It outlines the purpose and need for the project to help identify and evaluate potential alternatives. This document is not intended to identify potential solutions, evaluate their performance or assess their potential effects on the environment. These subjects will be presented in subsequent chapters of the DEIS, which is scheduled for publication in 2001. The public will be invited to comment after the DEIS is issued. This draft Purpose and Need Statement incorporates revisions made in response to agency and public comments received on two previous drafts - August 1999 and April 2000.
Additional comments are welcome from the public and government agencies.
Further revisions may be made in the DEIS based on those comments.