Environmental Impact Statement: Monroe and Greenbrier County, WV, Giles County, VA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

Environmental Impact Statement: Monroe and Greenbrier County, WV,

Giles County, VA

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 a proposed highway

project involving about 52 miles of US 219 and extending from US 460 in

the south to 3.5 miles north of I-64 in the north. A 2-mile length of

US 219 from the Rich Creek junction with US 460 to the state line is in

Giles County, Virginia. The remaining section of US 219 is in Monroe

County and Greenbrier County, West Virginia.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bobby W. Blackmon, Acting Division

Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, 550 Eagan Street, Suite

300, Charleston, West Virginia 25301, Telephone: (304) 347-5929, or Ben

L. Hark, Environmental Section Chief, Roadway Design Division, West

Virginia Department of Transportation, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard East,

Building 5, Room A-830, Capitol Complex, Charleston, West Virginia

25305-0430, Telephone: (304) 558-3236.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the West

Virginia Department of Highways (WVDOH), will prepare an Environmental

Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed highway improvement to US 219

expanding the existing two-lane roadway to a four-lane, controlled

access highway. Most of the 52-mile highway improvement will occur in

West Virginia, with a 2-mile section at the southern end extending into

Virginia.

The intent of the project is to improve access in the project area

where US 219 serves as the primary north-south route through major

population concentrations, business centers, and recreation areas in

the eastern portion of West Virginia. Also, the roadway comprises the

southernmost segment of the 540-mile long ``Seneca Trail International

Highway,'' as US 219 is presently known. This highway proceeds from the

Canadian border at Buffalo to Virginia, linking with interstate

highways to all mid-Atlantic and southeastern states. Following

implementation of the US/Canada and North American Free Trade (NAFTA)

Agreements, increasing trade and tourist traffic is expected, which

could promote economic expansion in adjacent depressed areas of

Appalachia.

Present roadway deficiencies in the proposed project area include

sections with poor geometric design, lack of sight distance, poor level

of service, restrictive speed limits, and a lack of passing

opportunities. These functional, operational, and physical deficiencies

compel this action.

Project alternatives will involve the No-Action Alternative and a

combination of Build Alternatives.

The EIS will assess the alternatives and their environmental

effects through detailed studies of socioeconomic, natural, visual, and

cultural resources; air quality; noise impacts; secondary and

cumulative effects; energy utilization; hazardous wastes; utilities;

and permitting. Joint development prospects, congestion management, the

relationship between local short-term uses of man's environment and the

maintenance and enhancement of long-term productivity, and any

irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources which would be

involved in the proposed action will be determined.

A Plan of Study describing the proposed action and soliciting

comments will be forwarded to appropriate Federal, State, and local

agencies. Agencies will be invited to attend a scoping meeting where

aspects of the proposed action will be discussed. When completed, the

draft EIS will be provided for public and agency review and comment.

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 the proposed action should be directed to the FHWA

or West Virginia Department of Transportation at the addresses

provided.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 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: November 8, 1994.

Bobby W. Blackmon,

Acting Division Administrator, Charleston, West Virginia.

[FR Doc. 94-28656 Filed 11-18-94; 8:45 am]

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