Environmental Impact Statement; Smith County, TX

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

Environmental Impact Statement; Smith County, TX

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 (EIS) will be prepared for a proposed

new location highway project in Smith County, Texas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John R. Mack, P.E., Acting District

Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, Room 826, Federal Building,

300 East 8th Street, Austin, Texas 78701. Rodolfo J. Rivera, P.E.,

Director of Transportation Planning and Development, Texas Department

of Transportation, P.O. Box 2031, Tyler, Texas 75710.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Texas

Department of Transportation (TxDOT), will prepare an environmental

impact statement (EIS) on a proposal to construct the southern section

of Loop 49, an approximately 40 mile circumferential controlled access

highway around the urbanized area of Tyler in Smith County, Texas. The

southern section of the proposed Loop 49 extends from State Highway 155

to State Highway 110 in southern Smith County. The length of the

project varies, depending on the selected alternative, from

approximately 15.3 kilometers (9.5 miles) to 18.5 kilometers (11.5

miles). The proposed action is intended to provide access and increased

mobility to the southern Tyler/Smith County area; to alleviate traffic

congestion on existing roadways in urbanized Smith County; and to

provide a safer, more convenient route for traffic travelling through

the Tyler area.

Alternatives to the proposed action to be discussed in the EIS

consist of (1) taking no action; and (2) improving existing roadways in

the urbanized areas of Smith County. The build alternatives include

three alternative alignments along new location rights-of-way

connecting State Highway 155 to State Highway 110.

Impacts caused by the construction and operation of Loop 49 will

vary according to the alternative alignments utilized. Generally,

impacts would include the following: transportation impacts

(construction detours, construction traffic, and mobility improvement),

air and noise impacts from construction equipment and operation of the

roadway, water impacts from construction area and roadway stormwater

runoff, impacts to waters of the United States including wetlands from

right-of-way encroachment, and impacts to residents and businesses

based on potential relocations.

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

interest in the proposal. A Major Investment Study has been completed

in compliance with the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency

Act. In addition, several meetings have been held by the Loop 49

Steering Committee, composed of representatives of local governments,

agencies, and interested organizations and citizens. A public meeting

was held on October 13, 1994, at Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler,

Texas, at which public comments on the proposed action and alternatives

were requested. In addition, a public hearing will be held after

publication of the Draft EIS. Public notice will be given of the time

and place of the 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 the FHWA or TxDOT at the addresses 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: October 20, 1994.

John R. Mack,

Acting District Engineer.

[FR Doc. 94-26618 Filed 10-26-94; 8:45 am]

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