Environmental Impact Statement; Greene County, Pennsylvania

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Environmental Impact Statement; Greene County, Pennsylvania

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 in Greene County, Pennsylvania.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Mahoney, P.E., District

Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 228 Walnut Street, P.O. Box

1086, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17108-1086, Telephone: (717) 782-3411,

or George W. Tanner, P.E., District Liaison Engineer, Pennsylvania

Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 459, North Gallatin Avenue

Extension, Uniontown, PA 15401, Telephone: (412) 439-7315.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PADOT), will prepare an

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for improvement of a portion of

U.S. Route 19 (U.S. 19). This section of U.S. 19 is located in the

community of Morrisville in Franklin Township, Greene County,

Pennsylvania. Generally, U.S. 19 is a north-south roadway, but through

the project area travels east-west. The limits of the proposed project

will be from the Waynesburg borough line eastward to the intersection

of U.S. 19 and S.R. 0021, having a total length of approximately 3244

feet. The project area is bordered by the south fork of Tenmile Creek

to the north and Morris Street (T-541) to the south. Improvements in

the study area are considered necessary to adequately provide for a

safe and efficient transportation system to serve the existing and

future transportation needs of the project area.

A phased approach will be utilized to complete the preliminary

design studies for this proposed highway project. Included in the first

phase of the preliminary engineering and environmental studies will be

a detailed needs analysis, an environmental overview, and a preliminary

alternatives analysis. The second and final phase will include a

detailed environmental analysis of alternatives which are recommended

for further study as a result of the first phase studies.

Alternatives under consideration will include but are not limited

to: (1) Taking no action; (2) Transportation System Management (TSM)

improvements to the existing U.S. 19, (3) upgrading existing U.S. 19;

(4) two-lane relocation to the northern side of U.S. 19; and (5) two-

lane relocation to the southern side of U.S. 19. Additional

alternatives may be evaluated based on the findings and recommendations

of the Phase 1 studies and public agency involvement process. Design

variations of grade and alignment will be incorporated and studied with

the various build alternatives.

During the preparation of the EIS, the following subject areas will

be investigated: traffic, air quality; noise and vibration; surface

water resources; aquatic environments; floodplains, groundwater; soils

and geology; wetlands; vegetation and wildlife; endangered species;

agricultural lands assessment; visual; socioeconomics and land use;

construction impacts; energy; municipal, industrial, and hazardous

waste facilities; historic and archaeological structures and sites;

Section 4(f) evaluation; wild and scenic rivers; natural and wild areas

and national natural landmarks.

Information describing the proposed action and study process (EIS

Plan of Study) 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 this project to solicit

comments. A series of public meetings will be held in the area. Public

notices of the time and place of these meetings and any required public

hearings will be given in a timely fashion. The Draft EIS will be

available for agency and public review and comment prior to the public

hearing. Public involvement and interagency coordination will be

maintained throughout both phases of the study process. A formal

scoping meeting will be held upon request.

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

at the address provided above.

(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.)

Bradley D. Keazer,

Acting Assistant Division Administrator, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

[FR Doc. 94-29141 Filed 11-25-94; 8:45 am]

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