Environmental Impact Statement in Buncombe County, NC

Clarence W. Coleman, Jr.
Federal Highway Administration
September 23, 2014

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 184 (Tuesday, September 23, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56848-56849]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-22626]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement in Buncombe County, NC

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Rescinding of Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that we 
are rescinding the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for 
proposed I-26 Connector from I-40 to US 19-23-70 in Buncombe County, 
North Carolina. A notice of availability for the DEIS was published in 
the Federal Register on April 11, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For FHWA: Clarence W. Coleman, P.E., 
Preconstruction and Environment Director, Federal Highway 
Administration, 310 New Bern Avenue, Ste. 410, Raleigh, North Carolina 
27601-1418; Telephone: (919) 747- 7014; email: 
clarence.coleman@dot.gov. FHWA North Carolina Division Office's normal 
business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern Time). For the North 
Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT): Richard Hancock, P.E., 
Environmental Director, Project Development and Environmental Analysis, 
North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), PDEA--Century 
Center Bldg. A, 1000 Birch Ridge Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina 27610 
(Delivery), 1548 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-
1548 (Mail); Telephone (919) 707-6000; email: RWHancock@ncdot.gov. 
NCDOT--Project Development and Environmental Analysis Branch Office's 
normal business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern Time).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the North 
Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), is rescinding the DEIS 
for a proposed multi-lane freeway, part on new location, from I-40 to 
US 19-23-70 in Buncombe County, North Carolina. On April 11, 2008, FHWA 
issued a notice of availability for the DEIS for this proposed project 
requesting that resource agencies and the public provide input and 
comments as part of the project development process. The Draft EIS 
evaluated several alternatives, including: (1) No Build, (2) 
Transportation Systems Management (TSM), (3) Transportation Demand 
Management (TDM), (4) Mass Transit, and (5) Build Alternatives. A 
public hearing was held following the completion of the Draft EIS on 
September 16, 2008. Based on the comments received from various Federal 
and state agencies and the public, a recent decision to add one build 
alternative and eliminate one build alternative and updates to many of 
the supporting technical studies, the FHWA and NCDOT have agreed to 
rescind the DEIS approved in April 2008.
    FHWA and NCDOT plan to prepare a new Draft EIS for the proposed 
project. A notice of availability for the new DEIS will be issued 
subsequent to this rescinding notice. Comments or questions concerning 
the decision to rescind the DEIS approved in April 2008, should be 
directed to NCDOT or

[[Page 56849]]

FHWA at the address provided above. 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 NCDOT 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 of 
Federal programs and activities apply to this program.)

    Issued On: August 7, 2014.
Clarence W. Coleman, Jr.,
Preconstruction & Environment Director, Raleigh, North Carolina.
[FR Doc. 2014-22626 Filed 9-22-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-RY-P