Environmental statements; notice of intent: Randolph and Tucker Counties, WV,

[Federal Register: April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70)]

[Notices]

[Page 19425-19426]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr11ap00-129]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

Environmental Impact Statement: Randolph and Tucker Counties, West Virginia

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

[[Page 19426]]

ACTION: Notice of intent.

SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) will be prepared for the Kerens-to-Parsons portion of the proposed Appalachian Corridor H highway project.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Henry E. Compton, Division Environmental Coordinator, Federal Highway Administration, West Virginia Division, Geary Plaza, Suite 200, 700 Washington Street East, Charleston, West Virginia 25301, Telephone: (304) 347-5268.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with a court approved settlement agreement, the FHWA in cooperating with the West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOH) will prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) to examine one or more potential alignment shifts for the Kerens-to-Parsons portion of the proposed Appalachian Corridor H highway in Randolph and Tucker Counties, West Virginia. A Record of Decision (ROD) for the entire Appalachian Corridor H Highway (FHWA-WV-EIS-92-01-F) from Aggregates to the WV/VA state line, a distance of approximately 100 miles, was approved on August 2, 1996. The proposed Kerens-to-Parsons project will provide a divided four-lane, partial control of access highway on new location for a distance of approximately 20 miles. The purpose of this project is to provide safe and efficient travel between the population centers of Randolph (Elkins/Kerens Area) and Tucker (Parsons Area) counties, while also contributing to the completion of Corridor H in West Virginia.

Alternates under consideration in the SEIS will be: (1) The no action alternative, (2) the preferred alternative that was approved in the 1996 ROD, and (3) one or more alternatives that avoid impacts to the Corricks Ford Battlefield. Based on preliminary studies, it is expected that the avoidance alternatives considered in the SEIS will include one or more alignments that would shift the project to the north, resulting in additional connections to US 219, WV Route 72, and County Route 17 in the vicinity of Parsons. However, final decisions on the scope of the SEIS will be made only after an opportunity for comment by interested agencies and the public during the scoping process, which will occur in early to mid-April 2000.

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 expressed or are known to have an interest in this proposal.

To ensure 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 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 to this program)

Issued on: March 28, 2000. Henry E. Compton, Environmental Coordinator, Charleston, West Virginia.

[FR Doc. 00-8869Filed4-10-00; 8:45 am]

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