Environmental Impact Statement: Harrison County, Mississippi

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

Environmental Impact Statement: Harrison County, Mississippi

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 an East Harrison

County connector between Interstate 10 and United States Highway 90 in

Biloxi, Mississippi.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Cecil Vick, Realty Officer/Environmental Coordinator, Federal Highway

Administration, 666 North Street, Suite 105, Jackson, MS 39202-3199.

Telephone: (601) 965-4217. Contacts at the State and local level,

respectively are: Mr. Billie Barton, Environmental/Location Division

Engineer, Mississippi Department of Transportation. P.O. Box 1850,

Jackson, MS, 39215-1850, telephone: (601) 359-7920; and Mr. Ricky Lee,

District Engineer, Mississippi Department of Transportation, P.O. Box

551, Hattiesburg, MS, 39403-0551, telephone (601) 544-6511.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the

Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) will prepare an

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the proposed East Harrison

County connector in Biloxi, Mississippi.

The proposed connector would be located in one of two corridor

study areas; Corridor One would begin at Exit 41 (MS 67 interchange)

crossing the Tchoutacobouffa River, Big Lake, and connecting to US 90

west of the Coliseum; Corridor Two would begin at Exit 44 (Cedar Lake

Interchange) crossing Back Bay of Biloxi and connecting to US 90 west

of Keesler Air Force Base. The connector is a proposed full control of

access facility and interchanges will be studied at various locations.

Section 65-39-1(2), Mississippi Code 1972, annotated, authorized

study of the connector and the Intermodal Surface Transportation

Efficiency Act of 1998, authorized partial funding. Alternatives under

consideration include (1) taking no action and (2) build alternative.

The FHWA and MDOT are seeking input as a part of the scoping

process to assist in determining the clarifying issues relative to this

project. Letters describing the purposed action and soliciting comments

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 proposal. A formal scoping meeting with

federal, state, and local agencies, and other interested parties will

be held in the immediate future.

Coordination will be continued with appropriate federal, state, and

local agencies, and to private organizations and citizens who have

previously expressed or known to have interest in this proposal. A

public involvement meeting will be held and a newsletter developed to

keep the public informed. The draft EIS will be available for public

and agency review and comment prior to the official 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 at the address provided above.

Andrew H. Hughes,

Division Administrator, Jackson, Mississippi.

[FR Doc. 98-18256 Filed 7-8-98; 8:45 am]

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