Notice To Rescind a Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS): State Route 71, South Knoxville Boulevard (James White Parkway), From Governor John Sevier Highway (State Route 168) to Moody Avenue, Knox County, Tennessee

Theresa Claxton
Federal Highway Administration
October 28, 2013

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 208 (Monday, October 28, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 64265]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-25313]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Notice To Rescind a Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS): State Route 71, South Knoxville Boulevard 
(James White Parkway), From Governor John Sevier Highway (State Route 
168) to Moody Avenue, Knox County, Tennessee

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice to Rescind a Notice of Intent to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is issuing this 
notice to advise the public that the Notice of Intent published on May 
1, 2007 to prepare an EIS for the proposed State Route 71, South 
Knoxville Boulevard (James White Parkway), from Governor John Sevier 
Highway (State Route 168) to Moody Avenue, Knox County, Tennessee, is 
being rescinded.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Theresa Claxton, Planning and 
Program Management Team Leader, Federal Highway Administration--
Tennessee Division Office, 404 BNA Drive, Suite 508, Nashville, TN 
37217. 615-781-5770.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Tennessee 
Department of Transportation, is rescinding the notice of intent to 
prepare an EIS for the proposed State Route 71, South Knoxville 
Boulevard (James White Parkway) from near the existing Chapman Highway/
Governor John Sevier Highway interchange to Moody Avenue. The proposed 
project was approximately 5 miles in length.
    The FHWA approved the Draft EIS (DEIS) on September 28, 2012. The 
project as described in the DEIS was to provide an efficient and safe 
transportation facility that would enhance transportation service by 
improving access in the South Knoxville area and help relieve traffic 
congestion on Chapman Highway. During the DEIS process, TDOT conducted 
public involvement and agency coordination, developed a purpose and 
need for the project, and developed preliminary alternatives. The 
preliminary alternatives included a No-Build alternative, and three 
build alternatives on new location east of the Chapman Highway/Governor 
John Sevier Highway interchange and extending north westward to the 
existing State Route 71, South Knoxville Boulevard (James White 
Parkway) terminus at Moody Avenue.
    After consideration of public comments, the Knoxville Regional 
Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) removed the project from 
their draft Fiscal Year (FY) 2014-2017 Transportation Improvement 
Program (TIP) in August of 2013. Subsequently, the FY 2014-2017 
Knoxville TIP was adopted by the TPO Executive Board on October 16, 
2013, and did not include the State Route 71 project. Based on the 
Knoxville Regional TPO's intent to not advance the State Route 71 
project, TDOT is terminating future development of the EIS.
    Comments and questions concerning the proposed action should be 
directed to FHWA at the address provided above.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing 
Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on 
Federal programs and activities apply to this proposed program.)

Theresa Claxton,
Planning and Program Mgmt. Team Leader, Nashville, TN.
[FR Doc. 2013-25313 Filed 10-25-13; 8:45 am]
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