe, Project Manager, Rhode Island Department of 
Transportation, Two Capitol Hill--Room 372, Providence, RI 02903, 
Telephone: (401) 277-2023.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Rhode 
Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT), will prepared an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) to evaluate alternatives to 
provide a proposed marine terminal facility or facilities serving 
cruise ships and/or commuter vessels and ferries on Aquidneck Island, 
Rhode Island.
    Marine terminal facilities are needed to alleviate congestion in 
both the harbor and on local streets in Newport, Rhode Island, for both 
current as well as projected levels of activity. Linking the Newport 
Gateway Center, a multi-modal ground transportation and visitor hub 
located in Newport's business tourist district, with a marine terminal 
would integrate ground transportation with waterborne commuter vessels, 
tour boats, and cruise ships. This link would create a true multi-modal 
complex capable of providing numerous transportation options and 
destinations while relieving congestion in both the harbor and on local 
streets. Alternatives under consideration include: (1) Taking no 
action; (2) a combination of sites within the Newport Inner Harbor 
including State Pier No. 9, American Shipyard, and/or Goat Island; (3) 
Fort Adams (eastern and western sides); (4) Newport Naval Pier No. 1 
(Derektors Pier); and (5) Melville Marina. Other reasonable 
alternatives identified during the scoping process will also be 
considered.
    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 interest in the proposed project. A public scoping 
meeting will be held in Newport, Rhode Island during May 1995. In 
addition, a public hearing will be held. Public notice will be given of 
the time and place of the meeting and hearing. The draft EIS will be 
available for public and agency review and comment prior to the public 
hearing.
    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 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 of Federal programs and other activities apply to this 
program)

    Issued on: April 5, 1995.
Gordon G. Hoxie,
Division Administrator, Providence, Rhode Island.
[FR Doc. 95-9124 Filed 4-12-95; 8:45 am]
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